Obama & Israel

Reasonable people can be hopeful about Obama's presidency or nervous. I think it's also possible to be both at the same time. Some may believe him to be too far left and some not far enough. Some might not like his friends and others may not like his enemies. Feel what you feel.

However, can we please put the fantasy that he's anti-Israel and anti-Semitic away? Yes, I know this is a rhetorical question, and the answer for some is "No we can't." But let me try a little reasoned evidence.

Aside from a flawless campaign designed, directed and run by Penny Pritzker, David Axelrod and David Jacobson (each a non-self-hating Jew), today he appointed Congressman Rahm Emanuel as his Whitehouse Chief of Staff. QED

Rep Emanuel is not simply an Orthodox Jew, but his father is Israeli born and a former member of the Irgun, an underground brigade that fought for Israeli independence and took on the British and then the Arab armies. Rahm Emanuel himself went to Israel while Saddam was raining missiles during the First Gulf War and worked as a volunteer.

So, please argue about policy, fight about healthcare, wrestle with the taxes and of course, worry about Israel. But don't worry about President Elect Obama and his commitment to Israel. Voices for Israel have his ear, and Israel has his heart.