Jewish Leaders Praise Obama’s Outreach to Community **UPDATED**

David Streeter — March 3, 2011 – 5:14 pm | Barack Obama | Foreign Policy | Israel Comments (3) Add a comment

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama held an intimate meeting with nearly 50 leaders from the American Jewish community, including NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris. During the meeting the participants discussed a number of topics but focused heavily on the state of U.S.-Israel relations. Obama’s words and direct engagement with Jewish communal leaders have drawn significant praise and gratitude from those who attended. (Updates can be found below.)

Following the meeting, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Chairman Alan S. Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein said:

We appreciate the extraordinary session we had with President Obama today during which we were able to engage in an open dialogue relating to issues of concern to the Jewish community.  The President reaffirmed his deep commitment to Israel’s security and set out his view as to how the United States can promote the values it shares with Israel as the region undergoes change.  The open lines of communication with President Obama and his Administration are highly valued and provide us with the opportunity to articulate the views of American Jewry on issues that face our country.

And:

Contrary to certain public reports, the meeting was conducted in an atmosphere of warmth, friendship and openness and there was no expression of hostility toward Israel or its government. In fact, the President stated his unequivocal support for the strong relationship and the unbreakable bonds between the United States and Israel and his personal commitment to working with Israel in these challenging times. He expressed understanding for Israel’s needs and said the United States had no better friend in the world, noting the shared values that are at the core of both nations.

He acknowledged the wide range of opinion within the American Jewish community and the possibility that not all of those present would agree with each of his tactical decisions. The President articulated his expectations of all parties with respect to the Middle East peace process. The President underscored the unprecedented security cooperation with and support for Israel. He asserted his commitment to maintaining Israel’s qualitative edge and to sustaining foreign aid to Israel. The President asserted that efforts to delegitimize Israel would be met with a firm response.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) President Steve Gutow said:

Spending nearly an hour on Tuesday with President Obama together with other Jewish leaders was an honor and personally meaningful. The interaction throughout was friendly, constructive, and candid. President Obama expressed unambiguous support for Israel and displayed a deep understanding of its many security challenges. He discussed the volatile situation in the Middle East, and it was clear that the President and his team are focusing their attention on these developments in a serious and thoughtful manner.

In addition, we expressed appreciation for the recent U.S. veto of the one-sided United Nations Security Council resolution designed to isolate Israel. The President and his Administration have demonstrated their friendship with the organized Jewish community and we look forward to a continuing partnership with them on our shared priorities, both domestic and international.

Globes reported:

Responding to ‘challenging’ questions by the participants, Obama said that there very well may be differences of opinion between his administration and some in the US Jewish community regarding one aspect or another of America’s Middle East policy, but that it is impossible to cast doubt regarding the sincerity of America’s intentions regarding Israel.

Obama said that while there may be different paths to reach a goal, and there may be disagreement over which path to take, they all agree on the goal of attaining peace and security for Israel.

And:

A Jewish leader told Globes, ‘Several accounts which leaked after the meeting, according to which Obama displayed hostility toward Israel, those descriptions are garbage. The President displayed understanding of Israel’s problems, and reiterated US support, but at the same time he did not hide his view that Israel, the US, and the Arab world cannot ignore the lessons of the developments in the region.’

The Jerusalem Post also reported on the meeting:

Overall, [a] participant said, ‘His comments were very supportive of Israel and the Jewish people. He said it extremely well and extremely strongly.’

He described Obama as ‘down to earth, straight-forward, a guy who really appears to be concerned about Israel.’

 

**Update March 4, 2011**

According to JTA, Stephen Greenberg of Hillel said about the meeting:

I came away from the meeting impressed by the president’s commitment to Israel’s safety and security. ... He gave us a full hour of his time, listened carefully to our concerns and responded thoughtfully.

Also, click here to read a powerful account of the meeting written by Rabbi Gerald C. Skolnik, Vice President of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly. Skolnik wrote:

I must tell you… I found it remarkably refreshing to be spoken to by a politician- and not just any politician, but the President of the United States- in a way that was not canned, or full of applause lines that some speech writer had inserted to guarantee that those in the room would hear what they wanted to hear.

Most of our time together was for questions from the floor. In his brief introductory comments, the President forcefully and eloquently spoke to the unbreakable ties between the United States and Israel, born of the common values shared between two vibrant democracies.

Now more than ever, as so many countries in that region experience unrest and upheaval, those ties are vitally important both to Israel and America. I left with no doubt as to his sincerity in this regard.

 

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