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Shmuel Rosner Chief U.S. Correspondent www.haaretz.com/rosner Biography | Email me
Posted: December 27, 2007

Barack Obama backs Israel remaining a Jewish state

Until Vice President Dick Cheney's famous accident last year when he mistakenly shot his partner during a quail hunt, it was Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States (1889-1893), who provided the previously most amusing presidential hunting-related incident. While in Maine, he aimed at what he believed to be a raccoon, only later to discover that he had shot dead a pig belonging to a local farmer.

The anecdote was brought up by an analyst scrutinizing with amazement the numbers coming out of Iowa voter surveys one week before the primary for their party's presidential candidate. The three-way Democratic race is very close. Hillary Clinton has managed to garner between 24 to 30 percent of the vote, John Edwards, 18 percent to 26 percent, and Barack Obama - 25 to 33 percent of the vote according to the opinion polls.

Some will say the numbers show Obama is in the lead; others will assume that such a split can only show one thing: any raccoon can turn out to be a pig.

Like all election campaigns - and this one even more so - the main question is who will turn out at the polls. In the case of Iowa, going to the polls means leaving home on a very cold evening for a few hours, because they don't actually vote, they caucus. Since every pollster choses the formula by which likely voters are defined, the question of who will win depends on that precise formula more than the answers given by those polled. Out of the many pollsters covering Iowa, only one managed to predict the outcome in the correct order of the 2004 elections. The last poll of Selzer & Co. puts Obama at the top, Clinton second and Edwards third.

The two leaders in this poll, who are also neck and neck in New Hampshire, appeal to different age groups. Obama hopes he will be able to do what Howard Dean, the front-runner who lost in 2004 in Iowa, could not: bring more young people to the polls. Obama invested a great deal in high school students, who will be able to vote if they turn 18 before election day. The problem: In 2004 only four percent of Iowa's 150,000 registered voters were under 21.

Obama is now at a turning point in his campaign. Will he manage to persuade America that he is a real player? Dean was defeated by the more experienced John Kerry; many believed, and still do, that this would also be Obama's fate in running against the more experienced Clinton. And so the moment of truth is coming closer, and with it the beginnings of a solution to the Obama puzzle.

Israelis who are following the elections and Obama have had difficulty understanding his approach. He is certainly not naive, as some thought at the outset. He is an idealist, but more sober than could be gleaned from his first public appearances, which swept away his audiences. Many American Jews, particularly younger ones, tend to support him, but a survey of the American Jewish Committee showed that he has a long way to go in the general Jewish community. Among the three leading candidates he has the least support in the Jewish community, with the highest percentage of those who say they disapprove of him.

Obama did try once or twice to reassure those who are concerned over his cool policy toward Israel, and he may succeed in doing so. He spoke to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and he promoted a law allowing funds to be pulled out of companies doing business with Iran. Last week in a foreign policy forum in Des Moines, Iowa, whose main points were publicized on the blog of the Institute for Public Affairs of the Orthodox Union, he spoke again about Israel.

His key statement was: "The Palestinians would have to reinterpret the notion of right of return in a way that would preserve Israel as a Jewish state. It might involve compensation and other concessions from the Israelis but ultimately Israel is not going to give up its state."

