News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Democratic Jewish US Congressman Robert Wexler criticized John McCain’s Friday announcement of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, saying that it is an insult to Jews. Wexler, an ultra-left representative from Florida, cited Palin's endorsement of Pat Buchanan - whom Wexler called a Nazi sympathizer - in the 2000 presidential race. Kory Bardash, spokesperson for Republicans Abroad in Israel, told INN that allegations that Palin supported Buchanan are patently false.

The National Jewish Democratic Council had other charges. "In Governor Sarah Palin, McCain chooses a running mate with zero foreign policy experience and a brewing scandal which is being investigated by the Alaska state legislature," said Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the group in a Saturday statement.

Leaders from Alaska’s 4,000-strong Jewish community, however, told reporters that Palin enjoys good relations with the community. They pointed out that during her term as governor, Palin met with David Akov, Israel’s Consul General for the Pacific Northwest Region of the US to discuss cooperation between Israel and Alaska on such issues as counter-terrorism initiatives. Matt Brooks, Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition said, "Palin has been a leader on the critical issue of energy independence and lessening our need to buy oil from nations not sharing American and Israel's foreign policy."

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