Despite a historic allegiance to the Democratic Party, there have been signs of an increase of American Jewish support for Republicans. In 1992, 11 percent of American Jews voted for the Republican presidential candidate; in 2004, 25 percent voted for President Bush. Contrary to Douglas M. Bloomfield's Aug. 9 commentary ("The Republican field and the Jewish vote"), more and more Jews are recognizing that the issues of critical concern for the Jewish community are in line with Republican positions.

Many agree with traditional Republican priorities like fiscal responsibility, economic strength, and family-oriented legislation. And while the domestic issues Bloomfield says drive the Jewish vote are important, for many the safety and security of Israel is still a crucial and defining issue.

When, after September 11, 2001, America finally woke up to the threat of radical Islamic terror, Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress took the threat seriously. Implementing tough, decisive, and long-overdue security measures at home and abroad, the safety and security of the United States and its citizens became a top priority. America declared war on terror.

But we in the Jewish community have long known that Israel has been fighting this same war. With common goals and priorities, the Republicans unwaveringly supported Israel's tough decisions on safety and security. It is no wonder Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert have called Bush the greatest friend Israel has ever had.

No less a leading Jewish Democrat than Ed Koch has said "international terrorism trumps all other issues" when casting his vote for president. After voting Republican in 2004, Koch explained, "I do not believe the Democratic Party has the stomach and commitment to deliver on this issue. I believe terrorism will be with us for many years to come."

Bloomfield claims that the Democrat and Republican candidates running for president in 2008 have comparable standings when it comes to supporting Israel. This is simply not true.

All the top-tier Republican candidates for president recognize the realities and threats of radical Islamic terror. Each has a long-standing record of support for Israel.

Yet if one wonders what the U.S. policies on radical Islamic terror and support for Israel might look like under a Democrat decision-maker — listen to the recent comments of one of their leading presidential hopefuls, Sen. Barack Obama.

In a moment of truth during the CNN/YouTube debate in July, Obama declared that if he were the American president, meetings with the leaders of Hizbullah-sponsoring Iran and Syria would occur during his first year in office. Even more frightening, the meetings would not require any preconditions such as renouncing terrorism or acknowledging the state of Israel. And it is important to note that before the 9/11 terrorists, Hizbullah held first place in killing the most Americans when their suicide bombers crashed into the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983.

If Obama's comments are not warning enough to the Jewish community of an alarming Democratic-inspired foreign policy, recall House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent springtime visit to Syria. She ludicrously proclaimed that "we came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace." Worse yet, she delivered an incorrect message of peacemaking to Bashar al-Assad from Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, recklessly endangering the stability of the region.

And what of former Democratic President Jimmy Carter? He wrote a book comparing Israel's policies toward the Palestinians with apartheid and that "Israel's continued control and colonization of Palestinian land have been the primary obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land." How marginalized were Carter's views among Democrats? They continue to bestow on him the role of Honorary Chairman of Democrats Abroad.

If you believe that Israel has had no greater friend today than the United States, then its safety and security will not be in better hands with a Democrat at the presidential helm. For that matter, neither will the safety and security of the United States and American Jews. As Ed Koch acknowledged, "I want a president who is willing to go after [radical Islamic terrorists] before they have the chance to kill us."

Is there any issue more crucial than that?