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Last update - 12:32 09/11/2008
U.S. Jews laud Obama pick of Rahm Emanuel for chief of staff
By Natasha Mozgovaya and Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Barack Obama, Israel News 

America's Jewish community welcomed U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's pick of Rep. Rahm Emanuel for the post of Chief of Staff, saying that the choice demonstrates that Obama has learned from the mistakes of previous Democratic presidents.

On Thursday, Obama announced that Emanuel, a key official in the Clinton administration, had accepted his offer and will serve as the next White House Chief of Staff.
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William Daroff, the director of the Washington office of the United Jewish Communities (UJC), an umbrella organization representing 155 Jewish Federations and 400 independent Jewish communities across North America, said Thursday "Rep. Emanuel is among the smartest political tacticians and policy-makers that is on the scene in Washington."

"He was singularly responsible for guiding many of the top legislative priorities of the Clinton administration when he was a senior White House aide. He crafted the House Democrats plan to regain the majority when he was their campaign committee chairman," Daroff went on to say.

"Choosing Rep. Emanuel is a sign that President-elect Obama is learning from the mistakes of the two most recent Democratic Presidents, who brought in Washington outsiders to run the White House, and did so at their own peril - often finding themselves in battles with the Washington Democratic establishment. Emanuel's selection will avoid such 'freshman mistakes'," The UJC official continued.

"Rep. Emanuel is also a good friend of Israel, coming from good Irgun stock, davening at an Orthodox synagogue, and sending his children to Jewish day schools," Daroff concluded.

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), echoed Daroff's approval, saying in a statement Thursday that "Obama made an outstanding selection. Emanuel has been a forceful and effective leader within the Democratic Party. His voting record and leadership in support of the U.S.-Israel relationship are outstanding."

"Emanuel has deep Jewish roots and strong ties to the Jewish community. Emanuel, the son of an Israeli immigrant, has a proven commitment to Israel's security and served as civilian volunteer on an Israeli military base during the Persian Gulf War of 1991," the statement continued.

"We congratulate Emanuel and look forward to continuing to work with Emanuel in his new role in the Obama administration." Forman added.

Emanuel, a hard-charging Chicagoan, accepted Obama's offer for the job after struggling over family and political considerations. By moving into a top White House job for a second time, Emanuel will have to put aside hopes of becoming speaker of the lower chamber.

The son of a Jerusalem-born pediatrician who was a member of the pre-state Irgun, Emanuel was a key figure in the administration of former President Bill Clinton, where he was known for his blunt management style. His selection is a shift in tone for Obama, who chose more low-key leadership for his presidential campaign.

In the tense talks with the Palestinians at Wye Plantation in 1998, the Israeli team headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was especially wary of one of President Bill Clinton's aides - Rahm Emanuel. His fluent Hebrew, his instinctive grasp of the "Israeli" mind set and above all his complete loyalty to his boss made the Israelis afraid to talk near him.

Ten years later, Israel's next prime minister will meet Emanuel in a loftier post, as Obama's chief of staff.

"He has a kind of directness and coarseness that is very familiar to Israelis," a veteran Israeli diplomat told Haaretz yesterday. "But it doesn't necessarily bring him closer to us. One thing is certain - Israelis will not be able to pull the wool over his eyes."

Emanuel's quick rise to a party leadership position in the House underlines his political acumen, and his choice by Obama points to the president-elect's preparations to move quickly on getting his legislative agenda through Congress. Emanuel will play a major role in facilitating and selling Obama's plans.

In his previous positions Emanuel was in charge of political and domestic issues, but in Clinton's administration in 1993, as senior presidential adviser for domestic affairs, he also dealt with foreign policy, which was important to the president. For example, he produced the Oslo Accord's signing ceremony on the White House lawn.

Of all the Israelis he came into contact with during his career, the ones he became closest to were Rabin's close aides, including the Prime Minister's Office director Shimon Shevess. The two are still close friends.

Israeli officials are divided in their opinions about his involvement in foreign affairs in general and the Middle East peace process in particular. The chief of staff usually focuses on the president's political work.

