WASHINGTON – President Obama, seeking to assuage the concerns of Jewish leaders who worry he is being too tough on Israel and too soft on Iran, said during a private meeting at the White House on Monday that he is committed to Israel’s security but does not believe it is essential for him to avoid all disagreement with the Jewish state.
Several participants recounted the meeting in the White House Roosevelt Room after Obama administration officials, who had initially sought to keep the session secret, told them they were free to do so. One, Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of J Street, a political action committee, posted a blog item about the meeting on his organization’s web site.
Mr. Ben-Ami said in an interview that the president ‘’did a masterful job of pushing while hugging.’’ Mr. Obama spoke of a ‘’rock-solid strategic alliance with Israel,’’ he said, but also strongly defended his call for Israel to stop building Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories. He said Mr. Obama argued that he is the right man, at the right time, to press for a lasting Middle East peace agreement.
“He was very humble about it, not bragging, not talking himself up, but just being clear that there’s a set of assets that he brings,’’ Mr. Ben-Ami said. “That somebody with his ability to speak to the Muslim world, the political capital that he brings internationally as well as domestically – that isn’t going to come around all that often, and we have a narrow window before time runs out. He was very clear that this is a moment that has to be seized and he intends to seize it.’’
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/obama-moves-to-assuage-jewish-leaders/?hp
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