Clinton visit wows most Israelis, but some American Jews skeptical

Cleveland Jewish News ^ | Feb 26 2002 | Simon Carroll

[scratchgolfer]

Clinton visit wows most Israelis, but some American Jews skeptical

By Simon Carroll

JERUSALEM, Feb. 26 (JTA) -- Israelis are praising Hillary Clinton's recent swing through Jerusalem as a successful public relations trip that makes amends for her past indiscretions toward Jews and Israel.

But some visiting American Jewish leaders are critical of what the New York senator did not say, lamenting the absence of any pro-Israel legislative promises.

Others were left wondering whether Clinton's strong words -- she sharply criticized Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat -- and whirlwind trips to the city's key political and terror sites reflected political acumen more than genuine passion.

Israeli officials generally expressed delight, with Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert emphasizing the morale boost Clinton's visit gave his beleaguered citizens.

``It really was an important trip," Olmert told JTA, two days after buying Clinton a cup of coffee at the Sbarro pizzeria in downtown Jerusalem, scene of a huge suicide bombing in August. ``It gets us out of our feeling of isolation."

The bulk of the American Jewish leaders who gathered here for the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations also expressed satisfaction with Clinton's trip. Her itinerary included visits to the graves of Yitzhak and Leah Rabin, meetings with terror victims at a Hadassah hospital, three speeches, the pizzeria coffee session, a visit to the Western Wall and a trip to Magen David Adom, whose ambulances have raced to and from numerous bombing scenes.

``It hit the right buttons," said Leonard Cole, outgoing chairman of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. ``She said the right things, and I think she meant it."

Slightly less taken was Julio Messer, head of the American Friends of Likud.

``In the wake of Arafat's war of terrorism, I'm glad she's changed her position," he said. ``I would hope she's also changed her mind." Most who encountered Clinton were impressed by her charm.

``She's very smart, very politically savvy," said Mandell Ganchrow, executive vice president of the Religious Zionist Organization of America. ``She's certainly repairing the damage done by kissing Mrs. Arafat and so on. I think it's now forgiven. Her person-to-person skills are amazing."

During her 36 hours in Jerusalem, Clinton managed to find the right sentiment on each occasion, as noted by the country's leading daily, Ha'aretz.

``It was a display of her political-diplomatic skills, with the kind of maudlin American polish that no local Israeli politicians can muster with any authenticity," columnist Saguy Green wrote of Clinton's Hadassah hospital encounter with terror victims and doctors.

Among Clinton's political aims was to repair the damage from her embrace of Arafat's wife, Suha, on a previous visit to the region. Jews and Israelis were aghast when Clinton stood stoically by as Suha Arafat accused Israel of poisoning Palestinian water supplies -- and then kissed the Palestinian first lady.

This time, Clinton's political rhetoric was filled with condemnation of Yasser Arafat, who she said was ``squarely to blame" for the current violence.

She also lashed out at Iran, claiming its supply of weapons and $100 million annual terrorist budget, together with its efforts to develop nuclear weapons and missiles, make it a grave threat to both Israel and America.

Clinton also stressed that since Sept. 11, America increasingly understands that Israel is fighting the same battle against terrorism. Yet Clinton's rhetoric failed to convince Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America.

``Although we appreciate the condemnation of Arafat, we regret that she did not offer any specific pro-Israel legislative proposals, such as cutting off the $100 million annual aid to the Palestinian Authority, placing Arafat's Al-Fatah organization on the list of terror groups or getting America to move its embassy to Jerusalem," he said.

Klein also complained that Clinton had ``not been at the forefront" of pro-Israel legislative efforts.

In particular, he cited moves to compel the U.S. government to indict anyone who murders Americans anywhere in the world -- the so-called Koby Mandell Act, named after the young Israeli-American boy who was snatched by Palestinians while on a hike last year and then beaten and stabbed to death in a cave.

Klein also pointed out that Clinton had not stated her position on whether the Palestine Liberation Organization should be forced to close its offices in New York.

``In general, this trip left me concerned that she is not as supportive of Israel in concrete terms as one would expect from any New York senator,'' Klein said. JTA END

[LarryLied]

I can tell you as a Jewish conservative, we are gaining GOP ground big time, especially among the younger voters.

That is great. I am just a pessimist I guess. Or maybe I'm reading too much stuff from the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC).

[SJackson]

As a conservative, look ahead, not back.

You live in a nice part of the country. You have alligators where you live, I don't. You may have those elusive panthers (I've looked for their *rap once or twice). And you have those FDR voters who have lived though a lot and WON'T change.

But more important, in the context of our political (not lifestyle or geographic) discussion of Jewish voting patterns, you are in the deep backwaters, late FDR, not the leading edge. Pertaining to the voting patterns of younger Jews, you've acknowledged the change. I see it right now. For you, it may take years if you are only looking in your locale. Then again, you, not I can change that.

