I am supporting Obama for president for two reasons: one is my disdain for the McCain-Palin ticket, and the other my respect and admiration for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Among Jewish voters, some feel the basic question is which candidate will act in the best interest of Israel. The answer is Barack Obama. As an American Jew who loves Israel, I cannot support John McCain. He cannot provide what Israel needs most--a respected, credible, morally strong America. To have the United States and Israel both regarded by the rest of the world as unreliable and in isolation is no way to solve the problems that plague both countries. This has been the effect of the Bush policies, and these are the policies that John McCain has promised to continue. Barack Obama is the candidate who can restore America's moral authority in the world and position our government to help negotiate peace.
The most vexing problem Israel faces is its relations with its neighbors. From the inception of the state until today, Israelis have felt besieged, surrounded by enemies who want to make them disappear. The constant security threat has made it very difficult for Israel to address the long list of problems that for the most part have been swept under the rug while awaiting peace. These include a disastrous educational system, a widening gap between rich and poor, and bitter division between secular and religious Jews. Israel desperately needs peace if it is to come anywhere close to being the "light unto nations" of Jewish dreams.
I quarrel with the oft-heard assumption that "George W. Bush is good for Israel." He gleaned many Jewish votes on that slogan, but I take a contrarian's position. Israel is further from peace than it was at the end of the Clinton administration. The smoldering hatred between Iraq's Sunni and Shi'a has burst into flames as a result of the American occupation. An emboldened Iran, with its Shi'a majority, has strengthened and armed Israel's enemies Hamas and Hezbollah. But Israel's most immediate danger comes from a nuclear Iran. Under the Bush administration, conversations with the Iranians began only at the end of May 2007 and have been badly mishandled. The result of the Bush doctrine in the Middle East has been an America and an Israel that are regarded with hatred and fear.
The region requires an honest broker that will push both sides towards a workable solution and a two state outcome. I remember the scene at the White House when President Clinton helped Prime Minister Rabin to shake Arafat's hand. Whether an American president is prepared to preside over another handshake--one that could build lasting peace--should not be measured by his professed love for one side or the other, but by his judgment.
John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate is the towering example of his poor judgment. Palin's ignorance of public affairs is monumental. Especially disturbing to the Jewish voter should be her willing acceptance of the campaign assignment of demagogy, which has stirred up racism and hate. The prospect of our having a 72-year-old president in poor health raises the real possibility that Palin could be our president, a thoroughly frightening thought. (I am well aware, in my eightieth year, of the flagging energy of any 72-year-old.) McCain's choice of Palin was a bid to the extremists in the Republican party, not the considered choice of a man who puts his country first.
Barack Obama is the leader who can begin to undo some of the damage done by Bush's policies. His background as an American who has lived among diverse cultures makes him sensitive to the cultural and religious motives that shape conflicts. He is cerebral, measured, calm, and pragmatic. By his character, he will engage these issues with more than stonewalling and weapons. He is brilliant in his choices of advisors. He is a tough idealist who has the courage to imagine an America that may inspire hope, not fear, in the Middle East and around the world.
Voters who care about Israel's welfare should ask which candidate will help sustain the ties between Israel and American Jews. Those of us who were alive at the creation of Israel have a love for Israel that is tied to the Holocaust, to the displaced persons camps and to the early struggles for a Jewish homeland. We were all as generous as we could be in support of Israel, as donors and as advocates. Now there is a generation growing up that is more distant from Israel than I should like. Young Jews do not automatically support Israel, and many are rightly troubled by what they learn about the ill treatment of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation. No longer motivated by fear of anti-Semitism, they seek to understand what Israel stands for, not to say "my Israel, right or wrong." Without strong support among the younger generation of American Jews, Israel may lose its vital relationship with the US government.
