NOREF - Can Obama Beat the Israel Lobby?

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Author

Henry Siegman

, director of the US/Middle East Project in New York , is a visiting research professor at the Sir Joseph Hotung Middle East Program, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is a former national director of the American Jewish Congress and of the Synagogue Council of Ame...
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Can Obama Beat the Israel Lobby?

Henry Siegman , 16 June 2011

Executive summary

Can Obama overcome the opposition of the Israel lobby, and of a Congress so deeply beholden to that lobby, and successfully promote a US peace plan? The author believes he can, particularly if he were to receive the support of former Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, whose deep friendship with Israel is beyond challenge. The Obama plan is consistent with the Clinton parameters of December 2000 and with positions taken by Bush, who stressed that Israel cannot acquire any territory beyond the ‘67 lines without Palestinian consent. In a confrontation between the Israel lobby, on the one hand, and former Presidents Clinton and Bush and President Obama, on the other—who together declare their support for a peace plan they believe to be just, fair to both sides and in America’s national interest—there should be no question about who would prevail.