[veronica]

Republican Jewish Coalition

RJC POLL SHOWS JEWISH SUPPORT FOR BUSH

President Bush's handling of the War on Terrorism is earning him respect and praise all over the free world. The American Jewish community is responding to the President's actions, and his unwavering friendship for Israel, in very positive ways.

In a poll commissioned by the RJC, Jewish voters overwhelmingly approve of President Bush and the top leaders of his administration.

[Verginius Rufus]

Ehud Olmert? Named for a lefty, so he likes a lefty. See Judges 3:15.

.

.

Actually, left-handed. (According to the Septuagint, Ehud was ambidextrous.)

[CommiesOut]

"I am just a pessimist I guess."

Nope. You read books and learned stuff.

[liliana]

it's all part of running for president, nothing more nothing less.

[SJackson]

That is great. I am just a pessimist I guess. Or maybe I'm reading too much stuff from the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC).

You can never read too much, IMO you may have a tendancy to generalize what you read. And I'm not sure what you think that source represendt. I could give you better stuff to read, but that's not the point. If you are politically active, get out there and work. You're in an odd area demographically. If you have to skip the 90+ FDRers during business hours, fine, lobby their children, or grand children or great grandchildren. If you're not willing to do that, don't complain. And if you won't do anything, at least vote. Gov Reno, I won't be visiting your state.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I believe that she was referring to Dick Morris during that particular incident.

Nope. During a dispute over Dick's fees, she supposedly said something like "It's all about money with you people!"

[NYC GOP Chick]

This American Jew has *never* trusted or liked the Clintons.

The Hillary Watch - Because You KNOW She's Gonna Run for President

[veronica]

Politics is fluid. What was true last year might not be true next. The ranks of Republican Jews is growing. I think some people have trouble accepting that. It goes against their tired generalizations.

[LarryLied]

Trouble accepting that? Buy the bagels and the lox is on me if Jews go the way of almost every other group and split their vote. Heck, I'll settle for 59/39. If Democrats can't get 60% of the Jewish vote and money they are finished. The reason I don't see it occurring is Clinton and Gore. Jews overwhelming voted for both the most corrupt and the most socialistic candidate we've seen since... well, maybe never.

[DentsRun]

A majority of Jews haven't voted for a republican presidental candidate since the 1920 campaign of Warren Harding. In the last three presidential elections, the democratic candidate averaged 80% of the Jewish vote. In the 1982 elections, a mere 10% of jewish voters cast their ballots for George Bush Senior (he'd made the mistake of opposing loan guarantees to settle Russian immigrants in the occupied territories.)

This depressing record not withstanding, every election we hear that this time the jews are finally going to vote republican. Then they go in the voting booth where visions of FDR dance in their heads; long repressed primal urges demolish their reason; and they come strolling out of the polling place singing "Happy Days Are Here Again."

Someday, if for no other reason than the law of averages, a majority of jews will once again vote republican. With luck and life extension biotechnology I might even be around to see it.

[LarryLied]

And Harding only got a plurality of the Jewish vote because a screaming socialist, Debs, split the Democratic ticket. Add Debs and Cox together and the pattern is nearly the same.

[CommiesOut]

On behalf of my comrades, I would like to express my shock and disappointment at some of Mr. Bill Clinton's shenanigans.
Is politics fluid? Yes it is.
Yes, what was true last year might not be true next. But if it weren't for morons, he would have no friends.
His intemperate, self-aggrandizing sophistries convince me of only one thing: that he wants us to believe that we can solve all of our problems by giving him lots of money.
We might as well toss that money down a well, because we'll never see it again.
What we will see, however, is that Mr. Clinton is basically a bad person.
If you doubt this, just ask around.
Let me close this post along the same lines it opened on: Mr. Bill Clinton's vassals promote the lie of gangsterism for dubious reasons or for no reason at all.
That's why next time we will definitely vote for Mr. Bush.

[veronica]

What we will see, however, is that Mr. Clinton is basically a bad person. If you doubt this, just ask around. Let me close this post along the same lines it opened on: Mr. Bill Clinton's vassals promote the lie of gangsterism for dubious reasons or for no reason at all. That's why next time we will definitely vote for Mr. Bush.

Mr. Clinton is a bad person? DUH. I knew that before he was elected. Welcome to the club. If all Clinton had were Jewish votes he would never have been elected. Jews are a small part of the electorate. He won and survived by the good graces of misinformed people from every ethnic group and religion. By the way, Muslims/Arabs were very pro-Clinton and voted for him en masse. I am glad you will vote for Mr. Bush in 2004. If the next election is disputed like the last one, I hope you will spend some time as I did, in the aftermath of the 2000 election, holding a sign, and supporting President Bush for a few weekends. I attended the FR protests against Gore, in my home city.

[CommiesOut]

"I am glad you will vote for Mr. Bush in 2004."

Well, we're buddies now.
Let's work together on Larry...