Obama can inspire much-needed support for Israel among this next generation of American Jews. He reflects their idealism and speaks in the language of hope they understand. His approach to international affairs shows a commitment to restoring America's reputation and to working with our allies to combat war, poverty, disease, and environmental destruction. He has articulated a vision for American society that does not ask us to ignore our differences--religious, racial, or economic--but to set aside divisive rhetoric and acknowledge that we all have a stake in building a more ethical society. Under his leadership a renewed America can help to foster a renewed Israel. Barack Obama is an inspiring American, willing and able to lead this nation and the world to new heights in very perilous times. I will vote for him with enthusiasm.
Edgar M. Bronfman is the former president of the World Jewish Congress. He is the author, with Beth Zasloff, of Hope, Not Fear: A Path to Jewish Renaissance (St. Martin's Press, 2008).
Jerry Silverman: Passing Down Jewish Heritage All Year Long
Bronfman's argument is right. I would say it is honorable but I wonder if he is building a misdirection firewall. His substantial influence should have averted much of what he argues. Hopefully he is open to taking a moral step. He can lead by taking some responsibility for innocently and unknowingly sheltering foreign agency breeches. It would benefit Jews and Americans worldwide.
The great worry of the next 50 years is brewing right now in the theocratic turmoil of Israel. And it is not just in Israel! The crossroads for Israel has and will impact the Jewish diaspora and American policy.
Zionism will soon be the minor issue (Sharon eventually did and even Olmert sees that). The great Jewish threat is building around radical orthodoxy. You want dogma and drama? Reflect on the lawless behavior of settlers, that's not about Zionism or land it's about dogma.
Without foreign agency enforcement I fear that any identity conflict will be even messier for all including America.
cf. Rooseveltdem's post below as a very minor example of such friction.
In even such a minor case; foreign agency enforcement represents a backstop for freedom from any dogma and any religious conflict particularly in developing and projecting equitable moral policy.
May I ask the Author of this eloquent, highly respectably 'objective' piece a personnel and direct Question, hmm?
Since you are Jewish American "who Loves Israel" - as you said - if it should , g-d forbid, ever come to where you “might” have to chose between the two Nations, which will YOU chose???
This is a legitimate Question about “liability” and “loyalty" since the same similar questionable Loyalty doubts about Obama and U.S. People of other “Tribes”, Ethnicities and Beliefs have arouse and are politicized.
Seriously Mr. E. M. Bronfman, I would like an answer to that Question from you. even if I would have to go through all comments here to find it. And Please, I beg of you, do NOT resort to moral Equivalences argumentations and totally displaced accusations of "Antisemitism" here.
As said earlier I am highly impressed by the accuracy and honesty of your words. The few public Figures dared to express such with in-sight and self-reflections are Prof N. Comsky, Historian Tony Judt, Prof. Stephen Walt, Prof. J. Mearsheimer and J. Carter.
Shalom!
SoD1
In 1937, Winston Churchill said of the Palestinians, "I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right.... I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place."
In 1947, the U.N. formally partitioned Palestine and allotted 55 per cent of Palestine's land to the Zionists. Within a year, they had captured 76 per cent. On the 14th of May 1948 the State of Israel was declared. Minutes after the declaration, the United States recognized Israel. The West Bank was annexed by Jordan. The Gaza strip came under Egyptian military control, and formally Palestine ceased to exist except in the minds and hearts of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people who became refugees. In 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza strip.
This is not about "the creation of Israel ... tied to the Holocaust, to the displaced persons camps "
See, e.g., Sammy Davis, Jr.
Additionally, the countries of the Middle East and the rest of the world would be less inclined to view the United States in such a negative light. If we go about declaring that an attack against Israel an attack against the United States then what is the rest of the world to think if Israel attacks a neighbor states--an attack by the United States? We owe Israel no more support than we offer NATO members and we should denounce aggression by them just as we would any other nation.
You may say that you are going to vote for Obama, but I sense that there is something deceptive in your post. I think that you want to perpetuate the idea that Democrats are less supportive of Israel than the Republicans. That would be a false idea. First of all the Republican Party is heavily laced with bigots and right wing fascists. I'm willing to bet more members of fascist race hating fanatics. People like the Aryan Nations, Nazi and KKK types are more inclined to vote right wing. Why in the world would they be inclined to care what happens to Israel when they hate Jews. Why would any sensible Jew want to align themselves with that type, it would be crazy. Democrats are not about trying to destroy or otherwise sever relations with Israel. What they do want to see is an end to Israeli rightwing zealots continually ratcheting up violence in the Middle East. Democrats want to see an end to land stealing by settlers. This has only served to provoke more anger on the part of the Palestinians. This does nothing for Peace. So vote how you will, just don't try to pass on this B.S. logic of yours. It doesn't fly.
