Beware of Jews in High Office

Provocative title? It's not what you think.

Jewish Americans are often proud to see other Jewish Americans in high office -- be it in politics, business, or other noble pursuits. It makes us -- a mere 2 percent of the American population -- feel that we're contributing positively to the American experience. Others may have additional reasons why we gloat over such a thing.

But it also so happens that when some Jewish Americans achieve such heights, they disown their Judaism out of a sense of shame and to avoid being seen as different. Israeli Middle East commentator Isi Leiber brilliantly uses the experience of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to illustrate the point much better. This is a must-read, especially for anyone who automatically thinks that any Jewish American in high office is always a good thing.

Making the Case Against Obama's Middle East Policy

President Obama couldn't be all that bad for Israel and the Jews. After all, some 80 percent of Jews, if not more, voted for him, a good percentage of his campaign funds came from Jews, and his Chief of Staff, for heaven's sake, is a Jew. So, he couldn't possibly harbor any hostility toward Jews or Israel, right?

Wrong!

Bush Administration State Department adviser on anti-Semitism Gregg Rickman, does an outstanding job explaining most of Obama's missteps on Israel and the Middle East, and offenses against American Jews, thus far as President in this opinion article. All should read it.

It would appear that the Obama White House lacks some serious quality control. After all, how could someone like former UN official Mary Robinson, who ignored anti-Jewish attacks at the Durban Conference, be awarded by Obama a Presidential Metal of Freedom? Don't expect American Jewish organizations to protest. According to an account in the Forward, their leaders are too afraid to burn bridges with the new Administration.

Media Faults Obama on Israel Policy

Voices criticizing President Obama's policy toward Israel are increasing. Anyone interested in developments in US-Israel relations and the Israel-Palestinian issue must drop everything and read the following three referenced items:

On July 30, the Washington Post published an outstanding editorial arguing Obama's very public anti-settlement stance and general hostility toward Israel may backfire.

This followed an equally stellar piece in the Jerusalem Post by Isi Leibler calling on American Jews who voted for Obama to cash in their chits and demand a more understandable approach to Israel from the White House. (They should also, by the way, beg forgiveness from us American Jews who knew better and voted McCain.) Among Leibler's points: none other than the Zionist Organization of America was excluded from a White House meeting about Israel between Obama and American Jewish groups at which the ZOA's defense of Jewish housing in Jerusalem and the West Bank could otherwise have been heard. Shamefully, no other group reportedly presented such a perspective.

Finally, the Australian reminded anyone who needed to be reminded -- which excludes the MiddleEastContrarian -- that reformed Palestinian leadership "mature enough" to confront terrorism -- and not Jewish settlements -- is the key to Israel-Palestinian peace.