Jim Traficant - Israel has a stranglehold on Congress

“Israel has a powerful stranglehold on the American government“ –James Traficant interview with Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren broadcast on Fox News on September 10, 2009. View the full 9-minute interview at Traficant had been an extremely popular Democratic Congressman from rustbelt Ohio who had just been released from spending seven years in prison on charges of corruption. Many people feel Traficant had been railroaded after trying to take on the Israel lobby and a number of powerful interests. Traficant was one of the few members of Congress to oppose Israel and support Palestinian rights. The Washington report on Middle East Affairs reported in 1988 that Traficant was “one of the limited number of congressmen willing to criticize Israel publicly. “Traficant went public with his criticism of Israel’s hard-line policies in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip earlier this year. In March he called on his congressional colleagues ’to speak out against the abuses of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. A roar of outrage should be the voice of the House, and everybody should hear.’ Later, Traficant called for self determination for Palestinians, noting that they too have a right to freedom.“ – For more information see