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World Jewish News
U.S. Jews split over Obama's Israel remarks in Cairo speech
05.06.2009
Leaders of Jewish organizations in the United States were divided Thursday in their reactions to comments that President Barack Obama made on Israel in an address to the Muslim world in Cairo.
Dovish pro-peace lobby J Street applauded the address, in which Obama reaffirmed U.S. commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called on Israel to halt settlement building.
"The President was clear. Palestinians must renounce violence and accept Israel's existence, Israel must stop settlement activity and end the humiliation of the Palestinian people that comes with their occupation, and the broader Arab world must step up to a more constructive role as well," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street Executive Director, in a statement.
Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu is at odds with Obama on the issues of West Bank settlement construction and Palestinian statehood; he has said construction would continue in existing settlements has not publicly endorsed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The National Jewish Democratic Council, meanwhile, praised Obama's commitment to Israel's security in the speech.
"The President made very clear to the Arab world that he was going to continue to prioritize Israel's peace and security, and that the U.S. and Israel have an 'unbreakable' bond,'" said Ira Forman, head of the group.
But the address drew fire from across the aisle, with the Republican Jewish Coalition criticizing the U.S. leader for placing Israel and the Arab world on an equal footing.
"President Barack Obama, in his major speech in Cairo this morning, struck a balanced tone with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that's what was wrong with this speech," said Director Matthew Brooks, Republican Jewish Coalition Executive.
"American policy should not be balanced - it should side with those who fight terror, not those who either engage in it or are too weak to prevent it."
The Israel Project, an organization that seeks to educate the media on Israel, both welcomed the address and expressed concern over some of Obama's remarks.
"President Obama's speech was historic in its bold outreach to Muslims and in its dramatic move for peace. There is a lot in the speech for Americans and Muslims to celebrate," said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, the group's founder and president.
She added: "While we knew Israelis would feel pressured about implementing a two-state solution and stopping settlements, I am very concerned about President Obama's comments that Iran has a right to nuclear materials for energy given the dangerous fact that some of those materials could get into the hands of terrorists including Iran?s proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad."
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz U.S. Correspondent
Источник: Haaretz
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