A close friend and political supporter of President Barack Obama, Alan Solow, is urging American politicians to avoid partisan mudslinging over the issue of Israel.
"We cannot allow Israel to become a wedge issue that divides our community and dilutes its strength," said Solow, a Chicago attorney who serves as the president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. "Of course, we as individuals can prefer some candidates over others, but we must not allow the U.S.-Israel relationship to become the distinguishing factor between the major parties. Our goal should be exactly the opposite: to promote all political actors to adopt strong pro-Israel positions across the board."
Solow's comments came days after some Republicans--along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other staunchly pro-Israel voices in Israel and the U.S.--jumped on Obama for publicly suggesting that Israel's pre-1967 borders should be the "basis" for peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, for instance, unleashed some of the most strident criticism by declaring that Obama had "thrown Israel under the bus."
Solow, speaking from the podium at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference Monday night, did not mention any GOP politicians by name. However, he urged Israel supporters "to avoid demonizing leaders merely for political gain."
"We cannot allow the politics of the moment to distract us and to interfere with our success," warned Solow.
In the past day or two, the dynamics of the political tussle over Israel have changed somewhat. Republicans have toned down their criticism of Obama. In a speech Monday night to AIPAC, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) didn't engage on the borders issue. However, some Democrats still seem eager to be seen as more pro-Israel than Obama by distancing themselves from Obama's approach. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did that last night in his speech rejecting any effort by the U.S. to lead peace talks or set "premature parameters" for them.
Solow, who has supported Obama from the outset of his political career in the 1990s, accompanied him on his trip to Israel in 2006 and was often put forward by his presidential campaign to vouch for his backing of the Jewish state. Since taking the leadership of the Jewish coalition days before Obama's inauguration in 2009, Solow has taken some public stands critical of the Obama administration, including opposing the U.S. effort to pressure Israel to stop building settlements in East Jerusalem.
"We cannot allow Israel to become a wedge issue that divides our community and dilutes its strength," said Solow, a Chicago attorney who serves as the president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. "Of course, we as individuals can prefer some candidates over others, but we must not allow the U.S.-Israel relationship to become the distinguishing factor between the major parties. Our goal should be exactly the opposite: to promote all political actors to adopt strong pro-Israel positions across the board."
Solow's comments came days after some Republicans--along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other staunchly pro-Israel voices in Israel and the U.S.--jumped on Obama for publicly suggesting that Israel's pre-1967 borders should be the "basis" for peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, for instance, unleashed some of the most strident criticism by declaring that Obama had "thrown Israel under the bus."
Solow, speaking from the podium at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference Monday night, did not mention any GOP politicians by name. However, he urged Israel supporters "to avoid demonizing leaders merely for political gain."
"We cannot allow the politics of the moment to distract us and to interfere with our success," warned Solow.
In the past day or two, the dynamics of the political tussle over Israel have changed somewhat. Republicans have toned down their criticism of Obama. In a speech Monday night to AIPAC, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) didn't engage on the borders issue. However, some Democrats still seem eager to be seen as more pro-Israel than Obama by distancing themselves from Obama's approach. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did that last night in his speech rejecting any effort by the U.S. to lead peace talks or set "premature parameters" for them.
Solow, who has supported Obama from the outset of his political career in the 1990s, accompanied him on his trip to Israel in 2006 and was often put forward by his presidential campaign to vouch for his backing of the Jewish state. Since taking the leadership of the Jewish coalition days before Obama's inauguration in 2009, Solow has taken some public stands critical of the Obama administration, including opposing the U.S. effort to pressure Israel to stop building settlements in East Jerusalem.
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