The recent appointments of Jews by United States President–Elect Barack Obama to his new administration should not be reassuring to the Jewish community in America or in Israel, says David Bedein, Bureau Chief of the Israel Resource News Agency.
During the elections, Bedein covered the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania, working on behalf of the Philadelphia Bulletin. Speaking on Israel National Radio's Weekend Edition, Bedein said that the Jewish appointees are not pro-Israel.
Most of the rumors spread about Obama, Bedein stated, were "more or less concocted by the Hillary campaign.” However he did express concern over Obama's closeness to Jewish policy makers who have pushed for Israel to give up land in the past. In particular, is Rahm Emanuel, the newly appointed White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel's parents are Israeli.
"Obama's first appointment in the White House, Rahm Emanuel, was the key person in the Clinton administration to make the Oslo Accords happen in 1993. We are facing a situation of Jews around the next president who are very, very antagonistic to any of Israel's settlement policies in Judea and Samaria. But much more serious than that of course, is that the implication to the rest of Israel. If any of that territory is handed over, we'll see missiles on the center of Israel."
Bedein added that Rahm Emanuel, in the early 90's, was one of the people who helped financially put together Bill Clinton's campaign. Emanuel personally orchestrated the famous Yitzhak Rabin – Yasser Arafat hand shake at the White House in September of 1993.
"If you liked the Oslo process, Rahm Emanuel is your man. If you didn't like the Oslo process, he's your enemy." Bedein said. "Remember these are people who have their own way of liking Jews. They like weak Jews. We can call Jews who get into a high position 'Jews in the palace of the king.' It was the Jewish servants of Pharaoh who hated Moses the most. They liked being in the palace of the king."
Bedein also expressed concern over some of Obama's other Jewish advisors.
"He [Obama] had hired a number of Jewish advisors who are quite critical of Israel. They are anti-Israel people who fantasize about Saudi Arabia and peace intentions, people who had promoted the intentions of the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization led by Yasser Arafat]. Those three people are Dennis Ross, Dan Kurtzer and Martin Indyk. They pose a very serious problem to Israel."
Bedein was asked how the world would look with a left wing Obama government in the USA and a Likud government with Binaymin Netanyahu in Israel. In reply, he said that everything has to do with the strength of the people of Israel. Israel needs a strong backbone, one supporting a strong Israel. It has to be “an Israel that does not put up with pressure from the State Department.” He added, with a twist of humor, "If the PLO, Peres, Livni and Olmert, are neutralized, then Israel will be able to stand strong against these guys."