  1.   American politics 09:59  |  Natallie Durson 27/12/07
  2.   HE SHOULD LEARN FROM MOHAMAD ALI 10:31  |  indrajaya 27/12/07
  3.   barak obama 10:44  |  bill gordon 27/12/07
  4.   the worst set of would be presidents for many a year 10:45  |  victor hardman 27/12/07
  5.   The inherent wickedness of being a "Jewish" state # 1 10:47  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
  6.   I support the inalieanable right of Franz-Joseph Land to keep its 10:56  |  Andreas 27/12/07
  7.   The inherent wickedness of being a "Jewish" state #2 10:58  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
  8.   The safe pair of hands 11:09  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
  9.   "any raccoon can turn out to be a pig" 11:10  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
  10.   We Wish the Best for Barak 11:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  11.   The antisemitic plague is here in full force 11:14  |  Israeli 27/12/07
  12.   Clickfool 11:15  |  Israeli 27/12/07
  13.   We Wish Barak the Best 11:17  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  14.   OHH WHITE MAN ! WHITE MAN :) 11:24  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
  15.   The next generation of US politicians support the Jewish state. 11:41  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
  16.   MIKE TYSON was better than M. Ali, Indrajaya 11:41  |  Atilla 27/12/07
  17.   Does Mr. Rosner eat Pork ? 11:48  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
  18.   #11Israeli and his use(!?) of language 11:52  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  19.   Clickfool copying Moslem practises to transfer Israel with 11:54  |  Fake Clickfool 27/12/07
  20.   #12 Why Would Clickfool Want to Head... 11:54  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  21.   "...Israel is not going to give up its state" 11:54  |  ... 27/12/07
  22.   A Christmas joke for Hungry Atilla 11:55  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
  23.   Mr Attila K and His Diet 11:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  24.   A 1st of April joke for CFOOL. 12:16  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
  25.   Atilla: Jews would go after the apple in the pig´s mouth 12:17  |  kosher pig 27/12/07
  26.   Obama, the last hope for mankind (outside the U.S.) ??? 12:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07
  27.   Mr. Barack Obama, the senator from Illinois. 13:01  |  sandra chitayat 27/12/07
  28.   NO To Obama , YES To Giuliani 13:04  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  29.   once again, more nonsense from Yaakov 13:04  |  uday 27/12/07
  30.   to natalie Durson 13:08  |  uday 27/12/07
  31.   uday and his estimations 13:20  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  32.   Obama is a Good Candidate 13:25  |  Jane 27/12/07
  33.   30 uday,there has been no rational policy in the u.s.towards 13:27  |  lakshmi 27/12/07
  34.   Israel staying a Jewish State 13:34  |  John 27/12/07
  35.   udey on nonsense 13:43  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  36.   For Peter SM (pot) # 24 13:48  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
  37.   We have his blessing to have a Jewish State 13:52  |  Jack 27/12/07
  38.   $26dino and too many cuckoo clocks for xmas 13:59  |  victor hardman 27/12/07
  39.   Israel has my backing too, with prayers to God!!! 14:01  |  Virginia 27/12/07
  40.   Tough love is the best for Israel 14:07  |  Tosefta 27/12/07
  41.   Tosefta salivates over kick-ass for the Jews 14:18  |  Jiminy Cricket 27/12/07
  42.   #5&7 Clickfool 14:25  |  Labhras 27/12/07
  43.   I am with you Joseph E. - Giuliani for President 14:25  |  Virginia 27/12/07
  44.   Obama is only a speaker and has Not Giuliani Political Experience 14:28  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  45.   Jiminy Cricket and Sour Grapes #41 14:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  46.   palestinian...tough love 14:32  |  real vision 27/12/07
  47.   The heart cannot be governed by law.The heart must be governed by 14:35  |  LOVE 27/12/07
  48.   #44 14:38  |  Jiminy Cricket 27/12/07
  49.   Jewish State 14:40  |  Brod 27/12/07
  50.   God is Love, may He rule in all our hearts!!! 14:43  |  Virginia 27/12/07
