Jewish Leaders Welcome Trump Admin's Clarification Over Western
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GOLDIE Opinion. Tradition. HAWN: THE DANGER 'I LIKE OF BOOSTING MINORITY MY ABBAS RIGHTS TRIBE' A2. A12. A11. THE algemeiner JOURNAL $1.00 - PRINTED IN NEW YORK FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017 | 23 IYAR 5777 VOL. XLIV NO. 2305 Jewish Leaders Welcome Netanyahu Trump Admin's Welcomes New US Ambassador Clarifi cation Over to Israel Western Wall Status BY BEN COHEN Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed new US Ambassador David Friedman to the Jewish state on Tuesday at a meeting in Jerusalem. Friedman had arrived in Israel the previous day, point- edly making the Western Wall in the Israeli capital’s Old City his fi rst stop. “It’s a pleasure to see you and to welcome you to Jerusalem, our eternal capital,” Netanyahu said as he greeted Friedman. “I know you went to the Kotel [Western Wall]. It’s Th e Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Photo: David Shankbone. BY BEN COHEN that, in response to a request that berg and Hoenlein included a US Ambassador David Friedman meets with Israeli Prime Prime Minister Netanyahu accom- separate clarification from the Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Th e Conference of Presi- pany President Trump when he Trump Administration. “The Photo: Screenshot / GPO via Netanyahu’s Facebook page. dents of Major American Jewish visits the Western Wall in the Old comments about the Western Organizations has welcomed City of Jerusalem, unidentifi ed Wall were not authorized deeply appreciated by all our people.” a clarifi cation from President US offi cials said the Kotel was not communication and they do “Th ere was no other place to go,” Friedman replied. Donald Trump’s administration in Israel and is ‘part of the West not represent the position of the Netanyahu told Friedman he was looking forward to that it does not regard the Western Bank,'” said Stephen Greenberg, United States and certainly not of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Jewish state Wall in Jerusalem as a “part of the Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, the president,” the White House next week, which, in the words of the prime minister, would West Bank,” contrary to earlier Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, of was reported as saying. provide an opportunity to further “strengthen our great media reports. the Conference of Presidents, in a Earlier on Monday, Israeli alliance.” “We were dismayed by press statement. media outlets reported that an accounts earlier today reporting The statement from Green- Continued on Page A3 What it ShabbatCalendar Parshat BEHAR - BECHUKOTAI Times for New York City, Friday Candle Lighting Shabbat Begins: 7:52pm | Shabbat Ends: 8:59pm פרשת בהר בחקתי Means to Be 'Good' P.O.B. 250746, Brooklyn, NY 11225-3203 Tel: (718) 771.0400 | Fax: (718) 771.0308 page A8 Email: [email protected] www.algemeiner.com © Copyright 2016 Th e Algemeiner Journal - All Rights Reserved. A2 | FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017 Opinion. Ronald Lauder Promoting Abbas as Respectable Moderate Is Fraught With Danger the major settlement blocs and Golan Heights. malpractices. Over the last decade, Lauder But these require skillful diplomacy succeeded in recruiting top professionals, ISI LEIBLER and sensitivity to Trump’s belief that he can restructuring the organization, and restoring JERUSALEM negotiate a peace settlement with Abbas even its status as the premier body representing though his predecessors have failed. Diaspora Jewry. What has recently transpired among Lauder had a close, almost intimate American Jews is somewhat surreal. Leaders relationship with Netanyahu and loyally of the progressive religious denominations are supported him during his years of isolation Last week, World Jewish Congress (WJC) behaving as though possessed by a dybbuk. after his 1999 defeat by Ehud Barak. President Ronald Lauder released a series of But the situation has now become far But the relationship ended some five statements confirming that he had encour- more disconcerting. Lauder, who over the years ago when, as a major shareholder, aged US President Donald Trump to recognize years has conducted private meetings with Lauder was unable to prevent Channel 10 that peace between Israelis and Palestinians Abbas, is seeking to persuade Trump, with from broadcasting a vicious campaign to was now attainable. He also stressed that he whom he has enjoyed a close relationship demonize Netanyahu’s family. Since that considers PA President Mahmoud Abbas to for many years, that Abbas is sincere and time, Netanyahu has distanced himself from be a moderate who is committed to peace. Ronald Lauder, center, with Mahmoud Abbas, genuinely willing to make peace. Lauder and the WJC. Implicit in his narrative is that the Israeli right, in 2012. I have personally known Lauder for over Lauder has always dreamed that he would government