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President Obama to Jewish Leaders: Every Time I’m on Al Jazeera They Show Me at the Western Wall with a Yarmulke On
July 13, 2009 5:56 PM
In the Roosevelt Room this afternoon, President Obama met with 16 leaders of the American Jewish community for approximately an hour, discussing the Middle East peace process, Iran, health care reform and global hunger.
Ira Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, tells ABC News that the president -- joined by White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and senior adviser David Axelrod, both of whom are Jewish -- spoke for approximately 10 minutes about his strategic vision for Mideast peace.
“He talked about Israel as a Jewish state with no hesitancy,” Forman said. “He also reiterated what he has said before about the fundamental bond between Israel and the United States and the fundamental commitment the US has, no matter what disagreements there are, to Israel’s peace and security.”
One participant said that the perception is that the Obama administration is applying more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas recently seemed to suggest to the Washington Post that all the concessions that need to be made are by Israel, and Palestinians can wait it out until Netanyahu's government fails.
The president, Forman said, argued that the media sometimes plays up disagreements between the US and Israel – the US pressuring Arab countries is a “dog bites man” story, the president said -- and he assured the participants that he has applied just as much pressure on the Palestinian Authority as he has on Israel in steps towards peace.
The president said that in Arab media he’s depicted as being too pro-Israel.
Every time I’m shown on Al Jazeera they show me at the Western Wall with a yarmulke on, President Obama said.
“And you look good in it, too,” one participant in the meeting joked.
Another participant argued that Israel negotiates for peace from a stronger position when its leaders feel there is no public disagreement between Israel and the US.
The president disagreed, Forman said, saying that while it’s essential that Israelis are convinced of America’s deep commitment to Israel’s safety, his administration has to be honest about family disagreements. But he reiterated that progress in the peace process isn’t just Israel’s responsibility, and said Israel deserves credit for recent steps including opening up roads and providing more access for Palestinians in the West Bank.
A representative from another one of the groups present tells ABC News that the president said his administration would have a sense by the Fall if the Iranian leadership is going to “demonstrate seriousness” in terms of re-engaging with the international community. If Iranian President Ahmadinejad chooses to engage, “we have a package of engagement,” and if not, the Obama administration is working to line up other measures.
Forman said the president showed a real comfort level in the meeting, joking and politely disagreeing on occasion.
In addition to Forman, participants included: 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; Debra DeLee, President and CEO, Americans for Peace Now; and Jeremy Ben Ami, Executive Director, J STREET.
-jpt
July 13, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (27)
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How Obama-like of a comment about the yarmulke: shallow, concerned only with appearances and perception, and manipulative.
Thanks,America, for helping to elect this complete disappointment and fraud.
Posted by: Hillary Fan | Jul 15, 2009 9:43:01 PM
"Why is ObaMA watching Al Jazeera TV?" Posted by: sally j | Jul 14, 2009 4:16:03 PM
________________________________________
As one of the Islamic worlds major news networks, it is monitored by the United States government with regular reports to the White House, State and so on. You can be assured of this.
This isn't at all surprising.
Posted by: danita | Jul 14, 2009 5:15:39 PM
Why is ObaMA watching Al Jazeera TV?
Posted by: sally j | Jul 14, 2009 4:16:03 PM
"And how about Elie Wiesel?"
He was at the Buchenwald ceremony last month.
Right now he is trying to recover his own and his foundation's finances after being ripped off by capitalist poster boy Bernie Madoff.
Posted by: Ryan C | Jul 14, 2009 2:38:44 PM
Danilo . ...
You missed the whole point . .. doesn't surprise me.
Posted by: danita | Jul 14, 2009 2:23:00 PM
"Forman said the president showed a real comfort level in the meeting, joking and politely disagreeing on occasion."
Well that's the important thing.(sarc) Do we have trite leaders or what?
As someone I know stated: can anyone tell me why Americans for Peace Now and J Street were at the meeting today with President Obama, but not ZOA?
And how about Elie Wiesel?
When President Bush met, he included Dennis Prager and Michael Medved.
Interesting that President Obama believes in cozying up to our enemies and genocidal dictators to facilitate dialog without prejudgement and all that stuff, but not with conservatives.
