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Last update - 19:36 23/07/2008
ANALYSIS / Obama visit all about wooing Jewish American voters
By Aluf Benn
Tags: Jerusalem, Obama, Middle East

Not since Yitzhak Rabin's funeral has Israel hosted as many senior officials from abroad as it has this year. There was U.S. President George W. Bush (twice), German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. And yet, the visit by presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, who landed here for a lightning stay last night, has aroused more interest than any of them. Even more than Carla Bruni.

Four months ago, presumptive Republican candidate Senator John McCain visited Israel, and created a precedent. It was the first time a U.S. presidential candidate came to the Middle East in the midst of the campaign. But the 2008 race for the White House is different. It brings together two generations, two social groups, and two approaches for dealing with the world's problems.

Israelis don't interest McCain and Obama. Rather, it is their Jewish voters and contributors at home. Barack Hussein Obama - with his Muslim stepfather and his childhood in Indonesia, his suggestion to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the leftist image that adheres to his advisors - has raised deep anxieties among the Jewish establishment. Republicans sensed a massive defection of Jewish voters. Obama's campaign managers have identified it as a problem and their candidate has been working on calming things down and issuing pro-Israel statements. McCain visited Sderot and expressed his support for Israel. Obama will follow in his footsteps Wednesday, as the city is experiencing a rare moment of lull. But Obama will also have a chance to denounce terror in real time: Tuesday's bulldozer terror attack took place next to his hotel in Jerusalem.
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To the Israeli establishment, McCain seems like the natural choice. With his white hair, expression lines and combat experience, he embodies the Israeli concept of leadership - a kind of American version of Yitzhak Rabin or Ariel Sharon. If McCain continues Bush's policies, Israel will benefit from the term of another U.S. president who understands its needs.

Obama represents an exciting option, albeit a more dangerous one: If he manages to rehabilitate America's international stature, reduce its dependence on oil and push through peace between Israel and the Arabs, Israel's strategic situation will improve dramatically. But on the way, he might have to pressure Israel. If he fails, Israel will have to pay the price without reaping any returns.

