American Jews: Stand up -Isi Leibler
Ignore the soothing denials; the reality is that American-Jewish supporters of Israel never encountered anything comparable to the confrontation looming with the Obama administration.
The current situation is especially sensitive because it is commonly believed that Barack Obama's strategy relating to Israel is being orchestrated by two key Jewish members of his administration, Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod. Worse still, they may have succeeded in dividing the Jewish leadership.
In line with established practice, as political tensions intensified, the Presidents' Conference requested a meeting with the president. The White House agreed, but insisted on determining who would participate.
Without consultation, critics like Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America were excluded while Israel-bashing groups like J Street and US Peace Now were invited.
The administration thus not only provided equal status to fringe groups, it obliged mainstream organizations to share a platform with groups whose raison d'être is to force Israel to make additional unilateral concessions. During Operation Cast Lead, J Street even publicly condemned Israel's campaign against Hamas.
The reluctance of the Presidents' Conference to reject this arrangement may be a major strategic blunder. It provides a mechanism by which the Obama administration can create an "amen" environment free of troublemakers.
A public campaign must be launched. It is crucial that the case for Israel not rest exclusively with Jewish Republicans or Christian evangelicals. Jewish Democrats must be at the forefront if the bipartisan approach which for decades has been the hallmark of US policy toward Israel is to be retained.
Democrat champions like Alan Dershowitz should explain to Obama why [his policies are] immoral and counterproductive.
The burden rests on American Jews. They must stand up and be counted. Jewish activists should make Obama understand that if he continues to appease Arabs by distancing the US from Israel and reneging on prior American commitments, the Jewish community, including many of his most devoted followers, will conclude that he betrayed them.
[Jerusalem Post]
*
Ignore the soothing denials; the reality is that American-Jewish supporters of Israel never encountered anything comparable to the confrontation looming with the Obama administration.
The current situation is especially sensitive because it is commonly believed that Barack Obama's strategy relating to Israel is being orchestrated by two key Jewish members of his administration, Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod. Worse still, they may have succeeded in dividing the Jewish leadership.
In line with established practice, as political tensions intensified, the Presidents' Conference requested a meeting with the president. The White House agreed, but insisted on determining who would participate.
Without consultation, critics like Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America were excluded while Israel-bashing groups like J Street and US Peace Now were invited.
The administration thus not only provided equal status to fringe groups, it obliged mainstream organizations to share a platform with groups whose raison d'être is to force Israel to make additional unilateral concessions. During Operation Cast Lead, J Street even publicly condemned Israel's campaign against Hamas.
The reluctance of the Presidents' Conference to reject this arrangement may be a major strategic blunder. It provides a mechanism by which the Obama administration can create an "amen" environment free of troublemakers.
A public campaign must be launched. It is crucial that the case for Israel not rest exclusively with Jewish Republicans or Christian evangelicals. Jewish Democrats must be at the forefront if the bipartisan approach which for decades has been the hallmark of US policy toward Israel is to be retained.
Democrat champions like Alan Dershowitz should explain to Obama why [his policies are] immoral and counterproductive.
The burden rests on American Jews. They must stand up and be counted. Jewish activists should make Obama understand that if he continues to appease Arabs by distancing the US from Israel and reneging on prior American commitments, the Jewish community, including many of his most devoted followers, will conclude that he betrayed them.
[Jerusalem Post]
*
No comments:
Post a Comment