  51.   The Great Debate 14:45  |  Ronnie Wolman 27/12/07
  52.   # 38 victor-Pauli hardman 14:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07
  53.   #46 real vision 14:55  |  Labhras 27/12/07
  54.   Ronnie, welcome back! 14:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  55.   Barack Obama re: Israel 15:02  |  Mr. Unite Us 27/12/07
  56.   #41 Jiminy Cricket playing with a boomerang 15:04  |  Tosefta 27/12/07
  57.   Jiminy Cricket and the Hacks 15:04  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  58.   lakshi 33, and Yaakov to a degree 15:06  |  Uday 27/12/07
  59.   Virginia 15:08  |  ... 27/12/07
  60.   Question for Yaakov 15:08  |  PE Haberman 27/12/07
  61.   Thanks for the link, Labhras # 42 15:08  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
  62.   "41 Jiminy Cricket 15:10  |  Labhras 27/12/07
  63.   Obama re: Pakistan 15:10  |  Mr. Unite Us 27/12/07
  64.   The only way that Israel can secure it`s future 15:11  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/12/07
  65.   I like Barak Hussein Obama....a few points 15:13  |  The Equalizer 27/12/07
  66.   Yaakov the best to you too 15:16  |  Ronnie Wolman 27/12/07
  67.   #55 Mr Unite Us 15:21  |  Labhras 27/12/07
  68.   Mr Haberman, what is clear is.... 15:24  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  69.   44 Joseph Re: Guliani 15:27  |  Uday 27/12/07
  70.   68 Yaakov Re; refugees 15:33  |  Uday 27/12/07
  71.   #64 Chris Linthwaite 15:33  |  Daybreak 27/12/07
  72.   Benazir bhutto killed 15:34  |  Labhras 27/12/07
  73.   You didnt heaar much because it is a bogus issue 15:45  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  74.   Mr. Sullivan, a reply 15:46  |  PE Haberman 27/12/07
  75.   Mr Haberman, thank you for response 16:02  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  76.   Concessions, concessions 16:04  |  Walter 27/12/07
  77.   Mr Haberman, thank you for your response, Part II 16:08  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  78.   Atilla # 59!!!!! THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I SAY!!!!! 16:10  |  Virginia 27/12/07
  79.   Obama - A disaster in the making 16:17  |  Barry 27/12/07
  80.   #71 Daybreak 16:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/12/07
  81.   EIGHT TIMES "GOD" FROM VIRGINIA 16:27  |  indrajaya 27/12/07
  82.   Virginia, Her Love for The God and Benazir Buhutto 16:30  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
  83.   Thank you indrajaya, my Indy...I Love you too! However... 16:49  |  Virginia 27/12/07
  84.   Joseph E #44 The same Giuliani 17:49  |  Hubal 27/12/07
  85.   Anti-Israeli discussion 18:04  |  Bo 27/12/07
  86.   A peace plan for Obama 18:08  |  Tosefta 27/12/07
  87.   not far off.... 18:13  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 27/12/07
  88.   Chris Linthwaite #64 18:20  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 27/12/07
  89.   for Clickfool & all interested 18:23  |  Burned Liberal 27/12/07
  90.   # 86, TOSEFTA 18:23  |  indrajaya 27/12/07
  91.   Labhras,greetings,Lord Montagu also opposed the Balfour 18:27  |  lakshmi 27/12/07
  92.   #77 Yaakov Sullivan? 18:32  |  Bo 27/12/07
  93.   58 uday,since you seem to be clear headed(within limits!)what do 18:35  |  lakshmi 27/12/07
  94.   Wake up everybody - Obama? 18:41  |  17 27/12/07
  95.   All will say anything for a vote; do anything for a contribution 18:42  |  Toronto`s Finest 27/12/07
  96.   Not such a difficult path (Indrajaya #90) 18:42  |  Tosefta 27/12/07
  97.   Tess you`re really very sensible here 18:44  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/12/07
  98.   Obama 18:55  |  Suuon G 27/12/07
  99.   Labhras... on Pakistan... 19:07  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 27/12/07
  100.   # 84 Hubal 19:10  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  101.   Margie.... 19:15  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 27/12/07
  102.   93Lakshmi 19:21  |  Uday 27/12/07
  103.   92, Bo : LOOK at 73, Yaakov 19:26  |  Uday 27/12/07
  104.   Powerless US President - can not make gunmen to work 19:26  |  17 27/12/07
  105.   Obama will be destroyed by a stealth hate campaign. 19:29  |  Toronto`s Finest 27/12/07
  106.   Barack Obama re: Bhutto`s death 19:30  |  Mr. Unite Us 27/12/07
  107. &nbs