Secretary Rice knew it when she made those tedious trips in middle East.
I hope that we, who love Israel and want peace for the Middle East, all realize that Barack Obama is the candidate of choice.
The GOP supporters who are spewing the hateful myths re Obama will be surprised (I hope) when they see the overwhelming victory for Obama.
How has the interest of the people of the United States been served by having become partners in crime with the Israelis? How does surrendering our foreign policy to a foreign country benefit us?
Why must we fight for Israel to the detriment of our own people, the people of the middle east and of the world. Why do we turn a blind eye to Israeli land grabs and the brutal oppression of the Palestinians. How are America's interests served by supporting a right wing theocracy in Arabia?
It is clear that the Israeli tail is wagging the U.S. dog for its own interests, ours be damned. Somehow they have conned us into doing their bidding.
Why do America's interest take a back seat to that of the Israeli's?
Dear Y. I have been very upset with the latest effort many Jewish spokespersons who have questioned Obama’s support for Israel. I even read comments suggesting that he is anti-Semitic. I am sure this is aimed at the Fl vote. We like most American Jews are supporters of Israel. But I agree with the Israeli Prime Minister who wrote: Israel if it wants peace must withdraw its West-bank settlements, swapping them for some Palestinian territory, and must accept Palestinian capitol in East Jerusalem! I think 40% of Israelis support a two-state solution. It is my view that unless this solution is achieved Israel is doomed to living in a state of war and terror forever. I may be naive, as Obama has been accused of being, but I believe that the majority of the West Bank population would also welcome this kind of solution. Of course the extremists would do everything in their power to undermine this solution. In time their efforts would fail and they will become marginalized. Y, If you feel comfortable talking about this, I look forward to your reaction.
Dr Bronfman do you share my concerns about "Israel right or wrong" voters?
I have the good fortune to have grown up in an area populated by large numbers of Jews that fled or survived Nazi Europe. I am also lucky of having historical context drummed into my head by virtue of my own Jewish heritage. Finally, I spent time on an aircraft carrier on full alert ( defcon 4) during October 1973. Trust me, while I am an idealist, I understand that it IS a dangerous world.
BTW, the "interanational" community does not have much of a track record over the last milleniium when iot comes to coming to the aid of Jews.
BTW, that last remark could apply to many cultures, some that have already disappeared and some that have been almost completely decimated. Just as an aside, did Israel come to the aid of the Tutsis? Are they helping in Darfur? Did they participate in Bosnia, Kosovo, or any of those other breakaways from Yugoslavia. I was just wondering about it because maybe it's not just the rest of the world that doesn't care about Jews, Maybe everyone, including Jews (Israel) cares very little about anything other than themselves. It might be that this is a Universal trait throughout our world.
The Questions who is truely the threat to not only the Region , the U.S (partial cause of Terror maybe?) but to the enitre Rest of World,- I believe - must still be determined!
What is by now undeniable, is that religious Extremism and Fanatism of all colour are the biggest threat to al of us.
Regards.
SoD1
The problem in my opinion, is the same problem the rest of the world faces wherever there are Islamists. Whether Thailand, or the Philippines or Russia or India, Islamists are determined to separate from or force conversion or even kill those who refuse to accept Allah.
The Left continues to see this as some far out right wing fantasy at their and our collective peril. I believe Obama will see things as they are and not through any ideological prism which is what those on the left are hoping for.
I understand that in Israel there have been clashes between Orthodox Jews and less Orthodox and secular Israelis who didn't see things their way. These clashes have often led to violence and injuries. Even Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by zealots. So isn't that similar in some ways to the way some Islamists behave, eh?