Emanuel To Rabbis: US 'Screwed Up'

[Purveyor]

By HERB KEINON
16/05/2010 02:52

The Obama administration has “screwed up the messaging” about its support for Israel over the past 14 months, and it will take “more than one month to make up for 14 months,” White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said on Thursday to a group of rabbis called together for a meeting in the White House.

“During the elections there were doubts about President Obama’s support for Israel, and now they have resurfaced,” Emanuel said, according to one of those who participated in the meeting. “But concerning policy, we have done everything that we can that is in Israel’s security – and long-range interests. Watch what the administration does.”

Dennis Ross, who runs the administration’s Iran policy, tried to allay fears during the meeting that by calling for a nuclear-free Middle East, US policy regarding Israel’s alleged nuclear capabilities was changing.

Since 1995, Ross explained, the administration’s policy, supported by Israel, was to push for a nuclear-free Middle East in conjunction with comprehensive peace. Emanuel, according to a participant in the meeting, said, “We understand Israel’s full layer of deterrence.”

These comments came during the second of two White House meetings with a carefully selected slate of 15 rabbis from across the US representing the Orthodox, Reform and Conservative streams. The first meeting took place on April 20, shortly after Obama was widely perceived to have treated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu shabbily during their last White House meeting.

MORE...

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=175654

[madfloridian]

1. Rahm in charge.

I hate that.

[wyldwolf]

3. uninformed conspiracy theories

I'm entertained by that.

[dumpdabaggers]

2. Jewish people are a key democratic base.

It is one that is crucial in most elections.

[RaleighNCDUer]

But 'Jewish' does not = Likkud, or Netenyahu, or AIPAC or the

neo-lib agenda. Playing to the RW of American Jews is not the way to win over the majority of American Jews.

Israel is is not an American colony.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Interesting article on that dynamic.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jun/10/failure-american-jewish-establishment

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Very interesting article - gets to the heart of it, at first glance.

Don't have time at the moment for more - will read the whole thing later. Thanks.

[karynnj]

10. Yesterday, at my synagogue, one of leaders of J Street spoke

Among other things, he spoke of surveys that showed well over half - about 70% - of Jews agreed with their position rather than the RW Netanyahu positions.

Here's a nice web site he mentioned to answer smears on the Obama administration's Israel policy - http://www.obamasmearbusters.com/

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. Thanks for the site -

looks like one I want to bookmark.

[janx]

14. Elie Wiesel?

Just that endorsement alone impresses me. Great link!

[karynnj]

16. It was a very interesting talk.

I know many Jews here likely come closer to agreeing with J Street than AIPAC. Even if you feel that even they don't go far enough, signing up with J Street makes sense because they are a voice that for a two state solution - even if Netanyahu isn't.

There is something very wrong with AIPAC arguing that it is better "for Jews" if there is only one lobbying voice - theirs. They also spout the nonsense that because only the Israelis feel the direct consequences, we should blindly support them. It is interesting that AIPAC had no problem pushing against Rabin.

[Cha]

15. Thank you for making the distinction Clear. nt

[The Damned]

17. Nor is it the other way around.

Uh, Rahm? Where's your birth certificate? :evilgrin:

[elleng]

6. But there aren't very many of us!

We may TALK big (and some of us 'pay' big), but at the polls?

[Me.]

4. Oh...

I didn't realize the US was the one who made the decision to keep building those settlements. Bad us, we should surely appease and make nice.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Why couldn't he say something like "The President wants Israel to be its best" or something

that doesn't apologize for past statements?

[Jennicut]

9. The US never messed up, it is that Israel is being run by a RW government.

Support for Israel as a country, not support for Bibi. There is a difference. Why Rahm thinks he has to kiss the RW Israel govt.s butt is beyond me....

[Aramchek]

12. Israel screwed up by electing unyielding douchebags as their leadership

[LiberalFighter]

13. What Rahm means is that he screwed up.