Friends (from Naomi Ragen),
The Iranians are building an atom bomb which they intend to use on the last
Six Million in Israel. President Obama thinks we should "engage them," and
denies Israel has a green light to do anything about it. His administration
thinks the answer to Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, is to try
something "new" which hasn't been tried before: i.e. taking down roadblocks,
"easing restrictions on Palestinians," forbidding Jews to build homes on
"Palestinian land," including Jerusalem. And of course, giving them their
own state, which as they have demonstrated in Gaza will be a peace loving
neighbor.
Allegedly, a few American Jews, even among his ardent supporters, are
beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable about this. To allay their fears,
his chief of staff, a wise Jew, arranged for the President to meet Jewish
"leaders" on July 13 at the White House. I'm scouring the internet for the
reactions of these leaders. What I found is below.
Save this. Remember who was there. Remember what they said. Remember those
who said nothing. And then remember this: one gets the leadership one
deserves.
(JTA Ron Kampeas) "The view was expressed among the organizations at a
minimum there was concern about an imbalance in pressures placed on Israel
as opposed to on the Palestinians and Arab states," Alan Solow, the chairman
of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told
JTA. "The president indicated he had a sensitivity to the perception of that
imbalance and had to work harder to correct that perception."
(From AP's Phillip Elliot) "No one could leave that meeting with any doubt
about Obama's commitment to Israel," said Ira Forman, executive director of
the National Jewish Democratic Council.
Many left believing that Obama means well, but not necessarily convinced the
United States' revamped strategy will resolve the conflict that has vexed
U.S. presidents for decades.
"I think I share some of the same anxiety that others might have shared. ...
But I'm prepared to give this new president an opportunity - not just
prepared, but I support him taking a slightly different approach than we're
used to," said Rabbi Steven Wernick, executive vice president and CEO of the
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
"I think he went a long way toward reassuring me, personally, about the good
faith intentions and that the relationship (with Israel) is as strong as
it's ever been," Wernick said.
Participants and White House officials said Obama didn't introduce any new
proposals during the discussion but spent the bulk of the time seeking
comments and trying to allay concerns.
Obama did, however, return to a favorite complaint: that U.S. journalists
were seeking conflict, overemphasizing the importance of Israeli settlements
and missing achievements in peace talks.
"He said that there's more progress than appears in the negotiations," said
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations."
Participants: Alan Solow, Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations Lee Rosenberg, President-elect, AIPAC David
Victor, President, AIPAC Malcolm Honlein, Executive Vice Chairman,
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Abraham
Foxman, National Director, Anti-Defamation League Jason Isaacson, Director
of Government and International Affairs, American Jewish Committee Nancy
Ratzan, President, National Council of Jewish Women Kathy Manning, Chair,
Executive Committee, United Jewish Communities Andrea Weinstein, Chair,
Jewish Council for Public Affairs Marla Gilson, Washington Director,
Hadassah Stephen Savitsky, President, Orthodox Union Rabbi Steven Wernick,
Executive Vice President and CEO, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President, Union for Reform Judaism Ira Forman, Chief
Executive Officer, National Jewish Democratic Council Debra DeLee, President
and CEO, Americans for Peace Now Jeremy Ben Ami, Executive Director, J
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