Here is what I think is the Kerry logic.
Since Kerry is not George W. Bush, Kerry knows he can not lose the anyone but Bush vote... NO matter what he does.
Kerry can lose the Jewish vote in New York. He may need the Jewish vote in New York. So if Kerry cannot lose the anybody but Bush Vote, he can go after the Jewish vote. Bush has made inroads into the Jewish community. Kerry can't afford to lose the votes of the Jews.
Thus a strong pro Israel position has all up side for Kerry and no down side. The pro Muslim Democrats are not going to vote for Bush or Nader. Since their main object is to defeat Bush, they are going to vote for Kerry. Kerry needs the Jewish vote. This is a no lose position for Kerry.
Not exactly. Kerry doesn't generate any passion with the Dem base, he simply runs on the fumes of the Bush hatred. If he takes the same position on two of the issues that fuel the Bush hatred he won't get the voter turnout he needs. This is a solid step in creating apathy and indifference.
This isn't about the Jewish vote in New York. It's about the Jewish vote in Florida. The reason that state was so close last time was because conservative Jews voted to make Lieberman the first Jewish VP. Without Lieberman on the ticket, Kerry has little chance of repeating Gore's success in that state, which is critical to victory. So he panders based on policy, realligning himself with what he sees as the winning side, as he has done his entire career.