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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.
The president, 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, 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 says 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.
Participants said Obama didn't introduce any new proposals during the hourlong discussion, but spent the bulk of the time seeking comments and trying to allay concerns.
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Read Comments (36) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:01 PM Anonymous Says:
ein lonu ela leovinu shebashomayim
2
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:01 PM Anonymous Says:
What do you expect? He doesn't have an original thought in his head. He just looks good (sic) & speaks in a beautiful voice. Unfortunately, we have a useless President who doesn't know bobkes about running the country.
3
Jul 13, 2009 at 05:55 PM Anonymous Says:
Not one Rabbi? Not a single Rabbinic figure? Imagine if he had met with any other g\religuous group, at least one person might have actually been a real leader of sorts and not just self important political wannabes and jewish organization hockers!
4
Jul 13, 2009 at 05:51 PM Anonymous Says:
Didn't think different....
5
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:04 PM Anonymous Says:
it seems this was more for show then anythng else. discuss wat people knw don't bring any new concerns up. the u.s. and israel have had a good long standing relationship. the u.s. has helped a lot weapons money ect.. but does the u.s. have isreals best intersts in mind when we are told 2give back land that is rightful jewish land when for the past 10yrs. nothing good has come from doing that. wat benfit will israel have with a another arab country on its borders? instead of being attacked by terriost people , they will b attacked by a terriost state. they have not kept one agreement that has been made? why would they agree if they have a arab state? the u.n will still yell how trebile isaerl is the u.s. will tell israel to not defend herself (as usual which is unheard of) so wat is the point. ???
6
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:29 PM yoreh yoreh smicha Says:
“ Not one Rabbi? Not a single Rabbinic figure? Imagine if he had met with any other g\religuous group, at least one person might have actually been a real leader of sorts and not just self important political wannabes and jewish organization hockers! ”
what, Rabbi Steven Wernick is not a rabbi. Rabbi is the term in Judaism for a religious teacher. so by definition he is a rabbi. You should look at the nes just getting all these people in the same room
7
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:19 PM Babishka Says:
Piece Now and J Street were invited but Young Israel was shunned.
8
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:43 PM ...one who sees Says:
right let amundjadidan build bombs .........yet...dont allow some guy to build a new bedroom in the westside...gevaldig
9
Jul 13, 2009 at 06:57 PM Anonymous Says:
I wonder how the group was selected, who decided who is to be invited, Young Israel was not there, Agudah Israel was not there.
10
Jul 13, 2009 at 07:14 PM Anonymous Says:
Neither was Rabbi Levi Shemtov of American friends of Lubavitch in DC
11
Jul 13, 2009 at 08:28 PM i weasnt invited either Says:
Well, agudah wouldn't be as they are not mebers,as neither is lubavitch, of the conference of predidents of major jewish organizations. Young israel was prob shunned because they would have brought up our brother pollard, and the president prob has no idea who he is!
13
Jul 13, 2009 at 09:09 PM Sarah Says:
Obama is a community organizer at heart. He knows the schmooze. Obama knows he has to appear to be moderate and responsive and concerned. What he does, as we all can see, is follow his agenda. Obama is very sly- look at who he did not invite..
14
Jul 13, 2009 at 07:48 PM rivkie Says:
I wonder if anyone used the opportunity to explain to the president that there is no possibility of a two state solution or of peace with arabs and he should not pressure Israel since G-d gave Israel to the Jews and nobody has a right to give one inch of it away.
15
Jul 13, 2009 at 10:03 PM Anonymous Says:
“ I wonder if anyone used the opportunity to explain to the president that there is no possibility of a two state solution or of peace with arabs and he should not pressure Israel since G-d gave Israel to the Jews and nobody has a right to give one inch of it away. ”
No, the individuals that were there are a lot smarter than that
16
Jul 13, 2009 at 09:42 PM jack Says:
“ I wonder if anyone used the opportunity to explain to the president that there is no possibility of a two state solution or of peace with arabs and he should not pressure Israel since G-d gave Israel to the Jews and nobody has a right to give one inch of it away. ”
U'mipnai chatainu gulinu m'artzeinu....but when the day is gonna come let it be today uvnai yerushalayim there will be no obama there will be no iran no putin and no korea there will be vhoyo hashem echod ushmo echod!
