The National Jewish Democratic Council said it was confident that
Chuck Hagel would follow what it called President Obama's
"unprecedented" pro-Israel record.
The statement Monday morning came before Obama's formal announcement
nominating Hagel, a former Republican senator, for defense secretary.
"President Barack Obama's unprecedented pro-Israel credentials are
unquestionable, and setting policy starts and stops with the president,"
said the statement, which was not attached to the name of an NJDC
official. "While we have expressed concerns in the past, we trust that
when confirmed, former Senator Chuck Hagel will follow the President's
lead of providing unrivaled support for Israel -- on strategic
cooperation, missile defense programs, and leading the world against
Iran's nuclear program."
In 2007, when Hagel was considering a presidential run, the NJDC
distributed an attack sheet on Hagel, noting his equivocation on such
issues such as Iran sanctions and his criticism of some Israeli
policies.
Hagel, after quitting politics in 2008, drew closer to his
then-fellow senator, Obama, over a shared opposition to intensifying the
U.S. presence in Iraq.
In 2009, NJDC's then-executive director, Ira Forman, said it would be
problematic for the group if newly elected President Obama, as it was
then rumored, would nominate Hagel for a top Cabinet post. Forman's
successor as NJDC's top official, David Harris, had until Monday refused
to weigh in on the matter.
A number of prominent Jewish Democrats, including Sens. Dianne
Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), have suggested they would
support Hagel, but others such as Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) have
expressed reservations.
Others outright opposed to Hagel include Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.),
the senior Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee; former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), a contender to replace
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) for an interim spot should Kerry be confirmed
as expected as secretary of state; and Susan Turnbull, a former vice
chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee who is active in the
NJDC.
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/01/07/3116166/njdc-confident-hagel-will-follow-obamas-pro-israel-lead#When:22:13:00Z
Monday, 7 January 2013
Jewish Democrats ‘confident’ Hagel will follow Obama’s pro-Israel lead
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15:27
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