President Bush and Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon made a joint statement Wednesday unveiling a plan for the forward movement of the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. They talked about Sharon’s plan that would remove settlements and certain military installations from Gaza and The West Bank and reiterated that the security fence now being constructed between Palestinian and Israeli territories was a defensive maneuver and not a divisive one. Again, the ball is in the Palestinians court. What they choose to do we will have to wait to see.

As I listened to President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon speak, I couldn’t avoid two questions that kept coming to mind. With his actions and his words of support and friendship for Israel and her people, how can the people of Jewish descent in this country not support the re-election of George W. Bush? And how can anyone who calls him or herself a true Jew support John Kerry for president?

It is a fact that over the last several decades Jews in America have had a propensity for leaning left in their political beliefs. This can be explained by their strong feelings for the social issues that have faced our society over the years. On the whole, and this by no means is an attempt to stereotype all Jews in America, rather it is meant to be a statement used in generality, the Jews of America champion pro-choice initiatives, social programs, and an expanded government roll in our society. But with the climate of the world today it is quite perplexing that the Jewish community in general would place social issues of a national nature ahead of President Bush’s support of, positive actions toward and friendship to the State of Israel, when considering a candidate for president this November.

Prime Minister Sharon, at the end of his statement, took time to enter into record a personal note. He stated that he had been combating terrorism all of his political and military life and throughout he has never met a man more committed and sincere in combating global terror than President Bush. He commented on President Bush’s unwavering commitment to Israel, its safety and right to exist and made no qualms about thanking President Bush for his support of Israel calling him a "friend of the Israeli people.” After taking questions one could hear Prime Minister Sharon thanking President Bush repeatedly as they shook hands, this coming from a usually gruff individual.

President Bush has made it quite clear, by his deeds as well as his words that the United States is a steadfast ally to the State of Israel. This cannot be denied.

Conversely, while John Kerry contends that he stands in alliance with Israel, he supports using the United Nations to bring about peace, not only in the Middle East but to the Israeli and Palestinian people as well. On the surface it sounds as though Mr. Kerry stands committed to Israel but that would be a flawed assumption to say the least.

The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the Israeli government for their retaliation against acts of terrorism sponsored by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, terrorist organizations that sit at the negotiating table by proxy every time the Palestinian Authority takes its seat. Yet they expect the Israelis to negotiate in good faith with the very people that send young, brainwashed children to commit acts of terrorism against innocent Israelis through the employment of suicide bombings. The United Nations may have spoken out against the use of terrorism but they refuse to acknowledge the fact the Palestinian Authority, who they recognize as a member in good standing of the world community, counts terrorist organizations among their "legitimate government.” To say the least, a level playing field for the Israelis does not exist within the walls of the United Nations.

This being said, I find it puzzling that the Jewish community here in the United States could even remotely consider John Kerry as a viable candidate given the fact he would champion the use of the United Nations in establishing peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Further, and again this is in the context of the world climate today, I find it remarkable that the Jewish community could champion any politician that would sanction the use of the United Nations where Israel’s well-being is concerned.

The post-September 11th world has changed the way many of us think. It changed many of our priorities in the days that followed from ideological social issues to matter of fact security issues. This shift was an intelligent thing to embrace if only for this simple fact: if our country isn’t safe the basis for our social ideology doesn't exist. We have to secure our country first in order to even have a social ideology. Our Forefathers knew it and it is time that we come to understand it ourselves.

The Jewish alliance with the liberal-left in this country, an alliance based on social ideology, needs to be put into perspective when faced with the harsh reality of the current world climate and the War on Terror. President Bush’s support of Israel and helmsmanship with regard to the War on Terror, helmsmanship lauded by Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, should trump social ideology come this November. Security, not only for Israel and the United States but also for the world as a whole, needs to be more important than social ideology this time around. There will be enough time to argue about verbiage in the Pledge of Allegiance later…but that’s only if we win the War on Terror first.

Frank Salvato is a political media consultant and the managing editor for The New Media Journal.us. He is a contributing writer for The Washington Dispatch, GOPUSA, OpinionEditorials, Men’s News Daily, Canada Free Press & AmericanDaily. His pieces are regularly featured in Townhall.com. He has appeared as a guest on The O’Reilly Factor, The Kevin Matthews Radio Show (Chicago) and The Brad Messer Radio Show (San Antonio). His pieces have been recognized by the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention and are occasionally featured in The Washington Times and The London Morning Paper as well as other national and international publications.