Has Israel made any effort of outreach to you or any other Republicans?
The new ambassador has visited me over the last week. He is obviously new here in Washington and in that capacity is making the rounds on both sides of the aisle.
Is there any link between Obama’s domestic difficulties, the difficulties getting support for his health care plan for example, and what seems to be here a bit of a softening in recent days of the tone toward Israel?
I think, looking form outside into the administration, there is always an awareness of the deep-rooted support for Israel that is present in the US population. I think there have been many of us who have been outspoken about reported pressure being focused on the Netanyahu administration and the Israeli government. So I would have to think that would factor in at some point into the administration’s tone and demeanor in its discussions with Israel.
Much has been made here about the J Street phenomenon, and how Obama has seemed to enlist that organization and say, “Look these are also voices in the Jewish community; it is not a monolithic community; they present an opinion, and that is one that I reflect.”
J Street is clearly outside the mainstream of the American Jewish community. Absolutely. Equally, there is not a monolithic position in any community, much less the American Jewish community, but I would definitely say that J Street is outside the mainstream of the America Jewish community in terms of its positions.
Then why is its profile so high?
I think obviously there are a lot of folks involved with J Street who are very supportive of the White House
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~ Article From Jerusalem Post
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Diplomacy: ‘Settlement issue distracts from Iran’
