Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., September 19, 2008 Elul 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:30 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Your candidate should know: U.S. presidential proxies face off in debate By Cnaan Liphshiz Democrats and Republicans in Israel are set to hold Israel's first-ever U.S. presidential debate next week in Jerusalem, Anglo File has learned. The debaters will not be the actual presidential candidates, but the parties' Israel representatives. Organizers of the historical event are nonetheless working to make Barack Obama and John McCain's voices be heard at the event. At the debate, Sheldon Schorer from Democrats Abroad Israel will face Marc Zell from the Republicans Abroad in Israel organization. Both are attorneys and long-standing activists in their respective camps. Harvey Schwartz, chairman of the American Israeli Action Coalition - a recently-formed body which describes itself as nonpartisan organizing the event, said he hoped the debate would feature statements from the actual candidates. Advertisement The event is scheduled to take place at Heichal Shlomo, which holds 1,000 people. "We are expecting a full house," Schwartz said. The debate will take place at 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, September 25. Both representatives said they intended to answer questions from the audience according to the candidate's lines and not give their own opinions. Zell, 55, of Washington D.C., immigrated to Israel in 1986 with his family, settling in Alon Shevut. He is one of the founders and co-chairman of Republicans in Israel and a regular commentator for Israel Radio. Schorer, 60, immigrated to Israel from the U.S. in 1980. He runs a Tel Aviv-based law firm, currently serving as Counsel to Democrats Abroad Israel. Both men are frequent contributors to U.S. and Israeli media, with appearances on CNN, Fox News and Channel 1. They know each other from past face-offs. "We've often been at loggerheads," Zell said in reference to Schrorer. The two men even debated once at a Haifa University classroom as part of an exercise in applied politics. "One of the major issues we'll address is Obama's utter lack of experience in handling anything as complex as U.S. foreign and defense policies," Zell said. Another issue will be the Democrats' world view, which Zell describes as placing too much faith in dialogue. Polythene Palin Schorer said his core question will be whether the U.S. and Israel are better or worse off after two terms of Republican administration. "I believe that in all aspects the U.S. is far worse off," he said, adding: "McCain has not shown any intention to depart from the policies of [U.S. President] Bush." In parallel to organizing Israel's first presidential debate, the American-Israeli coalition this week extended its invitation to Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin to visit Israel. Schwartz noted that "Governor Palin is the only one of the major party presidential and vice-presidential candidates who has not personally visited Israel." Zell said he would be delighted to see Palin come but added he was skeptical about this ever happening. "It's hard to believe she'll find the time," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Criticizing the world Desmond Tutu suggested the West does not admonish Israel because of the Holocaust. Ahmadinejad attack Ahmadinejad lashes out against Israel again, saying it won't survive in any shape or form.

Read & React Livni declares victory, says 'will approach this job with great reverence' Responses: 108 Gideon Levy: Arabs who back Kadima, Likud, and Labor are sellouts Responses: 90 Ahmadinejad: Israel won't survive in any shape or form Responses: 115 Neri Livneh: Tzipi Livni is Israel's Barack Obama Responses: 59 Israel Harel: How Israel caused the Oslo Accords to fail Responses: 64 More Headlines 23:48 Day after losing Kadima race, Mofaz announces 'time out from politics' 00:03 Netanyahu: Israel's citizens, not Kadima voters, must choose PM 01:48 Mofaz supporters blame disqualified Rahat votes for loss to Livni 02:05 UN official urges next Israeli government to stop settlement expansion 02:19 Obama wishes happy Rosh Hashanah to 900 rabbis 00:23 Pope Benedict: Pius XII 'spared no effort' to help Jews during WWII 00:24 Tutu: World doesn't criticize Israel because of the Holocaust 23:14 General Assembly chief: UN must adopt 1947 resolution on partition of Palestine 21:04 ANALYSIS / Tzipi Livni is Israel's Barack Obama 17:38 Police, IDF complete evacuation of illegal outpost of Yad Yair 18:31 500 Palestinian security force members head to Jordan for U.S.-funded training 18:58 Ahmadinejad: Israel won't survive in any shape or form 22:55 Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton congratulate Livni on Kadima victory 20:39 Danish T-shirt company convicted of supporting Palestinian terror group Previous Editions Select Day 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep 07 sep 05 sep

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