In an open letter to US President Barack Obama, Ronald S. Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), writes that Jews are concerned about “the dramatic deterioration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel” in recent months.
Lauder emphasizes that Israel has made unprecedented concessions, including the most far-reaching settlement moratorium in its history, and declared its support for a two-state solution.
The WJC president asks: “Why does the thrust of this Administration’s Middle East rhetoric seem to blame Israel for the lack of movement on peace talks? After all, it is the Palestinians, not Israel, who refuse to negotiate.”
Lauder also queries President Obama on America’s wider strategy for the Middle East: “The Administration’s desire to improve relations with the Muslim world is well known. But is friction with Israel part of this new strategy? Is it assumed worsening relations with Israel can improve relations with Muslims? History is clear on the matter: appeasement does not work. It can achieve the opposite of what is intended.”
He asks: “What is the Administration’s position on Israel’s borders in any final status agreement? Ambiguity on this matter has provoked a wave of rumors and anxiety. Can it be true that America is no longer committed to a final status agreement that provides defensible borders for Israel? Is a new course being charted that would leave Israel with the indefensible borders that invited invasion prior to 1967?”
In his letter, Lauder also urges the US president to stay focused on Iran, which he calls “the single biggest threat that confronts the world today.”
Lauder goes on to write: “Israel is not only America’s closest ally in the Middle East, it is the one most committed to this Administration’s declared aim of ensuring Iran does not get nuclear weapons.”
Ending his letter, the WJC president stresses: “Our great country and the tiny State of Israel have long shared the core values of western democracy. It is a bond much treasured by the Jewish people…It is time to end our public feud with Israel and to confront the real challenges that we face together.”
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/main/showNews/id/9260
#11
Your response is brilliant and totally “on the mark!!” Mr. Lauder can’t play both sides of the fence….it shook me to the tips of my toes to read about the concessions he has been involved with involving loss of lives and territorial integrity in our Holy Land!!! Hashem Yishmor
I hope that a copy of this letter gets to Lauder instead of just becoming a crown heights news item.
if that is true and will be put out in the media it will be a great chilul hashem!!! but he’s got a point!
barak HUSSEIN obama doesn’t mind throwing Israel under the bus. He is actively trying to do that to the USA too
What kind of two state solution could we possibly support (unless the second state is in the middle of Lebanon, or Syria?)
The Yeveseksye yemach shemom
They beat my grandfather
yevsektzia
Yevsektziya
This is a message that more than obama the Jewish advisors should start picking up.
What was the name of the Jewish section of the communist party in russian?
Someone remind me… please…
May we merit the geula with the coming of moshiach tzidkeinu bimhairo vyomeinu amen vamen!
Why not write the President that no concessions can result in peace when their “peace partners” continuously “educate” or brainwash their children to become terrorists?
Such a warm Jewish heart, always there to help Klal Yisroel , this time Eretz Yisroel.
Keep going Mr. Lauder we are all backing you!
Why do I get the feeling that Mr. Lauder will be smeared soon? Somehow … not paying enough taxes? Child labor violations? Beware when you stand up against this regime!