U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista.) expressed astonishment to HERITAGE  that his office was the object of an alleged bombing plot by two leaders of the Jewish Defense League who were arrested by the FBI on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

In a telephone interview on Thursday, Dec. 13, from his Washington D.C. office, Issa said he was aware that he had been misquoted in the Nov. 19 edition of the Teheran Times of Iran as saying that he did not consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but said anyone who paid attention to that story-picked up by some western news media-should also have heard of his strong statements denouncing the story and saying quite specifically that he indeed believes Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization.

The story in the Teheran Times came during a tour by Issa and three other members of Congress to various countries in the Middle East, including Syria and Lebanon.  Other members of the delegation were Nick Rahall (D-W.V.); John Cooksey (R-La.) and Brian Kerns (R-Ind.)

Issa said that his statements to the Syrians and to the Lebanese were quite the opposite to what had been reported by the Iranian news media.  In fact, he said, "we went there to denounce terrorism and ask these governments to make changes in the way they did business."

Although Syria and Lebanon say officially they don't control Hezbollah-which has launched many attacks against Israel from Lebanon-Issa said he and his fellow members of Congress asked them "to start controlling these groups."

"Hezbollah has killed Israelis; they have killed Americans; they are an organization that has had cells in other countries, and the reason we went there was to say to Lebanon and to Syria, 'the world changed on Sept. 11th and what you used to do, that no one ever brought you to task on, you are not going to do anymore,'" Issa said. And that was the mission along with asking for their support on foreign terrorism in other ways."

Having clarified the record, Issa said that even if JDL leaders Irving David Rubin and Earl Leslie Krugel were unaware of the true facts of his mission to the Middle East, that still would not have justified the alleged terrorist plot against one of his district offices.  The congressman has field offices in northern San Diego County, southern Orange County and southern Riverside County. 

Besides being accused of plotting to destroy one of those, as yet unspecified, offices, the two JDL leaders were accused by the FBI of plotting to bomb a mosque in the Los Angeles area.

If the charges are true, Issa said, "this group acted in a way that the Jewish community doesn't act, and I hope no one in America acts."

The congressman said he never had contact with the JDL before, and has never been the subject of a threat or negative vibrations "from anyone credible" connected to the Jewish community.   In fact, he said, "I have been very fortunate throughout my life to have good relationships with the Jewish community."

A Roman Catholic of Lebanese ancestry, Issa said that he grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Cleveland Heights.  "I was a Shabbos goy; I turned the lights on and off," he reminisced.  "I worked for a rabbi...delivering poultry."  He said his father had decided to move the family there "to take advantage of a community that put emphasis on education."  He said he was a member of a Boy Scout troop that was sponsored by an Orthodox Jewish congregation. 

As much as any Gentile can, he said, he feels almost a part of the Jewish community.  "My wife's brother is married into the faith, and my sister is married into the faith, so probably they have a leg up on me."

Following announcement of the alleged plot, the congressman said he received numerous phone calls from members of the Jewish community expressing horror at the news and outrage.  He said he was called by two San Diego area rabbis, Aaron Gottesman and Arthur Zuckerman.   Rabbi Gottesman serves as a chaplain for the San Diego Police Department.  Rabbi Zuckerman performs a similar function for the San Diego Sheriff's Department in addition to his role as spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Am.

In addition to the phone calls, there were numerous written expressions of outrage both from the Israeli government and from American Jewish agencies. 

"I am very grateful that the community stepped up immediately and denounced, if true, these actions, and I appreciated that," he said.  "It meant a lot to the people in my office.  I know that to Suzie (Augustine), it meant a lot.  She was with with Beth Israel and she moved out here to be with me.  She was kind of like, 'Oh my God!  When is this craziness going to end?'"

Issa said that he hopes to return to the Middle East on another trip.  "I believe we need to try to understand, we need to show interest and we are not going to disengage,' he said.

"My personal belief is that America has to say that we will always be there for Israel; that we will always be there for the peace process.  Sometimes the only way to stay that is to go there, even at a time when the peace process is not moving forward and things are looking dim.  I would never want the people of Israel or the people of Gaza and the West Bank to think that America doesn't care, and isn't standing there so that when the time is right we will be a part of it (the peace).

Asked if his views would alienate Arab countries, he replied: "I think our special relationship with Israel is understood."  He said even Congressman Rahall, who frequently votes against foreign aid for Israel, "was unabashed in telling these folks, 'Get over it; as long as Israel has neighbors, some of whom threaten it, America will be there for it..'" 

Issa said that feeling if not universal, "is darn close to universal among all 435 members of Congress.  We may disagree with this particular Israeli government or that particular Israeli government-that is natural, we don't even particularly agree with ourselves-but when it comes to the protection of Israel, its right to exist, and our engagement in the peace process... I don't think there is any question that support is universal. And I think that Arab leaders finally get it, that there is no way for them to drive a wedge into America for that; it is just not going to happen."