17
Jul 13, 2009 at 09:37 PM Anonymous Says:
Mr. Obama is a great leader and I really think he tries his best you will always have people criticizing no matter what he's not jewish and his name is certainly not goldberg but he wants good and b'ezras hashem good will happen
18
Jul 14, 2009 at 04:30 AM Joe Klein Says:
“ Mr. Obama is a great leader and I really think he tries his best you will always have people criticizing no matter what he's not jewish and his name is certainly not goldberg but he wants good and b'ezras hashem good will happen ”
is a great leader of what? has he accomplished one great thing in his life? if yes I
would like to know what.
He is on his way to totally destroy the American economy.
Think with your head (if there is something there) not with your emotions and don't
just parrot what the left wing media says.
19
Jul 14, 2009 at 02:30 AM Anonymous Says:
hes a lawyer - nothing more nothing less.israel will have HAVE to show inner strength in times like this.
20
Jul 13, 2009 at 11:44 PM New York Jew Says:
Jews are such fools. When he picked Rahm, we celebrated, when he held a Seder, we celebrated, and now this. Maybe someone should ask the man why only 6% of Israeli's feel he is a friend to Israel. Maybe they've figured out something that these clowns have yet to grasp.
21
Jul 14, 2009 at 07:21 AM Herschel Says:
“ Jews are such fools. When he picked Rahm, we celebrated, when he held a Seder, we celebrated, and now this. Maybe someone should ask the man why only 6% of Israeli's feel he is a friend to Israel. Maybe they've figured out something that these clowns have yet to grasp. ”
He will be remembered as one of the greatest con man of all times.
He hoodwinked a majority of Americans to vote for an empty suit.
Although that is more a testimony of the stupidity of 53% of Americans.
22
Jul 14, 2009 at 08:57 AM Anonymous Says:
Havei Zohir Bechvodo Shel Malchus!
23
Jul 14, 2009 at 09:15 AM Anonymous Says:
“ is a great leader of what? has he accomplished one great thing in his life? if yes I
would like to know what.
He is on his way to totally destroy the American economy.
Think with your head (if there is something there) not with your emotions and don't
just parrot what the left wing media says. ”
Destroy WHAT American economy?
You mean that house of cards we all lived in for sixteen of the last twenty four years?
The one that crashed and burned before election day, send him to the White House?
The $4.50 gallon of gas economy?
The solve the energy problems by drilling in Alaska for 3% of the oil we burn?
The Bernie Madoff all show and no substance economy?
The $1,800.00 a month health insurance economy?
If you really hate him you should be mad as hell at the REPUBLICANS we got him elected. If they hadn't spent us out of the biggest surplus in history into the biggest deficit in history and hadn't left the Afgan and Iraq wars in the hands of Dick Rumsfeld, and would drop their love affair with the human embryo, among other great moves, we'd all be saluting President McCain right now.
If McCain didn't need to pacify the far right-wing of the party he could have picked a real running mate, with real experience and foriegn affairs credentials instead of Sarah Palin.
So thank Rummy, Cheney & Co. for President Obama.
24
Jul 14, 2009 at 11:03 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Mr. Obama is a great leader and I really think he tries his best you will always have people criticizing no matter what he's not jewish and his name is certainly not goldberg but he wants good and b'ezras hashem good will happen ”
You keep ignoring the fact that he is a personal friend of terrorists and antisemites. The world says "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are".
25
Jul 14, 2009 at 11:06 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Destroy WHAT American economy?
You mean that house of cards we all lived in for sixteen of the last twenty four years?
The one that crashed and burned before election day, send him to the White House?
The $4.50 gallon of gas economy?
The solve the energy problems by drilling in Alaska for 3% of the oil we burn?
The Bernie Madoff all show and no substance economy?
The $1,800.00 a month health insurance economy?
If you really hate him you should be mad as hell at the REPUBLICANS we got him elected. If they hadn't spent us out of the biggest surplus in history into the biggest deficit in history and hadn't left the Afgan and Iraq wars in the hands of Dick Rumsfeld, and would drop their love affair with the human embryo, among other great moves, we'd all be saluting President McCain right now.
If McCain didn't need to pacify the far right-wing of the party he could have picked a real running mate, with real experience and foriegn affairs credentials instead of Sarah Palin.
So thank Rummy, Cheney & Co. for President Obama. ”
Palin has more executive experience than McCain, Obama, and Biden put together.
26
Jul 14, 2009 at 11:04 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Havei Zohir Bechvodo Shel Malchus! ”
He may think he's a king, but he's not.
27
Jul 14, 2009 at 12:01 PM Anonymous Says:
At the rate he is going he will lose the next election! Not inviting young israel, and Agudah, and Lubavitch , is a lot of votes!!