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      1.   TRhis guy should have been stripped of his US citizenship. 02:03  |  MIKE 07/11/08
      2.   Rahm Israel Emanuel 02:06  |  Esther 07/11/08
      3.   Good Irgun stock? 02:10  |  Bronxite10 07/11/08
      4.   Daroff is dreaming 02:15  |  Dovy 07/11/08
      5.   #3 Bronxite 10 , Irgun is rehabilitated by 02:47  |  TOMY 07/11/08
      6.   Everybody who sincerly hoped for an honest U.S. broker........ 02:57  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/11/08
      7.   To Mike (# 1) 02:58  |  Mark Marshall 07/11/08
      8.   Emanuel 02:59  |  jim johnson 07/11/08
      9.   comment number 1 03:12  |  John B 07/11/08
      10.   Warren Buffet 03:56  |  California Julie 07/11/08
      11.   Rahm Emanuel 03:58  |  Protected civilian 07/11/08
      12.   Makes no difference 04:16  |  daat y 07/11/08
      13.   Mike can you read 04:22  |  Golani 07/11/08
      14.   serving in another country`s army 04:45  |  mark 07/11/08
      15.   It`s only taken 2 days.... 05:04  |  David James Vickery 07/11/08
      16.   #1 05:40  |  Avi 07/11/08
      17.   SO DO I, BABY 06:03  |  indrajaya 07/11/08
      18.   Rahm Emmanuel 07:48  |  Mike 07/11/08
      19.   Why?So they can blame the Jews and Israelwhen it all goes south? 07:48  |  David 07/11/08
      20.   People will believe what they want, regardless of warning signs 10:29  |  Erez Semaria 07/11/08
      21.   When it hits the fan,now they will blame Jews and Israelis 10:41  |  David 07/11/08
      22.   Dino #6 - Who would you have him choose? Louis Farrakhan? 10:45  |  Jane Nelson Smith 07/11/08
      23.   Stupid, stupid, William Daroff, boss of UJC!!! 10:57  |  S 07/11/08
      24.   #1 11:00  |  Jew by Choice 07/11/08
      25.   Esther Warren Buffet is not a Jew 11:18  |  x-ray 07/11/08
      26.   Esther 11:41  |  Diego 07/11/08
      27.   #1 - Mike 11:52  |  JES 07/11/08
      28.   #2 Esther and racism 11:59  |  Boycott 07/11/08
      29.   just like virus 12:22  |  Kalle 07/11/08
      30.   fine Irgun stock??? 12:24  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 07/11/08
      31.   Obama didn`t win because of the jews 12:40  |  Erez Semaria 07/11/08
      32.   To "Swiss" Dino # 6 12:40  |  Swissmartin 07/11/08
      33.   Dino #6 - Give it up 12:47  |  Erez Semaria 07/11/08
      34.   I was going to answer 13:10  |  Jackie 07/11/08
      35.   Dual Citizenship (Jew by Choice) 15:24  |  MIKE 07/11/08
      36.   SECURITY CLEARANCE ISSUES 16:01  |  LT Barry S. Roffman 07/11/08
      37.   Christmas in Israel 16:20  |  Goyboy 07/11/08
      38.   #21 - CHRISTIANITY LIGHT? FROM TSFAT? 16:22  |  Barry S. Roffman 07/11/08
      39.   Kalle the racist 29 16:44  |  ChanahS 07/11/08
      40.   Mike + dual citizenship nonsense 35 16:49  |  ChanahS 07/11/08
      41.   Good Irgun stock? 17:23  |  Ussishkin 07/11/08
      42.   what do you think Natalie Thurman? 17:36  |  Anton Orde 07/11/08
      43.   Mike #35 You need a little education... about America 17:51  |  S 07/11/08
      44.   #1 MIKE 18:07  |  Ronnie 07/11/08
      45.   Jane Nelson Smith from Paris 19:23  |  David Israel 07/11/08
      46.   I`m wondering what kind of comundering if the secy of treas.turns 19:31  |  Sarah 07/11/08
      47.   MIKE about dual citizenship 19:34  |  David Israel 07/11/08
      48.   #0Mike 19:59  |  Stan 07/11/08
      49.   Jane Nelson Smith 20:06  |  Stan 07/11/08
      50.   Goyboy, apart from all sarcastic remarks Emanuel 20:35  |  Jew- and Bookburner 07/11/08
