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Last update - 00:00 17/02/2008
U.S. Reform leader says supports concessions on Jerusalem
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Ehud Olmert 

The president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, promised Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week that his movement would support the government if a peace treaty with the Palestinians is reached, including concessions in Jerusalem. Rabbi Yoffie told Haaretz that if the Israeli right wing mobilizes its supporters in the United States against such an agreement, the Reform Movement would respond in kind.

The issue of the involvement of Jews from outside Israel in the debate over the diplomatic process, especially over the question of the future of Jerusalem, was raised following the Annapolis summit three months ago. The American Orthodox Union angered Prime Minister Olmert by calling upon him not to consider concessions in Jerusalem, and the coalition of right-wing groups that formed to fight Olmert's plans expressed its intention to enlist the support of world Jewry in its campaign.

Tensions were further heightened last month when World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder published an open letter calling upon Olmert to take the views of the Diaspora into consideration before deciding Jerusalem's future. Following the letter, Olmert canceled his participation in the WJC board of governors meeting in Jerusalem.
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Rabbi Yoffie met with Olmert last Wednesday with the expressed intent of offering his movement's support to the government over the negotiations. Following the meeting, he told Haaretz that, "If the outline of a peace treaty that has been put forward, that seems moderate and reasonable, we in the Reform movement and the overwhelming majority of American Jews will support it."

Yoffie said that he understood that there is no choice but to include the future of Jerusalem in these negotiations and, "If the government of Israel were to reach an agreement in which real peace would be achieved also by concessions in Jerusalem, I am confident that American Jews would support it. Of course though, this is the sole decision of the government of Israel."

Yoffie said that despite their statements, he doesn't believe that the right-wing elements in U.S. Jewry would mount a serious public opposition. "Such an agreement would also be a major part of American foreign policy and they wouldn't dare to try and derail it," he said. "But if they do try, we would also mobilize our people against them."

Yoffie also criticized Malcolm Hoenlein, the head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, for expressing concerns at a press conference on Tuesday in Jerusalem over the atmosphere surrounding the U.S. presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama. "All the talk about change, but without defining what that change should be, is an opening for all kind of mischief," was one of the things Hoenlein said.

"Words like these can easily be interpreted as a position in favor or against one of the candidates and we have to be careful to treat all the candidates in the same respectable way," noted Yoffie.

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      1.   Reform is not judaism it has taken a religion of its own 06:17  |  Joe Barnathan 17/02/08
      2.   another looser...Jerusalem is not up for discussion 06:21  |  cyril 17/02/08
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      7.   And for the Life of me, I don`t understand... 07:50  |  Virginia 17/02/08
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      16.   Eric Yafe and Reform Activists 09:07  |  Joe 17/02/08
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