28
Jul 14, 2009 at 12:47 PM chuchem Lazer Says:
“ Havei Zohir Bechvodo Shel Malchus! ”
Did the gedolim say this in the spanish inqusition? Don't be a B'hima
29
Jul 14, 2009 at 01:45 PM to political expert 27 Says:
“ At the rate he is going he will lose the next election! Not inviting young israel, and Agudah, and Lubavitch , is a lot of votes!! ”
It is not about votes.
By selectively not inviting certain representatives (the only ones who might really challenge him) he has demonstrated that he is not interested in hearing and dialoguing with the Jewish community, rather he is interested in pulling the wool over their eyes. They gather a bunch of people of whom the vast majority are knee-jerk Obama supporters. Some of them, of course, as "Jewish leaders" are a bit concerned with how they see him behaving. But considering they are otherwise huge fans of his, all he needed to do was talk to them a bit and make them feel good. Now they are less nervous (like a patient going in for heart surgery, a bit scared; so you talk to the patient and calm him down, let him meet the doctor, see how he smiles and is really friendly, and now the patient is ready to close his eyes and accept the anesthesia).
In this case, the "surgery" is the dissection of Israel. If the patient "dies on the table" you can be sure that "doctor Obama" won't shed a tear. After all, when you are "changing" the world, you will lose some patients along the way. But does it really matter, when the "true inhabitants" of the "Palestine" will finally get "their land" back?
30
Jul 14, 2009 at 02:42 PM Herschel Says:
“ Destroy WHAT American economy?
You mean that house of cards we all lived in for sixteen of the last twenty four years?
The one that crashed and burned before election day, send him to the White House?
The $4.50 gallon of gas economy?
The solve the energy problems by drilling in Alaska for 3% of the oil we burn?
The Bernie Madoff all show and no substance economy?
The $1,800.00 a month health insurance economy?
If you really hate him you should be mad as hell at the REPUBLICANS we got him elected. If they hadn't spent us out of the biggest surplus in history into the biggest deficit in history and hadn't left the Afgan and Iraq wars in the hands of Dick Rumsfeld, and would drop their love affair with the human embryo, among other great moves, we'd all be saluting President McCain right now.
If McCain didn't need to pacify the far right-wing of the party he could have picked a real running mate, with real experience and foriegn affairs credentials instead of Sarah Palin.
So thank Rummy, Cheney & Co. for President Obama. ”
You are from the "my mind is made up don't bother me with the facts" crowd.
The fact is if the liberals won't let us drill for oil than you will have not $4.50 a gallon
gas but $10.00
#2 I bet that Bernie the ganev is a Democrat.
#3 High health insurance costs is a direct result of government mandating insurance
companies to pay things like Accupuncture, sex change, chiropractor and hundreds
of other procedures that are not exactly health problems, and also a big reason for
the high cost is because a doctor has to pay about $300,000 a year for malpractice
insurance for these frivolous lawsuits and all these things are pushed down our throats by Democrat lawyers and politicians.
#4 the economy crashed and burned mainley because of the fradulent mortgages
that were rampant for the 4-5 years prior and a direct result of the "Comunity reinvestment act" (giving mortgages to low income people who can't afford to pay
their first installment) that was passed in Congress when Clinton was in office.
First you should know all the facts and not parrot what the left wing media spouts.
31
Jul 14, 2009 at 02:32 PM Anonymous Says:
“ It is not about votes.
By selectively not inviting certain representatives (the only ones who might really challenge him) he has demonstrated that he is not interested in hearing and dialoguing with the Jewish community, rather he is interested in pulling the wool over their eyes. They gather a bunch of people of whom the vast majority are knee-jerk Obama supporters. Some of them, of course, as "Jewish leaders" are a bit concerned with how they see him behaving. But considering they are otherwise huge fans of his, all he needed to do was talk to them a bit and make them feel good. Now they are less nervous (like a patient going in for heart surgery, a bit scared; so you talk to the patient and calm him down, let him meet the doctor, see how he smiles and is really friendly, and now the patient is ready to close his eyes and accept the anesthesia).
In this case, the "surgery" is the dissection of Israel. If the patient "dies on the table" you can be sure that "doctor Obama" won't shed a tear. After all, when you are "changing" the world, you will lose some patients along the way. But does it really matter, when the "true inhabitants" of the "Palestine" will finally get "their land" back? ”
He had people who represent 90% - 95% of American Jews.
Get over yourselves already.
We aren't even a blip on the screen of national elections.
