Lauder to Obama: Palestinians to blame

[Scurrilous]

In open letter to American president, head of WJC Ron Lauder expresses concern over US-Israel rift, says Palestinians refuse to negotiate; letter calls on Obama to quit public criticism of Jewish state

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3876794,00.html

<snip>

"World Jewish Congress President Ron Lauder sent an open letter to the US president expressing his concern about the deterioration in US-Israel relations and calling on Obama to rethink his Middle East policy.

The WJC is the umbrella organization for Jewish communities in 92 states around the world. Lauder is perceived to be a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has served as his emissary to Damascus where he investigated the possibility of starting negotiations with Syria.

"Why does the thrust of this Administration's Middle East rhetoric seem to blame Israel for the lack of movement on peace talks?" Lauder asked in the letter. "After all, it is the Palestinians, not Israel, who refuse to negotiate."

He expressed his fear that the crisis with Israel is part of the "administration's desire to improve relations with the Muslim world," and asserted that "appeasement does not work. It can achieve the opposite of what is intended."

<snip>

"In addition, he called on Obama to stop the public criticism of Israel, so that the two countries can contend together with the challenges facing them, first and foremost Iran."



Who speaks for American Jews?

<snip>

"It's the age-old question. Who can claim to speak for American Jews on Israel?

World Jewish Congress head Ron Lauder seems to think he's found the answer. It's him.

In full-page ads in The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, Lauder claims that "Jews around the world are concerned today" in part because of what he calls the "dramatic deterioration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel."

Yes, American Jews are concerned today. They are concerned about the lack of an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the threat that poses to Israel's survival as a democracy and the home of the Jewish people - as well as to American interests.

And in their concern, they - unlike Mr. Lauder - support the President. According to a poll J Street commissioned just three weeks ago, the President's approval rating remains at 62% among American Jews, 15 points higher than his popularity in the general population. Furthermore, over 71% of American Jews support pressing both parties to make the hard compromises necessary for peace.

A second poll conducted by the American Jewish Committee reinforces these conclusions, showing approval of the President's handling of US-Israel relations to be at 55 percent among American Jews.

Lauder can proclaim that there is broad American Jewish support for his positions, but the facts are clear: strong majorities actually support the President, despite attacks from some American Jewish organizations and leaders."

more

[Chulanowa]

1. Isn't it always?

And I like that. "Hey, stop criticizing Israel and help us start world war three!"

[Scurrilous]

2. U.S. Congressman lashes out at Obama over Israel remarks

<snip>

"Eric Cantor, a leading Republican official in the U.S. House of Representatives, on Thursday lashed out at U.S. President Barack Obama's remarks about Israel at this week's nuclear security summit.

Cantor on Thursday lashed out at Obama's remarks, saying the U.S. administration is manufacturing fights with Israel and pandering to the Arab world.

Obama on Tuesday urged all countries, including Israel, to sign the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT.

"Whether we're talking about Israel or any other country, we think that becoming part of the NPT is important," Obama said. "And that, by the way, is not a new position. That's been a consistent position of the United States government, even prior to my administration."

Obama also said that unresolved conflicts, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, affect the United States.

"It is a vital national security interest of the United States to reduce these conflicts because whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower," Obama said. "And when conflicts break out, one way or another, we get pulled into them. And that ends up costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure."

Cantor responded in a statement by saying, "The administration's troubling policy of manufacturing fights with Israel to ingratiate itself with some in the Arab world is no way to advance the cause of Mideast peace."

He added, "What kind of message is sent to the world when our country appears to turn its back on key strategic allies who share our values?"

<snip>

"Cantor was also among the members of Congress who on Wednesday called on Obama to impose "crippling sanctions" on Iran over its nuclear program."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1163426.html

[bemildred]

3. Surely you don't intend to hold Israel to the same standards as everyone else?

How can this be?
:sarcasm:

[Jefferson23]

4. Those lawmakers who did not sign the AIPAC letter, I wish they would say something to address this

bullshit...get behind Obama in public please.

[LeftishBrit]

5. And how many other Jewish Republicans are there in Congress right now?

Oh, that's right, NONE. I don't think Cantor exactly represents the Jewish community in America, or anywhere else. He does, however, represent the Republican community rather well!

[Dick Dastardly]

9. There has unfortunately has been a huge increase in repukelickin Jews over the last decade or so.

One of my good friends is a repukelickin Jew to the dismay of his parents. It seems to be a trend among the younger generation of Jews. They are generally moderate repukes but they are repukes just the same.


The rise of Republican Jews
http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/the_rise_of_republican_jews/


Young Jews More Likely To Vote GOP Than Their Elders
http://www.forward.com/articles/14481/


Young Jewish Republicans Toss Off Their Family Ties
http://www.tevitroy.org/6304/young-jewish-republicans-family-ties

[Scurrilous]

6. U.S. lawmaker: Obama should deal with Iran nukes, not criticize Israel

<snip>

"A prominent Republican member of Congress on Wednesday accused U.S. President Barack Obama of unfairly criticizing Israel for not signing on to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, rather than taking the time to deal with Iran's contentious nuclear program.

"The nuclear dam is giving way before our eyes in many aspects," said Republican representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen during a hearing at the House Foreign Affairs Committee."

<snip>

"Ros-Lehtinen lashed out at Obama for neglecting to deal with the "urgency" of Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons: "After months of generous offers and repeated rejections with one deadline after another passing without action, nothing of substance has been accomplished and Iran continues to relentlessly move forward.

"The president did find time to go after our ally, Israel, lecturing it on the need to sign the nuclear non proliferation treaty, a demand which has been at the centerpiece of the long-standing strategy by Arab states to distract attention from their own nuclear plans."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1164432.html

[Scurrilous]

7. Round 2: Lauder vs. Obama

Netanyahu's close associate Ron Lauder again publicly criticizes American president, says US policies toward Israel are 'disproportionate'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3879089,00.html

<snip>

"A week after publishing an open letter in which he criticized US President Barack Obama, Ron Lauder on Wednesday continued to slam the American president and his Middle East policies.

In an interview with the German Der Spiegel, Lauder - who serves as president of the World Jewish Congress and is considered a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - said that Washington's criticism of Israel was "disproportionate."

"The Obama administration is blaming Israel for the stalling peace process, but it is in fact the Palestinians which are opposed to negotiations," he said."

<snip>

"During the interview, Lauder rejected claims that the conflict in the Middle East was harming American national security and said that Washington's "main concern should be Iran. The regime in Tehran is threatening Israel and the entire Western world with its plans to build a nuclear bomb. That is why Obama should end his feud with Israel."

[Jefferson23]

8. The term disproportionate is a difficult concept for those who govern Israel

and many of their supporters too.

They need to work on that.