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      1.   This American Jewish voter........ 06:30  |  Dave from Chicago 23/07/08
      2.   Is it strange that he does what he is supposed to do? 06:47  |  Aryeh Leib 23/07/08
      3.   Unimpressed.. 07:10  |  KC 23/07/08
      4.   It does not appear that Benn knows much about US electoral system 07:21  |  Voice of Reason 23/07/08
      5.   "To the Israeli establishment" McCain "natural choice" 07:31  |  Isadora 23/07/08
      6.   Wrong to compare McCain to Rabin 07:41  |  Jewish USA voter 23/07/08
      7.   When a major change is needed, a man of change is right on time 07:56  |  Natallie Durson 23/07/08
      8.   Mr. Obama should know ! 08:55  |  Jean Van Daem 23/07/08
      9.   #7, Durson 08:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/07/08
      10.   35% of Jewish and 70% of evangelical votes enough McCain w.b.pr 09:43  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 23/07/08
      11.   Benn does Not Understand Israel`s Needs 09:47  |  MB 23/07/08
      12.   Re;Jewish USA voter 09:56  |  e.m Jordan is Palse 23/07/08
      13.   The first positive prognosis we`ve ever had from Natallie #7... 10:20  |  Esther 23/07/08
      14.   Eight more years of understanding? 10:32  |  Steve 23/07/08
      15.   obama 10:53  |  rachel 23/07/08
      16.   Rabin Better then Sharon, McCain Better than Obama 11:23  |  Soldier Can Be Good 23/07/08
      17.   Re Cipora # 9.... Natallie #7 11:34  |  Esther 23/07/08
      18.   #9 - Kohn 12:32  |  Natallie Durson 23/07/08
      19.   REBBE KING MOSHIACH GAVE HIS BLESSINGS TO USA AS FRIEND OF JEWS-- 14:17  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 23/07/08
      20.   Beware Americans 14:23  |  Alfred E. Newman 23/07/08
      21.   Baracknophobia 14:29  |  Aphemia 23/07/08
      22.   Obama`s Real Mideast Solution 15:02  |  Jeffrey 23/07/08
      23.   #18 15:46  |  Deb 23/07/08
      24.   Obama - "A man of change" 15:58  |  * BEN JABO 23/07/08
      25.   OOOHHH That Evil Obama I`m so scared 16:16  |  Gamzulatov 23/07/08
      26.   your needs? how about america?? 16:30  |  ross 23/07/08
      27.   your needs? how about america?? 16:30  |  ross 23/07/08
      28.   Obama is simply being Obama. Now, what exactly doesn this mean? 16:36  |  Nechama 23/07/08
      29.   just man 16:37  |  zichron 23/07/08
      30.   Nechama`s rant 16:56  |  Gamzulatov 23/07/08
      31.   Obama is no friend of Israel!! 17:11  |  Daniel 23/07/08
      32.   Messiah Complex 17:41  |  Larry Levine 23/07/08
      33.   Shderot yes, Gaza no 17:53  |  Michael N 23/07/08
      34.   Obama and Israel 18:01  |  Shlomo 23/07/08
      35.   #25 Israel is better off 18:05  |  Larry Levine 23/07/08
      36.   SMALL JEWISH VOTE. NO, HE IS FEARFUL OF JEWISH MONEY AND MEDIA 18:07  |  JACKAL 23/07/08
      37.   Many American Jews are sick of Israel 18:15  |  John 23/07/08
      38.   Wow, What a Shocker!!! Really? 18:16  |  Markus 23/07/08
      39.   Stupid Jews ? 18:18  |  Larry Levine 23/07/08
      40.   Stupid Jews 18:35  |  Gamzulatov 23/07/08
      41.   All Americans, not Jewish votes 18:52  |  Nathaniel 23/07/08
      42.   Isadora! 18:56  |  SD 23/07/08
      43.   Isreal wants another Bush type leader?? 19:17  |  Tupac 23/07/08
      44.   Obama holds a 30 point lead among Ameican Jews 19:34  |  Jacob 23/07/08
      45.   Natalie in occupied LA is proof we only have ourselves 19:38  |  Arie 23/07/08
      46.   It is all about money and business 19:38  |  Mark B. 23/07/08
      47.   The "Jewish Vote" is Over-rated 19:38  |  MIKE 23/07/08
      48.   For Natallie Durson, on monkeys # 7 19:41  |  Clickfool 23/07/08
      49.   Obamas Obfuscations 19:46  |  Larry Levine 23/07/08
      50.   Aluf Benn on Obama 19:47  |  Seccotine 23/07/08
      51.   Jackal you are right , and its wonderful to be Jewish and 19:52  |  Jewish American-USA 23/07/08
      52.   #45 Nat not representative 19:55  |  Gail 23/07/08
      53.   McCain a dangerous choice 20:05  |  Jack 23/07/08
      54.   40 the stupid zionists 20:21  |  hassan salem 23/07/08
      55.   Benn - The Same Jackass Who Longed for a "Palestinian Nasrallah" 20:26  |  Tod Zuckerman 23/07/08
      56.   4 Voice of Reason,33.Michael N.,53 Jack 20:27  |  lakshmi 23/07/08
      57.   Obfuscation 22:02  |  Gamzulatov 23/07/08
      58.   POLITICS IS A DIRTY BUSINESS 22:15  |  Dale 23/07/08
      59.   #37 John - I have a couple of questions for you 02:40  |  * BEN JABO 24/07/08
      60.   Obama anti semite 18:44  |  American Eyes 24/07/08
      61.   #37-2 John - You`re confirming my suspicions 00:19  |  * BEN JABO 25/07/08
      62.   #59 Golly Ben Jabo, are you at it again? 04:46  |  ballistic 31/07/08
      63.   Yes, American Eyes, but he is ahead 04:49  |  ballistic 31/07/08
      64.   Obama is not only Obama but the World! 00:35  |  Zaze Ombi 10/10/08
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