32
Jul 14, 2009 at 02:30 PM Anonymous Says:
“ At the rate he is going he will lose the next election! Not inviting young israel, and Agudah, and Lubavitch , is a lot of votes!! ”
Good one. Real funny.
Between the three they can't change the outcome of the NYC mayoral race.
33
Jul 14, 2009 at 02:29 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Palin has more executive experience than McCain, Obama, and Biden put together. ”
HAH!
Running the State of Alaska qualifies as executive experience suitable for the white house? That's like saying a retired bus driver can run an airline because he has fifty years experience in the transportation industry.
Her only qualification for the job of McCain's running mate was that she is a right-wing politician obssessed with human embryos.
34
Jul 14, 2009 at 07:05 PM Anonymous Says:
“ At the rate he is going he will lose the next election! Not inviting young israel, and Agudah, and Lubavitch , is a lot of votes!! ”
You forget NY is locked up, your you and the other votes doesn’t count, Thank God
35
Jul 14, 2009 at 06:55 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Mr. Obama is a great leader and I really think he tries his best you will always have people criticizing no matter what he's not jewish and his name is certainly not goldberg but he wants good and b'ezras hashem good will happen ”
You just keep on drinkin the Kool aid. One day you'll wake up, hopefully before it's too late and history does not repeat itself lo aleinu.
36
Jul 15, 2009 at 10:53 AM Charlie Hall Says:
“ You are from the "my mind is made up don't bother me with the facts" crowd.
The fact is if the liberals won't let us drill for oil than you will have not $4.50 a gallon
gas but $10.00
#2 I bet that Bernie the ganev is a Democrat.
#3 High health insurance costs is a direct result of government mandating insurance
companies to pay things like Accupuncture, sex change, chiropractor and hundreds
of other procedures that are not exactly health problems, and also a big reason for
the high cost is because a doctor has to pay about $300,000 a year for malpractice
insurance for these frivolous lawsuits and all these things are pushed down our throats by Democrat lawyers and politicians.
#4 the economy crashed and burned mainley because of the fradulent mortgages
that were rampant for the 4-5 years prior and a direct result of the "Comunity reinvestment act" (giving mortgages to low income people who can't afford to pay
their first installment) that was passed in Congress when Clinton was in office.
First you should know all the facts and not parrot what the left wing media spouts. ”
To further prove that your $300,000 figure is incorrect, go to this site for actual premiums charged in New York State:
http://www.mlmic.com/portal/WhatsMyRate.aspx
For example, an ob/gyn in Brooklyn would pay $163,269 annually for an occurrence policy; a family physician in the Bronx would pay $22,326.
37
Jul 15, 2009 at 10:47 AM Charlie Hall Says:
“ You are from the "my mind is made up don't bother me with the facts" crowd.
The fact is if the liberals won't let us drill for oil than you will have not $4.50 a gallon
gas but $10.00
#2 I bet that Bernie the ganev is a Democrat.
#3 High health insurance costs is a direct result of government mandating insurance
companies to pay things like Accupuncture, sex change, chiropractor and hundreds
of other procedures that are not exactly health problems, and also a big reason for
the high cost is because a doctor has to pay about $300,000 a year for malpractice
insurance for these frivolous lawsuits and all these things are pushed down our throats by Democrat lawyers and politicians.
#4 the economy crashed and burned mainley because of the fradulent mortgages
that were rampant for the 4-5 years prior and a direct result of the "Comunity reinvestment act" (giving mortgages to low income people who can't afford to pay
their first installment) that was passed in Congress when Clinton was in office.
First you should know all the facts and not parrot what the left wing media spouts. ”
Herschel,
#1 -- Drilling for oil in the US only makes sense if the cost goes up and stays up; otherwise the oil companies can't recover the cost of production. But in any case there are not any large reserves left to be discovered in the US comparable to those in the Middle East.
#3 -- Many of those mandates were not "pushed down our throats" but were the result of aggressive lobbying by the frum community, in particular the expensive mandate for assisted reproductive technology. And while lawsuits do cause an increase in the cost of healthcare, your figure of $300,000 a year is grossly inflated for malpractice insurance premiums for most physicians. My wife is a practicing physician and she has never paid a malpractice insurance premium even one tenth that high.
#4 -- Independent mortgage institutions NOT subject to the community reinvestment act had a higher fraction of problem loans than those banks that are subject to the law. And the law was enacted in 1977, 15 years before Clinton was elected.
You should know all the facts and not parrot what he right wing media spouts, especially when they are half truths or out and out falsehoods.