Posted by: Tina May | Jul 14, 2009 1:59:31 PM
"We understand your concept of being free... free to be like you, or else!"
Then you don't really understand what being free is, Danita.
You are projecting what you think others are like or what others think. It is your own self doubts, fears and misconceptions that you speak of, no one else's.
Posted by: Danilo | Jul 14, 2009 11:51:38 AM
It's too bad that the LA Times never released the video of Barack Obama toasting Rashid Khalidi, a former PLO operative and best friend of William Ayers.
The LA times had the video of Obama speaking at this dinner, and they refused to release it to the public.
There is so much we do not know about our president because the press fell in love with the idea of a Barack Obama.
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | Jul 14, 2009 11:47:39 AM
I have heard this wink wink nod nod type of rhetoric from Obama before during the campaign. In Iowa he would do this bit where he leaned in to the crowd to tell us how many Republicans whisper in his ear that they are voting for him. I didn't buy it then, I don't buy it now.
Posted by: AllyIowa | Jul 14, 2009 11:10:29 AM
Obama claims that he does pressure the Arabs (though he gives no examples of instances where that's happened), but that it doesn't make news because it's "dog bites man".
Well then it would be just the opposite in the Arab media -- it WOULD be news there -- but he can point only to his own upset at occasionally being shown in footage of him wearing a yarmulke?
Obama is always too concerned with how HE is being depicted. How popular HE is. About who is saying what about HIM. Never about actual policy and what is right or wrong about job performance -- just about his own image and glorification.
Posted by: paul | Jul 14, 2009 10:58:09 AM
"My community elected this empty suit. And now he snubs us. Obama is no friend to the Jews." - Sheila
Nor to the gays. But if it makes you feel any better, I've come to the realization that a two-dimensional narcissist like Obama is really no friend to ANYONE. He's a "friend" when you have something he wants from you, and once he's got it, he's on to the next victim.
Posted by: paul | Jul 14, 2009 10:48:46 AM
All politicians lie in private. I only care what politicians say and do in public. Balack Y'Obama does not care about democracy in Israel. He does not care about Israel's security needs. Funding Fatah and Hamas will destroy Israel.
Posted by: jimmy37 | Jul 14, 2009 10:18:09 AM
Jewish people, this obama guy is giong to sell you out.
Posted by: Reflect09 | Jul 14, 2009 1:32:26 AM
xeinal/
How can Palestine recognize Israel when it won't even recognize itself? Israel does not recognize its own borders - how can anyone else?
Posted by: Flash Override | Jul 13, 2009 10:53:25 PM
Taylor, what Israel needs is an example, a President who can serve as a role model, to get Israel to join the civilized world again and obey the law. Evangelicals need a role model too - how come there aren't any good and ethical role models for white evangelicals? Unborn - I don't know - what do zombies need?
Posted by: Flash Override | Jul 13, 2009 10:47:17 PM
"Obama is friend of some weird people who do not share our concept of a free America!" Posted by Ed Taylor.
Free for us, but not for you . .. yeah, we've heard it all before Ed.
We understand your concept of being free . . . free to be like you, or else!
Posted by: danita | Jul 13, 2009 8:29:27 PM
Obama is no friend of Israel. Obama is no fiend of evangelicals. Obama certainly is no friend of the unborn.
Obama is friend of some weird people who do not share our concept of a free America!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | Jul 13, 2009 8:04:10 PM
My community elected this empty suit. And now he snubs us. Obama is no friend to the Jews.
Posted by: sheila | Jul 13, 2009 7:50:26 PM
"And let's not forget the $900,000,000 pledged by Obama to support Palestinian causes".
***************************
The Palestinian People have been getting screwed over since 1948. It is time for Israel to return to pre-1967 boundaries. And if they want Palestinian's to recognize Israel....then Israel should be willing to recognize a Palestinian free state with out "any" influence (including covert) from Israel.
Posted by: xeinal | Jul 13, 2009 7:14:47 PM
It would be better for us to back away completely from the conflict. The funding we provide to the Middle East only increases the squabbling and is not appreciated one bit. It's enough that we've all had our pension funds gouged. We should be concentrating our efforts on American infrastructure and industry ... and, prosecuting Wall Street crooks.
Posted by: BroncoWilly | Jul 13, 2009 7:08:57 PM
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