The style of the new Ambassador will be completely different from Kurtzer’s. Both men want Israel to surrender most of Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), but Kurtzer (pictured above) felt at home when hosting Jewish groups.
Jones is a career diplomat with years of experience in Iraq and is fluent in Arabic. He already has tried to win favor with Jewish groups by emphasizing that while serving as the American ambassador to Lebanon, he expressed his grief when 73 Israelis were killed in a helicopter crash, even though it meant being denounced by Hezbollah. After the terrorist group demanded that the White House recall Jones for expressing sorrow over the tragedy, which Hezbollah described as "divine justice," Jones clarified that his statement was "humanitarian" and not political.
"I am not shy about taking on terrorists," Jones said. "When I was ambassador to Lebanon, I had no problem in condemning terror, including Hezbollah."
He also indicated he will be patient with efforts by Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) to stop terrorism. Jones said, "He is going about it his own way. Abbas has shown he is willing to take on Hamas with his courageous leadership."
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding his nomination, Jones said the Bush administration did not approve of Abbas' strategy of "trying to co-opt" violent groups instead of challenging them head-on. "But what really matters is that there be an end to the violence," Jones said.
Jones, 54, was appointed earlier this year as Rice’s senior adviser on Iraq policy and "was always keenly interested in carrying out the exact instructions of the White House and the Department of State," according to Bart Marcois, a former Foreign Service officer.
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) director Abraham Foxman welcomed Jones's nomination and observed that Kurtzer was at a disadvantage during his term as ambassador because, as a Jew, he was "being analyzed and sub analyzed."
David Miller, the director of the left wing Seeds for Peace program, praised Jones for being "direct and honest."
Jones’s appointment is subject to approval by the Senate.
Jones is a career diplomat with years of experience in Iraq and is fluent in Arabic. He already has tried to win favor with Jewish groups by emphasizing that while serving as the American ambassador to Lebanon, he expressed his grief when 73 Israelis were killed in a helicopter crash, even though it meant being denounced by Hezbollah. After the terrorist group demanded that the White House recall Jones for expressing sorrow over the tragedy, which Hezbollah described as "divine justice," Jones clarified that his statement was "humanitarian" and not political.
"I am not shy about taking on terrorists," Jones said. "When I was ambassador to Lebanon, I had no problem in condemning terror, including Hezbollah."
He also indicated he will be patient with efforts by Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) to stop terrorism. Jones said, "He is going about it his own way. Abbas has shown he is willing to take on Hamas with his courageous leadership."
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding his nomination, Jones said the Bush administration did not approve of Abbas' strategy of "trying to co-opt" violent groups instead of challenging them head-on. "But what really matters is that there be an end to the violence," Jones said.
Jones, 54, was appointed earlier this year as Rice’s senior adviser on Iraq policy and "was always keenly interested in carrying out the exact instructions of the White House and the Department of State," according to Bart Marcois, a former Foreign Service officer.
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) director Abraham Foxman welcomed Jones's nomination and observed that Kurtzer was at a disadvantage during his term as ambassador because, as a Jew, he was "being analyzed and sub analyzed."
David Miller, the director of the left wing Seeds for Peace program, praised Jones for being "direct and honest."
Jones’s appointment is subject to approval by the Senate.