‘Sen. Obama, Why Is It Important to Divide Jerusalem?’

by Philip Weiss on October 14, 2008 · 4 comments

I'm amazed that NPR did a story on the "Great Schlep," Sarah Silverman's campaign to get Jewish kids to go to Florida to push their grandparents to vote for Obama and didn't talk about the Israel issue. I heard some old lady talking about Rev. Wright, but nothing about dividing Jerusalem, or giving up the West Bank. It's amazing this goes undiscussed, because this was clearly the agenda of George Bush's neocon trojan horse in 2000–Doug Feith and Sheldon Adelson were against the peace process, against dividing Jerusalem–and as this is also McCain's agenda, you'd think journalists would play up the divide over this question. 

The south Florida Sun-Sentinel is more straightforward:

"How are we going to save Israel? How are we going to save America?" asked Bob Kunst, a longtime activist from Miami Beach who was wearing one campaign button with the word "OBAMINATION" and another that said "Keep Israel United."

"Where is the Jewish community on the division of Jerusalem?" Kunst asked.

A longtime Democrat, Kunst said he is disenchanted with the Democratic Party. "I like McCain's slogan 'country first,'" he said.

Kunst's "country-first" is obviously to Israel, but his point is well taken. Where are Jews on the division of Jerusalem? Well, they're 58 percent against it, according to the AJC, which makes it its business to know that kind of thing. This explains Obama's famous faux-pas at AIPAC, which was no faux-pas, the guy has made no faux-pas in 46 years. And I think it also explains the reluctance of the media to bring the issue up in any specificity. Jewish reporters and producers know in their guts that their own grandparents or uncles are conservative on this issue, and that it will only hurt Obama to talk about it. And the media are overwhelmingly for Obama. I'm with Bob Kunst here; let's talk about this, let's have true debate and division. Though I ask, Where is America on the division of Jerusalem? The politicians are afraid to ask. 

(Thanks to Jeff Blankfort for the tip.)

Related posts:

  1. American Jews Are/Aren’t Willing to Divide Jerusalem?
  2. Jewish Division: RJC Blasts Obama Over Dividing Jerusalem
  3. Only in Haaretz: ‘Let’s Hope Obama Won’t be a Friend to Israel’
  4. The ‘Obsession’ DVD: What Rough Beast Slouches From Jerusalem?
  5. Please Greenlight this Western: ‘Shootout With the Israel Lobby Over Dividing Jerusalem’

{ 4 comments }

1 americangoy October 14, 2008 at 11:11 pm

Kids, class, please, no one pay attention to that gigantic gorilla which just bit off Tommy's head off. Lets move on and continue with the trip. Pay no attention to that giant gorilla in the room…

2 americangoy October 14, 2008 at 11:11 pm

Kids, class, please, no one pay attention to that gigantic gorilla which just bit off Tommy's head off. Lets move on and continue with the trip. Pay no attention to that giant gorilla in the room…

3 Roy Belmont October 14, 2008 at 11:11 pm

America is divided on the division of Jerusalem.

4 higginslads October 15, 2008 at 12:49 pm

"I'm amazed that NPR did a story on the "Great Schlep," Sarah Silverman's campaign to get Jewish kids to go to Florida to push their grandparents to vote for Obama and didn't talk about the Israel issue."

I'm not amazed. When has NPR ever talked openly and honestly about Israel? It's as Zionized as the rest of the press, if not more so.

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