Netanyahu is leaning toward naming author Michael Oren to be the next Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Foreign Policy says it's all but a done deal. While Richard Silverstein says an Oren appointment represents a victory for Sheldon Adelson's Shalem Center in Jerusalem, where the author works, Laura Rozen quotes "a plugged-in Washington Middle East hand" as saying he's, "not sure Netanyahu understands the changes in D.C.." What might he be referring to?
–Sheldon Adelson is the Republican Party's answer to Haim Saban, the big Democratic money guy. Are these two wings of the American Jewish community dividing? Possibly Saban is more pragmatic vis-a-vis Iran, which is why Martin Indyk has said reasonable things about Iran. Adelson had Bush's ear, Saban has Obama's.
–Foreign Policy also picks up the report in Yedioth Ahronoth that Oren publicly supported McCain in 2008:
During the campaign, Oren
published an article in which he tried to answer the question who would
be better for Israel as a US president: Obama or John McCain. Obama's
aides said that in the guise of an academic study, Oren conveyed his
personal opinions and published things that portrayed Obama as
non-supportive of Israel. Oren wrote that the Obama administration
would present a completely new initiative based on zero tolerance for
construction in settlements and roadblocks, an initiative that would be
founded on the assessment that the road to Baghdad and Tehran passes
through Bethlehem and Nablus.
Oren wrote further that McCain
would not disrupt the United States' relations with Israel, whereas
Obama could be expected to deviate from the alliance ….
Zero tolerance for the settlements. Where does the American Jewish community stand? The Yedioth Ahronoth article also gives an indication of the Obama Administration's initial view of the potential appointment: "A senior source close to the administration said last night: 'In light
of the harsh criticism that Oren directed at Obama in the election
campaign, appointing him as ambassador is an odd choice.'"
–Oren is a feverish thinker who has long lectured Americans on our national interest. His book Power, Faith and Fantasy
argues that the United States has supported Zionism from the start,
it's a deep strain within our religious life–thereby completely ignoring the bloc he represents, the Israel lobby. Endorsed by Judith
Miller, the book would recruit us in the permanent war. "Rather than
a self-contained war, Iraq represents a first and painful battle in a
far more protracted struggle, more akin to Bull Run and Bataan than to
Gettysburg and Midway. The rest of the region, meanwhile is [like to
gravitate toward]… further terror, internecine violence, and war."
Where do I sign up?
