Stanley: The Chutzpah of Obama’s Jewish Critics

Martine Kaplan — August 3, 2009 – 4:29 pm | Israel | Obama | Stop the Smears Comments (2) Add a comment

NJDC Chairman Marc Stanley wrote an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post criticizing President Barack Obama’s Jewish critics, particularly Aluf Benn for his op-ed in the New York Times last week. Stanley sets the record straight on several popular criticisms of Obama’s Middle East policy.

An excerpt:

What may speak louder than Obama’s words are his actions. As the ink of Benn’s op-ed was drying, the president sent Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones and Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell to talk with their Israeli counterparts. They spoke about issues ranging from US policy against Iranian nuclear proliferation to the continuing strategic partnership between our governments. We now see numerous media reports reflecting the reality that this administration will couple any settlement deal with sharp pressure on the Arab world to normalize relations with the Jewish state.

NO ONE can credibly claim Obama and his administration are not talking to Israel. The reality is the administration is not only talking with Israelis, it is intensely collaborating and communicating with it- in person. In fact, Obama spoke with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu face-to-face about settlement growth. This administration is talking with Israel about the wide range of policies on which we agree - and those precious few areas on which we disagree.

To read the full piece, click here.

Comments