Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 08, 2008 Tishrei 9, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:23 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
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
Comments:  61
Last update - 22:43 06/10/2008
Top Israeli defense officials star in pro-Obama ad
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: barack obama, economic aid 

A Jewish political action committee that supports Barack Obama's bid for the American presidency has "recruited" former senior Israeli defense officials to the campaign by collating flattering statements about the Democratic senator from seven such officials into a new advertisement that will begin running on Monday.

However it seemed some of the participants - including former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy and Brigadier General (res.) Uzi Dayan - were unaware they were aiding an Obama campaign ad.

The ad was produced by the Jewish Council for Education and Research, which is already responsible for two other projects aimed at attracting Jewish voters to Obama, JewsVote.org and the Great Schlep.
Advertisement
JCER Co-Executive Director Mik Moore downplayed concerns that the defense officials were being used to endorse the candidate against their will.

"The purpose of the film is to educate Jewish voters about
support within Israel's security establishment for policies Obama has
advanced regarding Israel," said Moore.

"The Israeli producers have assured us that all participants were fully informed ofthe nature of the project. While JCER has endorsed Barack Obama forPresident, neither the film, nor any of our subsequent remarks imply that those interviewed are endorsing Obama's candidacy," he added.

The new effort is meant to reassure Jews who fear that Obama's conciliatory approach to diplomacy will result in his being soft on terrorists, and hence bad for Israel.

The ad opens by declaring that men who have risked their lives for Israel will now explain their choice for the U.S. presidency. This is followed by quotes from the former officials, along with pictures of them during their service.

"Eight years of the Bush regime that according to the accepted criteria was supportive of Israel, the most friendly president in the history of Israeli-American relations, in my opinion caused major damage to the interests of Israel," said Brigadier General (res.) Shlomo Brom.

"Most probably, Barack Obama will be a better president for Israel than Mr. McCain, because it seems that the policies of Mr. McCain will be too close to the current policies of Mr. Bush, that are not so helpful to Israel, to say the least," he said.

Former Mossad Senior Officer Yossi Alpher said: "McCain, one has to presume, on the basis of what I've heard him say, will more or less maintain the same pose that the Bush administration has adopted, which has failed."

"The Bush Doctrine has created the current situation where the fundamentalist Islamic forces are getting stronger, as well as the radical forces of Hamas, and the Islamic Jihadists," said Brigadier General (res.) Shaul Arieli.

"I would say that an American president, in my personal opinion, needs actually to be engaged with Iran," said Dayan, Likud Knesset candidate and nephew of the famed general Moshe Dayan.

"You can't not talk to the Iranians and then one day attack them. I'm not saying give in to them, because ultimately, you need to stop Iran from reaching nuclear capability."

"I think that Obama is a breath of fresh air," said Ephraim Halevy.

"Given their intimate understanding of Israel's security situation, these widely respected officials and officers speak with great authority," said Moore. "We will do our best to make sure that anyone voting in this election that cares about Israel's future sees this film before November 4."

Some of participants, apparently were unaware they were aiding a campaign ad. Dayan, for instance, claimed on Sunday that he had no idea he was appearing in the ad, that his words had been taken out of context, and that he neither supports nor opposes Obama, as he opposes any Israeli involvement in American politics.

"I never said I support Obama or his opinions," Dayan said. "They interviewed me in early July and said the interview would be devoted to questions of Middle East policy that would be on the new president's desk ... I don't know what I'm doing in a campaign video."

He added that he has asked the council to remove him from the clip and that he would consider his next moves after receiving its response.

Halevy also denied ever having expressed support for Obama. "I said he's a fresh, interesting personality and so forth, but I also said positive things about McCain," Halevy said. "I told them I thought it was inappropriate for an Israeli to express an opinion on who should be president of the U.S. I learned of this only today, and it angers me. I think it was an improper use of the interview with me, and I will demand
that they correct it.

Spokesman: Obama committed to increasing aid by $30 billion

U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama has promised not to cut foreign aid to Israel if he is elected in November, a spokeswoman for Obama has said.

In a statement to the Israeli business daily Globes, a spokeswoman for Obama said he would honor existing agreements pertaining to foreign aid and as such was committed to "increasing aid to Israel to $30 billion over 10 years."

In the vice presidential debate last week, Obama's running mate Senator Joe Biden said their administration would have to hold back on plans to double foreign aid in general in light of the financial crisis in the U.S.

Israel is estimated to receive over $2.5 billion each year in foreign aid from the U.S., in addition to other grants for projects, such as joint military research and development.

