Obama Trumpets Israel Support in Call to Rabbis
President Obama discussed the Middle East and education policy in a pre-Rosh Hashanah call with rabbis.
Close to 900 rabbis listened into Obama?s call Thursday afternoon, which was arranged by the Reform movement?s Religious Action Center. Obama has made such calls since 2009, the first year of his presidency.
He fielded two questions, one about what the changes of the ?Arab Spring? mean for Israel, the other about funding for schools. Obama said the United States was committed to Israel, and noted close U.S.-Israel cooperation and his efforts to isolate Iran as long as it advances its suspected nuclear weapons program.
In remarks obtained by the Washington Jewish Week, he said: ?The most important thing we can do to stabilize the strategic situation for Israel is if we can actually resolve the Palestinian-Israeli crisis because that?s what feeds so much of the tumult in Egypt. That?s what I think has created the deep tension between Turkey and Israel and Turkey has historically been a friend and ally of Israel?s. That?s why we think direct negotiations are so critical.?
Rabbi Avi Shafran, the spokesman for Agudath Israel of America, said the phone call in addition to Obama?s speech this week to the United Nations created a positive impression.
?He spoke about his commitment to Israel and to peace around the world,? said Shafran. In response to concerns expressed about poor funding for schools, Obama agreed and touted his recently unveiled jobs program, which includes a major teachers hiring component.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
