Yisrael Beiteinu reaches out to Anglos

Danny Ayalon said he intends to establish branches of Yisrael Beiteinu in Europe and in the United States after the February 10 general election. The former Israeli ambassador left his position as co-chairman of Nefesh B'Nefesh in October to pursue his political career.

The latest Haaretz-Dialog poll gives Yisrael Beiteinu nine Knesset seats. Senior party sources say Ayalon is likely to be among the top five names on the roster.

Ayalon, who is also chairman of the international Yisrael Beitenu movement, plans to target Israel's English-speaking population in the election campaign, which launches Sunday.

"I intend to go and reach as many Anglos as I can, whether they are British, American, South African, Australian - even Germans, for that matter, since they are a group I know and appreciate very much," he said.

"I understand their needs and expectations and I know our party would be a natural for them. I will try to persuade them to vote Yisrael Beiteinu for the same reasons that I joined," Ayalon said. He cited his trust in party chairman Avigdor Lieberman and his agreement with the party platform.

Ayalon, 53, spoke to Anglo File in his office at Nefesh B'Nefesh in Jerusalem, which he said he will keep until December 31, when his resignation becomes final. He met Lieberman, director general of the Prime Minister's Office under Benjamin Netanyahu, in 1997, shortly after returning from a stint with Israel's UN mission in New York.

"He's the one who brought me into the PMO," Ayalon said. Lieberman interviewed him for the position of deputy foreign policy adviser. Ayalon got the job and kept it under Ehud Barak before being promoted to chief foreign policy adviser under Ariel Sharon.

"Even though Yisrael Beiteinu didn't exist back then, I always trusted Lieberman and admired his leadership," Ayalon said in nearly accent-free English. He has an MBA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Ayalon said that if elected he will focus on immigration and absorption issues in addition to foreign affairs and diplomacy. One goal is to travel to the U.S. and Europe to "really build Yisrael Beiteinu and to reach out to the community. I want to explain our platform because I think it's out of ignorance that people so easily throw around stereotypes and call us all kinds of names," he said.

"Once people understand the platform and what our leadership stands for it will bring more people not just to understand but to sympathize with, and hopefully also support, our party."

Yisrael Beiteinu has been widely criticized over its controversial proposals, which include transferring Arab population centers in Israel such as Umm Al-Fahm and the "triangle" to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for annexing heavily Jewish areas in the West Bank. Some call the party racist.

Ayalon, who served in Washington for four years and whose wife, Anne, is from Ohio, says he is optimistic about the reception his party's platform can expect from the new administration and the U.S. Jewish community.

"I actually don't see much contradiction here, because the main difference between us is the difference of time," he said. Yisrael Beiteinu opposes peace talks with the current Palestinian leadership, advocating a long-term, "peace-for-peace" approach.

"Since at this juncture in history there is no real chance for a viable peace, we should focus on putting our house in order first," Ayalon said. He said the next Israeli government should focus on crime reduction, economic recovery and political reform, not talks with the Palestinians.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is adamant in his intention to resume talks with the Palestinians and to implement a peace plan based on a two-state solution, which Yisrael Beiteinu utterly rejects. While Obama has spoken out expanding West Bank settlements, Lieberman is a vocal supporter of the settler movement who pulled his party out of the coalition to protest the peace talks.

Pressed to provide a realistic assessment of Obama's position regarding Yisrael Beiteinu's views, Ayalon responded: "Everybody wants peace," Ayalon said. "I trust Obama and his [designated] secretary of state [Hillary Clinton]. I know both personally and I know they will do everything to try to bring peace. But both are first of all very intelligent and very pragmatic. Hillary and Barack are also good politicians, and good politicians know where to put the emphasis and where not. They will not squander credit, prestige, American power for something that will not yield results. So they will examine the situation very well before they move forward and I for once am sure that they will they see the intricacies and the minimum chance to move now - unless the Palestinians change drastically - and will not squander all their assets for something that won't work."

Stressing that he doesn't advocate ignoring Washington's involvement in the peace process, he said that previous U.S. initiatives have all failed. "The Americans will realize themselves" that the current Palestinian leadership is no partner for peace, he said. "They don't need me, they are smart enough and experienced enough to judge the situation by themselves....We will tell the Americans about things as they are. They may agree with some issues, they may disagree with others, but we will work out together how to bridge the disagreements."

If Yisrael Beiteinu joins the next government as a coalition partner and the party's views clash with the U.S. administration, how would Ayalon respond?

"Through close contacts and negotiations, but I think this is highly unlikely and speculative. I don't think they will clash. Obama will work with Israel and not against Israel."

Ayalon added that he does not fear alienating the American Jewish communities, as they agree that Israelis know best what's good for Israel.