Related articles:
  • In first debate, McCain and Obama go head to head on Iran policy, Iraq war
  • Survey: American Jews favor Obama over McCain
  • Shmuel Rosner: Obama supports Israel. Period.
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Asleep at the wheel
    Sharon told 1973 probe that IDF top brass was clueless in Yom Kippur War.
    Laughing at Hitler
    Clips parodying film The Downfall make their way onto the Web.
      1.   Right, Israel, take the money and run...... 19:38  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/10/08
      2.   More money? What bill did we just pass? 19:42  |  American 05/10/08
      3.   Obama 20:08  |  James 05/10/08
      4.   That means he WILL increase the aid to our Enemies 20:30  |  David 05/10/08
      5.   2 States Solution is Against U.S. Interests . Cut Aid To Kadima 20:37  |  Joseph.E 05/10/08
      6.   Cut `Envelopes` To Kadima .Issue Orders of Arrest Against Kadima 20:41  |  Joseph.E 05/10/08
      7.   Aid to Israel should be contingent on peace 22:04  |  Ivar 05/10/08
      8.   #2 - what does? Your post only means something to you .. 22:17  |  redmike 05/10/08
      9.   Why should Jewish-American voters listen to the recommendations.. 22:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/10/08
      10.   OBAMA & NEGOTIATING THE HOLOCAUST 22:36  |  Barry S. Roffman 05/10/08
      11.   Ivar 23:07  |  Connie 05/10/08
      12.   "Jewish Committee" 23:09  |  Shmuelshachor 05/10/08
      13.   Misleading Video 23:28  |  Girshon 05/10/08
      14.   NEGOTIATING WITH AHMININEJAD (typo fix) 23:42  |  Barry S. Roffman 05/10/08
      15.   swiss dino "the tiny bit of truth" is your jew hatred 00:22  |  swisswatch 06/10/08
      16.   video 00:23  |  consiglieri 06/10/08
      17.   They don`t speak for me 00:28  |  Ralph Levy 06/10/08
      18.   Bought, leased or rented 00:43  |  Gideon Reader 06/10/08
      19.   non-profits are legally forbidden from engaging in politics 00:50  |  Christopher 06/10/08
      20.   Actblue.com"What do they stand for? 01:07  |  Christopher 06/10/08
      21.   NEGOTIATING WITH AHMININEJAD (typo fix) 02:14  |  Sannady 06/10/08
      22.   Obama = Survival 02:27  |  Hirz 06/10/08
      23.   # 15 Toby, do you really believe...... 02:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/10/08
      24.   This is NOT an Ad; but a FILM - sloppy reporting... 04:41  |  TruthinReporting 06/10/08
      25.   DECEIT & DISTRUST 05:02  |  Solomon the Wise 06/10/08
      26.   DECEIT & DISTRUST 05:05  |  Solomon the Wise 06/10/08
      27.   We`re Americans - Not hypheNations 05:24  |  Solomon the Wise 06/10/08
      28.   access to the article 05:49  |  hanna 06/10/08
      29.   Obama will treat the disease, not the symptoms 07:46  |  Natallie Durson 06/10/08
      30.   Obama is great for Israel 11:43  |  Northern 06/10/08
      31.   #30 northern which land of the san remo conference treaty is to b 12:02  |  victor hardman 06/10/08
      32.   MARKET ECONOMY WON`T LIE LIKE BUSH 12:03  |  indrajaya 06/10/08
      33.   Dino everybody should behave like Switzerland and take the money 12:27  |  x-ray 06/10/08
      34.   as `innocent` as only a Swiss heart can be? 12:30  |  x-ray 06/10/08
      35.   Misleading promo 12:40  |  Uzi 06/10/08
      36.   # 35, UZI 13:31  |  indrajaya 06/10/08
      37.   Natalie Durson is spot on 13:49  |  Raed Kami 06/10/08
      38.   We knew Leftish US Jews used dirty tricks!!!! 14:38  |  arthur 06/10/08
      39.   Actblue a "Jewish group"? 14:53  |  Arie 06/10/08
      40.   Mr.Obama and the Middle East. 14:54  |  Stephen. 06/10/08
      41.   obama is not going to cut your aid;he`s going to cut your PIECE 14:59  |  glenna 06/10/08
      42.   Political prostitutes, stay out of US politics. 14:59  |  Simon 06/10/08
      43.   Ephraim Halevy - - Former Mossad Chief 15:10  |  Johnny Weintraub 06/10/08
      44.   for 29 NATALIE DURSON 15:28  |  chasaboy 06/10/08
      45.   #7 now we know ivar from the saudi planet is barmy 15:50  |  victor hardman 06/10/08
      46.   #37 - Raed Kami 16:16  |  Eric 06/10/08
      47.   # 33 x-ray, curiosity killed the cat...... 16:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/10/08
      48.   Pro Obama Add 17:38  |  Steve Gure 06/10/08
      49.   Swiss (Dino) American generals 19:05  |  David Israel 06/10/08
      50.   yeah, right 19:21  |  Harry 06/10/08
      51.   # 49 David Israel 20:12  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/10/08
      52.   Real story of ethically challenged media aiding Obama deception. 20:40  |  Truth Squad 06/10/08
      53.   johnny weintraub well written 20:45  |  greenbaum 06/10/08
      54.   obama is a fraud 20:47  |  judah 06/10/08
      55.   Halevy - The Same Fool Who Discounts the Iranian Threat 22:17  |  Tod Zuckerman 06/10/08
      56.   Swiss (Dino) Americans are free to listen 3rd try 03:00  |  David Israel 07/10/08
      57.   Obama 05:35  |  johnjf 07/10/08
      58.   Obama learned well in Chicago 06:06  |  howiej 07/10/08
      59.   # 56 David Israel 08:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/10/08
      60.   Wake up "chasaboy" from self imposed ignorance... 09:40  |  BBSNews 07/10/08
      61.   Swiss (Dino) 14:41  |  David Isarel