In later stages of the John Bolton battle, Senator Chuck Schumer made the statement in a Senate Democratic Caucus meeting that "a vote against Bolton was a vote against Israel." Schumer, who strongly supported Bolton, was wrong on that front. Every U.S. ambassador to the UN has been a friend to Israel and has been supportive of Israel's security interests. Every U.S. president has been supportive of Israel's core security interests -- but there are legitimate differences on what pro-Israel means.

Avigdor Lieberman, until this week Israel's foreign minister, has a history of making disgusting, bigoted comments about Palestinians and Arabs. He is a disgrace to Israel -- and I find it objectionable that he sat in the Israeli cabinet at the right hand of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. My stating that I find one, or even a few, of the leaders of Israel to be short-sighted, wrong-headed, and ultimately reckless about the security and interests of their own nation does not make me or anyone an anti-Semite or anti-Israel. I had respect for Prime Minister Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni -- and have grown to respect a number of the positions of Ariel Sharon.

But Chuck Hagel voted for John Bolton, who just before his appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said that there is no moral equivalence between innocents killed in Lebanon during Israel's strike there and those Israelis who may have been killed by Hezbollah incursions into Israel. Again, I'm disgusted by what were Bolton's public remarks -- which the State Department had the good sense to excise from his testimony moments before he gave it (issuing one set of remarks with the statements and then another without).

But Chuck Hagel voted for the guy Chuck Schumer wanted. And that AIPAC wanted. And that Israel itself no doubt wanted.

Bolton got a recess appointment -- but he never got his confirmation vote. And who was the block on this great friend of Israel and anti-United Nations crusader?

Not Chuck Hagel. Try Senator Joseph Lieberman, who refused to vote in favor of cloture because the executive branch would not share vital but classified information with Congress -- either in the base-relocation debate or in the Bolton case. Then-Senator Lincoln Chafee gave another assist at the final stage of the battle -- but the three senators who got in the way of the AIPAC-desired John Bolton were George Voinovich, Joseph Lieberman, and Lincoln Chafee.

Not Chuck Hagel.

Hagel's instabake critics need to read up on some history and some facts about the man. It's irresponsible of the Wall Street Journal and other publications to cast around the slanderous accusation of anti-Semitism, which is akin to bigotry and racism, when there are legitimate policy differences about Israel policy involved.

Hagel has been a steadfast supporter of Israel and its interests -- and has been the kind of friend to step back and not support Israel's U.S. congressional machinery when it is hyperventilating in ways that hurt it.

Hagel is a genuine friend of Israel's long-term interests and believes that the status quo in Israel today is undermining Israel's status as a democratic and Jewish state. Controversial statement? Just about every responsible Israeli political official has said exactly the same.

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