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Last update - 02:53 24/07/2009
Reform leader: Most U.S. Jews back settlement freeze
By Natasha Mozgovaya
Tags: israel news, reform judaism 

WASHINGTON - The vast majority of American Jews back a settlement freeze, according to Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union of Reform Judaism. "American Jews don't like when their government is at odds with the government of Israel," said Yoffie, whose organization's 1.5 million members make it the largest Jewish denomination in the U.S.

But beyond that, he stressed in a telephone interview with Haaretz from his New York office on Monday, "there are very important strategic issues at stake here. Iran is a real threat, and we all, including the liberal camp, take it very seriously. In order to deal with this threat, you need the support and friendship of the government of the United States. And you need the support and friendship of the people of the United States."

That is why the current dispute between Israel and the U.S. over construction in the settlements and East Jerusalem is so disturbing, he said. "This is a time that requires smooth and strong relations with [the U.S.] government. It's a time for differences to be worked through. It's a time for compromise and moderation. It's not a time to be involved in a dramatic public dispute."
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"Settlement activity at the West Bank is not popular here," he continued. "It never has been. It's absolutely the last thing in the world you want to be involved in a public dispute over. Because not only you won't have the support of this government - you won't have the support of the American people either. Do you think nevertheless it was the right thing to accentuate solely this issue? Some claim this allowed the Palestinians and the Arab governments to sit and wait until the settlement freeze.

"Settlement freeze at the West Bank is something that we've supported," he replied, dodging the question. "I believe that it's possible to reach some kind of understanding on it - so whatever compromise or understanding is involved there, they need to do that."

At last week's White House meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and 16 Jewish leaders, Yoffie continued, "there wasn't a single person around that table - not one - who on substance supported settlement activity."

Some of the groups weren't invited.

"Every single mainstream grass-roots group with a significant constituency was invited. They broadly represent American Jewry. They raised issues having to deal with an impression of imbalance - these are legitimate concerns and I identify with some of those as well. But when it came to substance, not a single one told the president: 'You're wrong.' And that's because they know that's unpopular here. It's unpopular with government officials, it's unpopular with all Americans, and it's unpopular with American Jews. I understand and appreciate Israeli political realities, but American support is absolutely vital to assure Israel's strategic interests. And some accommodations have to be found."

Asked about reports of a growing distance between Obama and the Jewish community, Yoffie replied, "Absolutely not. If you look at the people surrounding the president and advising him - obviously Rahm Emanuel, obviously David Axelrod, Dennis Ross who just moved to the National Security Council, Dan Shapiro who works there, Hillary Clinton has a long record of strong commitment to Israel. To look at this team and to imply that they are going to abandon Israel - it's just absurd."

You were one of the pioneers of Jewish outreach to the American Muslim community. How optimistic you are about the president's effort, that some call naive?

Yoffie replied that outreach to American Muslims, whose leadership is "middle-class and professional," made obvious sense. "In terms of the Muslim world altogether - I share that skepticism. I don't want to bring this liberal naive 'let's all get along' approach to this, not at all. The Muslim world is huge and diverse. Of course, we should see if there are pockets of moderation, and [if] Sunni fear of Shi'a, and particularly Iran, might create an opportunity for an anti-Iranian coalition. And it could be eventually good for the prospects of the Arab-Israeli peace."

Outreach to Iran didn't seem too successful so far.

"I am really not an optimist in the short term," he agreed, though stressing that the Iranian situation is very fluid right now. "And if we look at what's happening on the Palestinian side and in the Arab world, [it] is not a reason for optimism about a secure peace in the near future. We want the president who wants to exploit the opportunities that may exist because of the Iranian situation, because of the Sunni fears. The Palestinian reality is not particularly encouraging either, but [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas is basically a moderate force and I think Americans are right to try and strengthen him. To just give up doesn't make sense, and it isn't in America's interest any more than it's in Israel's interest."

Do you believe Obama's plan will work?

"I think the status quo is deeply and profoundly problematic. I think there is some possibility he can make progress and move us forward - I'm not sure. I think he is wise and right to do so, and the alternative is doing nothing while additional settlements are built and the possibility of the two-state solution becomes impossible."

Asked about the American Jewish community, Yoffie said he did not think Obama's election produced "a major shift of opinion within the Jewish community. [The] American Jewish community is moderate and centrist; it always has been. They supported [the] two-state solution, on the other hand they are very and appropriately skeptical about the Arab and Palestinian intentions, they want to see facts on the ground. They want to see America active, but they don't want America to impose a settlement."

However, he continued, "I'm very very worried about the students. On campuses, you have outspoken leftist groups that tend to have there more influence than elsewhere because of the dynamics of how students operate, and these groups tend to be very anti-Israel."

"I don't think Jewish students are abandoning Israel," he continued, "but the groups on the left are coming forward and saying 'look, you have all this settlement activity. You have all these facts on the ground. There is no way to have a two-state solution, you have to have a one-state solution. One person one vote, one state, one people.' What's happening at the campuses can become a harbinger of what's happening at the general political culture. It's very important for us to counter that."

Yoffie also expressed concern about the recent ultra-Orthodox riots in Jerusalem: "It's distressing and it's worrisome and in some measure it's incomprehensible to American Jews. These stories don't do us any good in the broader community. Recent polls of how Americans look upon Israel are quite distressing."

