New York – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alliance with an ultranationalist political party has raised significant concerns among U.S. Jews, a top leader in the Jewish American community said Sunday.
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Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said the alliance is “very disturbing” to many American Jews. He said there are also concerns that it will provide new ammunition for Israel’s critics.
Netanyahu last week welcomed a merger that folded the “Jewish Power” party into the larger “Jewish Home” for April elections. As part of their deal, Netanyahu gave the merged party a seat on his Likud Party’s list of candidates and guaranteed them two Cabinet positions if he wins.
“Jewish Power” members see themselves as the ideological heirs of the banned Kach movement, which was outlawed by Israel and the U.S. because of its racist views.
The deal has been widely criticized in Israel, and even strong supporters of Israel in the U.S. have spoken out against it. The American Jewish Committee, a major pro-Israel advocacy group, and the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC both called Jewish Power “reprehensible.”
“For those who follow this, there’s a lot of concern,” Hoenlein said in an interview.
“What we have to deal with is how it is perceived and understood in the United States,” Hoenlein said. “And we have to be very careful because it feeds certain tendencies that are very concerning to us.”
Hoenlein, who is visiting Israel, said he has not discussed the matter with Netanyahu and did not want to judge him. “He obviously has some political calculation that drove him to it, but politics can’t dictate everything. You have to take into consideration all of the ramifications and all of the concerns,” Hoenlein said.
Hoenlein said, however, that the “ultimate decision” will be made by the Israeli public, which he said rejects extremism.
Netanyahu on Saturday lashed out at his domestic critics on Saturday, claiming they have sought alliances with extremist Arab parties and accusing them of hypocrisy.
Wrong, Mr.Hoenlein, Bibi is doing the correct thing by including the ultra rightists.
Where’s your outrage when the cursed arabs, a true fifth column, that sides openly and brazenly with the enemies of Israel, sit in the knesset seeking Israel’s destruction.
Mr.Hoenlein, your outrage should go towards Israel’s enemies and NOT the ones seeking her protection !!!
Hoenlein and his half a million dollar salary is not any more important than a shoeshiner in pinsk like the federation. He only collects money to spend on himself
Of course, if American Jews would simply admit the truth that the Zionist State has nothing to do with Judaism and, therefore, nothing to do with them, then they would not care what the Zionists do in their elections.
Bibi is a far right blood soaked nationalist. He follows innthe footsteps of his mentors Zabotinsky and the likes. Hes a danger to the world. Its rak bedam. He cares for no one beaodes his Zionist agenda.
Hoenlein should keep quiet until and unless he moves to Israel and puts his money and his life and fortune where his mouth is. But he’s more interested in protecting his job and salary in the USA by placating leftist liberal Jews who donate to his organization.
Kahane merely spoke the truth. Israel can be a Jewish State, or a Democratic State; not both. And the hypocrisy of allowing Arabs, who openly call for a “one State solution”; including the “right of return for Arabs & their descendants; (i.e. the destruction of Israel as a Jewish State) in the Knesset, while condemning Kach, is mind boggling & contradictory.