Black American leader Jesse Jackson said that his views were distorted in an article that quoted him as saying "Zionists" would lose their influence under an Obama administration. "That is not true," Jackson told XM radio talk show host Joe Madison, according to the Redding News Review. "That's a fabrication."

A statement released by his Rainbow Push coalition said: "The recent column in the New York Post by Amir Taheri in no way represents my views on Middle East peace and security."

"The writer is selectively imposing his own point of view, and distorting mine. I have a long held position of a two state solution to achieve peace in the Middle East. I stand forthrightly for the security and stability of Israel, its protection from any form of hostility, and a peaceful, non-violent resolution to co-existing with its Palestinian neighbors," the statement said.

'Zionists'?

According to JTA, sources close to Jackson said some of the quotes in Taheri's article were fabrica

The writer is selectively imposing his own point of view, and distorting mine.

ted. For one thing, they said, Jackson never used the term "Zionists."

The statement from the Rainbow Push coalition said: "Reverend Jackson is not a representative of Senator Obama. He has never had a conversation with Senator Obama about Israel or the Middle East, and was not characterizing Senator Obama’s views on these issues.

Obama national security spokeswoman Wendy Morigi responded to the remarks quoted in the Post by saying that “Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is not an adviser to the Obama campaign and is therefore in no position to interpret or share Barack Obama’s views on Israel and foreign policy,”

Ross, Kurtzer, Wexler

"As he has made clear throughout his career and throughout this campaign," Morigi went on, "Barack Obama has a fundamental commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and he is advised by people like Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer, Rep. Robert Wexler, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Senator Joe Biden who share that commitment," Morigi said. "As President, he will ensure that Israel can defend itself from every threa

Sources close to Jackson said some of the quotes in Taheri's article were fabricated. For one thing, they said, Jackson never used the term "Zionists

t it faces, stand with Israel in its quest for a secure peace with its neighbors, and use all elements of American power to end Iran's illicit nuclear program. No false charges can change Barack Obama's unshakeable commitment to Israel's security."

The American Jewish Committee condemned Jackson's statements, as reported by Taheri. The remarks "echo classic anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Jewish power," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. "This statement, regrettably, is not the first troubling comment by Rev. Jackson regarding Israel, Zionism and the Jewish people."