Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said that the Israeli newspaper Haaretz misquoted him that Jews are concerned over Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's views on Israel. Visiting in Israel, Hoenlein said that candidates' "talk about change, without defining what that change should be," could lead to a weaker support of Israel by the United States.
He insisted he did not specifically refer to Sen. Obama but rather to all the candidates. "I did not speak about any specific campaign," Hoenlein said. The Jewish leader added that there is a "greater tolerance of anti-Israel statements that wouldn't have been allowed in the past."