Sarah Palin's Passover Statement

Sarah Palin put out a statement last night marking the beginning of Passover:

Tonight Jewish families all over the world will gather to celebrate Passover, the story of Exodus and the freedom of the Jewish people from bondage. This holiday reminds us of the sacrifices that are still being made for freedom – the U.S. troops who are away from their families so that we can be with ours, and the Israeli people, who struggle for peace with their neighbors even as they face the threat of war.

“Next year in Jerusalem” will be the refrain echoed by Jewish families as they finish their Seders tonight. It is a stark reminder that whatever the threats the Jewish people have faced, whatever the struggles, their connection to Jerusalem is ancient and unshakable. On this Passover holiday, our family sends our best wishes to all who are celebrating. Chag kasher V'Sameach. Happy Passover. And next year in Jerusalem.

Perhaps the White House Seder ended with a call of ‘next year in West Jerusalem, the only part of the city Jews should be allowed to live or build in,’ but Palin's statement hits home, paying tribute to the historic connection between the Jewish people and the (entire) city of Jerusalem, while riffing off the Obama administration’s often repeated but utterly dissonant statements about the “unshakable” bonds between the United States and Israel. In fact, this administration seems determined to undermine that alliance to the greatest extent conditions will allow (the conditions being an American public and Congress that still overwhelmingly prefer Israel’s liberal, Western democracy to the authoritarian, corrupt, terror-supporting enclaves that might comprise a Palestinian state if the Palestinians would ever eschew terror for peace).

Still, for the anti-Palin left, surely this statement will set off another round of handwringing and worry that, horror of horrors, “even on the difficult issues she supports Israel.”