WEXLER FOE SLAMS INCUMBENT FOR SUPPORT OF TURKEY
by By Dale M. King
Boca Raton News, FL
April 27 2007
Ben Graber, Democratic candidate for Congress challenging incumbent
U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, has slammed his foe for
currying favor with Turkey at the expense of the Jewish community.
Wexler voted against a proclamation marking the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915, "which is widely recognized as the world’s
first true genocide." Graber said Adolph Hitler used it as the model
for the Jewish Holocaust.
Co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey, Wexler led
a campaign to block the U.S. House resolution commemorating the
massacre. Supporters of the resolution included Senators Hillary
Clinton, D-N.Y., Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Barak Obama, D-Ill.
"Mr. Graber fails to understand that passage of this resolution would
significantly damage U.S. and Israeli foreign policy interests," said
Josh Rogin, deputy chief of staff for Wexler. "Mr. Graber supports
a policy that would severely alienate Turkey, a critical Muslim ally
of both the United States and Israel."
"In fact, 74 percent of supplies, resources and assets for American
troops in Iraq come through Turkish airbases and across Turkey’s
Southeast border with Iraq."
But it didn’t placate Graber, who said, "It is irresponsible for a
member of the U.S. House and the Jewish community to deny the genocide
of another group. It gives credence to those who try to deny the
Holocaust by the Nazis."
Rogin shot back: "Congressman Wexler deeply sympathizes with the
families of those Armenians killed between 1915 and 1923, and believes
that it is essential that the United States and international community
pay tribute to these individuals, to ensure that this historic tragedy
is not forgotten."
"We regret that Mr. Graber has seized on this sensitive and painful
issue to score cheap political points. I sincerely hope that he does
not continue his efforts to divide the Jewish community throughout
this campaign," Rogin added.
Marta Batmasian of Boca Raton, a local businesswoman whose family
was affected by the Armenian massacre, confirmed that, in fact, it
did happen. She said she has been trying get Wexler to acknowledge
the situation and move off his close alliance with Turkey — even to
the point of writing him a seven-page letter.
Graber, the son of Holocaust survivors, was born in a displaced
persons camp in Kassel, Germany.