      51.   Reading Way Too Much into Pick 21:04  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/11/08
      52.   So what does this mean? 21:15  |  DAT 07/11/08
      53.   Swiss (Dino) 21:17  |  Jane 07/11/08
      54.   American Jewish and Black alliance reborn 22:22  |  Jonathan Seer 07/11/08
      55.   Such twaddle 22:53  |  Mark Lincoln 07/11/08
      56.   California Julie 22:57  |  Mark Lincoln 07/11/08
      57.   Well said Mike 23:08  |  Sami 07/11/08
      58.   His next move....a muslim minister 23:48  |  Benjamina 07/11/08
      59.   Interesting 00:11  |  Clickfool 08/11/08
      60.   esther, "smart blacks should know what`s best for them" 00:45  |  Denzel Franklin 08/11/08
      61.   Jackie #34, the Arabs didn`t start the war 00:53  |  ELIAS KHOURY 08/11/08
      62.   One thing is pretty certain... 01:19  |  Esther 08/11/08
      63.   Wow, Swiss #6... 01:25  |  Esther 08/11/08
      64.   #Barry S Roffman. Building the third temple. 01:35  |  Maureen Ann 08/11/08
      65.   Emmanuel for Chief of Staff 01:39  |  rich 08/11/08
      66.   How is Hiring Clinton`s staff, learning from Clinton`s mistakes? 01:51  |  UsedToPostHere 08/11/08
      67.   Clickfool 02:36  |  Nero 08/11/08
      68.   Rahm loyalty to himself 04:09  |  Joseph 08/11/08
      69.   Barak needs brains behind him 05:36  |  ottomatik 08/11/08
      70.   #60, Danzel Franklin 06:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/08
      71.   Obama and Rahm Emanuel 07:37  |  George Y. Krikorian 08/11/08
      72.   A gun in the hands of a bank robber does not provide financial 08:16  |  Maronite 08/11/08
      73.   Cipora #70 I hope you know "Esther" is not our Esther... 09:53  |  S 08/11/08
      74.   # 6 Swiss (Dino): a dishonest commentary 09:59  |  Israeli citizen 08/11/08
      75.   I am sorry he choosed him, more hate as we see here 10:03  |  Israeli citizen 08/11/08
      76.   Clinton`s mistakes # 66 10:25  |  Clickfool 08/11/08
      77.   Don`t mess with my tutu 10:42  |  Clickfool 08/11/08
      78.   #72, S 10:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/08
      79.   #75, Israeli Citizen 11:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/08
      80.   #77, clickfool, isn`t that wonderful? 11:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/08
      81.   #76 Clinton`s economy 11:35  |  Erez Semaria 08/11/08
      82.   # 79 Cipora: I am sorry because I see the jerks`s answer here! 12:16  |  Israeli citizen 08/11/08
      83.   hoping he did not take after his father 13:45  |  annie 08/11/08
      84.   David Israel #47 14:12  |  Nit picker 08/11/08
      85.   The Ignorance on This Board is Staggering 14:23  |  Jane 08/11/08
      86.   Clinton`s economy. Another thing. 15:03  |  Erez Semaria 08/11/08
      87.   Nit Picker 18:52  |  David israel 08/11/08
      88.   Emanuel, court Jew who helped Clinton pressure Israel 19:41  |  Yaakov K. 08/11/08
      89.   He should have his US citizenship stripped 20:22  |  Susan 08/11/08
      90.   JESUSALEN 21:59  |  cristian 08/11/08
      91.   rahm israel 00:05  |  usafake 09/11/08
      92.   to 34 06:41  |  Nora 09/11/08
      93.   to 77 "Tutu" 06:45  |  Laura 09/11/08
      94.   3RD TEMPLE AND AND ILLUMINATI ISSUE 16:49  |  Barry S. Roffman 09/11/08
      95.   A change will happen soon! 01:06  |  Sal-Chicago 10/11/08
      96.   Rahm Emanuel 04:42  |  RANDY 12/11/08
      97.   Good! 20:35  |  DAT 14/11/08
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