Two congressmen visit with students — Democrat meets with Panthers for Israel

SEE ALSO – Republican talks about terrorism finding

Congressman Mike Doyle delivered a… SEE ALSO – Republican talks about terrorism finding

Congressman Mike Doyle delivered a rally cry to students at the Hillel Jewish University Center Thursday.

“There is a huge election in 2006 because the House, the Senate and the presidency are all held by one party,” Doyle said. “I think America is ready for change, but it’s not going to happen if we don’t energize the most underrepresented voting population.”

Doyle spoke to students about Israel and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He said he recognizes the importance of reaching out to college students.

“I know it’s important when I get a chance to speak with student leaders who can shape opinion,” Doyle said.

Sarah Horowitz, the head of political programming for Panthers for Israel, wanted to show Doyle that there are students who care about the same issues as he does.

“I lobbied him in May and knew he was such a great supporter of Israel,” Horowitz said.

Doyle said that he counts himself “among Israel’s strongest supporters in the House of Representatives.”

Doyle stressed the importance of Israel’s need for secure borders, but he also recognized that many Israel supporters fear giving Palestinians control of their own government.

“Every time we get close to peace,” he said, “there will always be fear that it could actually be successful.”

Doyle said that since 1993, the Roadmap for Peace has “faced a number of setbacks.”

As a strong supporter of the Roadmap, Doyle argued that, though he never thought it would be under current Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel is taking the steps toward peace.

Sharon announced the plan to withdraw from Gaza and the West Bank in 2003, set an early Israeli election in 2005 and now plans to have Palestinian government elections in 2006.

Doyle feels that the United States has an important role to play, but must be “cautiously optimistic that this coming year may institute progress on this difficult issue.”

He added that Israel must work with its neighbors without compromising its own safety.

“[The United States] shouldn’t force Israel into a peace that threatens their national security,” he said.

He added that the U.S. government should work with Lebanon and Israel to help secure the Israel-Lebanon border.

Some Israel supporters fear that loosening Israel’s reins in the area means handing control over to Hamas, a militant Islamist Palestinian group.

Following his own advice, Doyle seemed cautiously optimistic.

“I don’t think [the Palestinians] are going to become democratic overnight,” Doyle said, “but to say Hamas will always be a terrorist organization is to give up hope for peace in the future.

“Peace will never happen without getting them involved in a political discussion,” he said.