and especially Prime Minister sized that on these issues, Netanyahu was 20 years and can testify that since his tenure one day emerge as the Jewish leader to facilitate Benjamin Netanyahu had previously been implementing policies supported by the clear as US ambassador to Austria, he has devoted a genuine peace settlement. To this end, he has insufficiently flexible but that Trump could majority of Israelis. himself to the Jewish people and the welfare repeatedly insisted that Abbas genuinely seeks succeed in his efforts. What makes his behavior even more of Israel, to which he has made major contri- peace. He now claims that he has persuaded We have just celebrated Independence outrageous is that Lauder confirmed that he butions, both philanthropically and by direct Abbas to make “major concessions.” Day and are approaching commemoration of had never discussed his plans with the prime investment. Lauder’s generous philanthropic In a lengthy conversation with Lauder, the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War and minister. So, on whose behalf was he acting? contributions were largely responsible for the I failed to dissuade him and convince him reunification of Jerusalem. The country is in He did claim that three formal efforts to revival of the decimated remnants of Jewish of the realities of the situation. He spoke great shape; the economy is booming and we engage in dialogue were initiated but Netan- life in Central and Eastern Europe. with an almost messianic fervor about the have emerged as a formidable military power. yahu had adamantly refused to meet him. Last month, he was elected for a third peace which we could now grasp. Setting With a US administration that pulls no When I spoke to the prime minister, it was term as president of the WJC, the interna- aside the issues, I reminded him that he was punches about its support and alliance with clear that Lauder’s intervention with Trump tional Jewish umbrella body. He successfully breaching an iron law governing Diaspora us, Israel is well-placed to achieve many of its angered and distressed him. He referred to reinvigorated the organization after its total Jewish leaders: Those not resident in Israel long-term strategic goals, including resolution Lauder as “my biggest challenge to overcome” collapse in the wake of the corruption scandal cross lines when they canvass foreign govern- of borders, agreed parameters of settlement because he has immense influence on Trump that engulfed it following the discovery by the ments to intervene in the security policies of activity and ultimately, formal annexation of Continued on Page A7 New York attorney general of severe financial the elected Israeli government. I also empha- The Foolish Embassy Expectation Game listening to his more mainstream advisers party platform pledges about recognizing the such as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and reality of a united Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Secretary of Defense James Mattis. This has But after the promise was repeatedly broken, JONATHAN S. TOBIN the led him to take a more realistic attitude toward the pro-Israel community got the hint and JNS.ORG NATO, Russia and the conflict in Syria. It’s also stopped asking. Algemeiner Journal likely to mean he will heed their warnings Nor was it something the Israeli govern- (USPS 927800) is published weekly that an embassy move would set off riots in ment was demanding. Prime Minister (except for the week of Passover the Muslim world rivaling those occurring in Benjamin Netanyahu would be delighted if When President Donald Trump heads and Succos) reaction to a Danish newspaper publishing Trump were to do as he promised, but the to the Middle East next week, the world will cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. That’s a location of the US embassy ranks low on the Subscription rate $40 per year be primarily watching closely to see if he price that not even a Trump may be willing to list of the Israeli leader’s priorities. Netan- makes any of his trademark gaffes that set off Algemeiner Journal pay to keep a promise. yahu is far more interested in getting Trump a cultural land mine in Saudi Arabia or Israel. 508 Montgomery Street If so, then those pro-Israel activists who to put pressure on the Palestinian Authority But the more important question is whether Brooklyn, N.Y. 11225-3023 pushed hard to pin down Trump on the to stop inciting and paying for terrorism, and he will use the trip to actually make policy. embassy issue last year will probably write to understand its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, Periodicals Postage The expectation is that at some point it off as just a noble effort that failed. But by has neither the will nor the ability to ever Paid at Brooklyn, N.Y. during his visit, Trump will announce the putting the question of Jerusalem’s status make peace. Keeping Trump focused on and at additional mailing offices convening of a new Middle East summit.