Congressman Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr., a liberal whose anti-Zionist father, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr,. three years ago boasted that President Barack Obama would put an end to the American-Israeli alliance, is visiting Israeli and Palestinian Authority officials this week.
The Democrat from President Obama’s home state of Illinois said he will be discussing "the quest for a lasting peace in the region."
He is scheduled to meet with President Shimon Peres, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and others.
Jackson also said he wants to learn about Israel’s business sector and about counterterrorism.
Three year ago, Jackson Sr., once a presidential hopeful, triumphantly said during President Obama’s campaign, “Decades of putting Israel’s interest first will end. Zionists have controlled American policy for decades and will lose their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.”
Obama quickie distanced himself from the elder Jackson’s remark, and a campaign official stated, "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." Jackson Jr. was co-chairman of he campaign.
Rev. Jackson Sr.’s remarks were made at World Policy Forum event in France and quoted by the New York Daily Post. He said that the most important change in foreign policy under Obama as president would be reflected in the Middle East.
According to Jackson, "Bush was so afraid of a snafu and of upsetting Israel that he gave the whole thing a miss. Barack will change that.”
Jackson Sr.’s statement that the Middle East will "remain a source of danger to us all” without “justice” to the Palestinian Authority Arabs has been a cornerstone of President Obama’s foreign policy. He and his advisors have repeated said that solving the Palestinian Authority-Israeli issue will lead to peace throughout the region, including Iran.
Jackson is one of more than 80 Congressmen scheduled to visit this summer.