The absence of full recognition for the Reform movement in Israel is "terribly frustrating" as well, he said, and most American Jews are concerned by "the absence of religious pluralism."

Nevertheless, "we don't want these matters to determine how American Jews look at Israel. We want to strengthen the ties of the American Jews to Israel and acknowledge that Israel is not a perfect place."

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      1.   U.S. Jews 03:08  |  Joe in LA 24/07/09
      2.   American Jews are American. Period. And proud of it. 03:32  |  Lou Medel 24/07/09
      3.   Sorry to say, but the rift seems deep and structural in nature 03:50  |  Mark B. 24/07/09
      4.   Who is this jerk? 03:57  |  leoblue 24/07/09
      5.   Rabbi Yoffie 04:01  |  joe smith 24/07/09
      6.   Yoffe is right in this case 04:03  |  David 24/07/09
      7.   This man is an idiot 04:06  |  IW 24/07/09
      8.   Yoffie is an old fool. Represents himself only 04:08  |  Ron 24/07/09
      9.   Joe represents the right wing fringe 04:24  |  Shelley 24/07/09
      10.   Rabbi Yoffie is not a good Jew. 04:30  |  Steve Klein 24/07/09
      11.   Orthodox dictatorship on religious matters in Israel 04:46  |  newageblues 24/07/09
      12.   U.S. Jews 05:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/07/09
      13.   Yoffie is right 05:27  |  Lenny 24/07/09
      14.   US Jews for J Street and Obama 05:35  |  Isaac 24/07/09
      15.   and most American Jews drive on Shabbos 06:02  |  David K 24/07/09
      16.   Eric Yofee and Stephen Wise 06:02  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 24/07/09
      17.   Irrelevant Wishful Thinking 06:07  |  Rabbi 24/07/09
      18.   NOT THIS JEW, BABY, NOT THIS JEW!!!! 06:12  |  Heather Czerniak 24/07/09
      19.   Steve Klein - amazing... Ask Israel to abide by the law and ... 06:14  |  CJ 24/07/09
      20.   Mr Yoffe Does Not Speak For Me Or Any Jews I Know 06:26  |  JM 24/07/09
      21.   The Rabbi is making this up. 06:40  |  Chappaqua neighbor 24/07/09
      22.   The last vestiges of the diaspora are separating themself from 07:04  |  Kris Lazar 24/07/09
      23.   Reform`s goal is to be accepted. sellouts. Plain and simple. 07:10  |  philippe 24/07/09
      24.   US reform Jews 07:31  |  izwick 24/07/09
      25.   He said `Most` 07:36  |  John 24/07/09
      26.   Misguided reform Rabbi 07:40  |  Edifice 24/07/09
      27.   reform values 07:51  |  george 24/07/09
      28.   Conquest and colonisation... 07:57  |  David 24/07/09
      29.   Refomed Jews 08:32  |  Shmuel 24/07/09
      30.   Steve Klein-re:Court Jews 08:41  |  David 24/07/09
      31.   CJ #15 08:47  |  bruce 24/07/09
      32.   Reform LEader re; US Jews 08:47  |  JJ Gross 24/07/09
      33.   Where is his Jerusalem? 09:24  |  Shmuel 24/07/09
      34.   Yoffie speaks for 1.5 million Jews, hardly an unimportant voice! 09:27  |  Hannah 24/07/09
      35.   Rabbi Yoffe, go pay rent to an Native American 09:54  |  Nanushka 24/07/09
      36.   American jews don`t have a right to have an opinion 10:30  |  Yonatan Frimer 24/07/09
      37.   Jews are the worst enemies of the jews 10:32  |  potash katiftof 24/07/09
      38.   was this before of after their rabbi`s laundered money? 10:33  |  Self lovin` jew 24/07/09
      39.   Heather @18 11:16  |  had enough 24/07/09
      40.   potash katiftof - US is a UNSC Member, what Israel does is ... 11:36  |  CJ 24/07/09
      41.   David #30: Ariel Sharon was a great general..... 11:40  |  Steve Klein 24/07/09
      42.   Reform 11:46  |  Proud "settler" 24/07/09
      43.   Voted for McCain here but against the settlements 12:49  |  dyinglikeflies 24/07/09
      44.   Most US Jews marry non-Jews 13:23  |  Gershon 24/07/09
      45.   I want to settle in a RATIONAL Israel 13:44  |  dyinglikeflies 24/07/09
      46.   #34 a man of incredible talent says hannah 13:50  |  v hardman 24/07/09
      47.   Why stop with Rabbi Wise #16 14:11  |  Steve of Mevaserret 24/07/09
      48.   #12 The daily Obama bashing, today subliminal 14:25  |  Ardi 24/07/09
      49.   Two steps behind 14:43  |  Gilad 24/07/09
      50.   More nonsense from Left-wing Yoffie 16:16  |  howiej 24/07/09
      51.   leoblue 16:27  |  michael 24/07/09
      52.   jonatan frimer 16:39  |  michael 24/07/09
      53.   Mark B. #3: most of the conflict has little to do w/Judaism - 18:57  |  ivo 24/07/09
      54.   reform jews 19:52  |  mical 24/07/09
      55.   Isaac from Md - Ramba `gainst Obama 19:59  |  dana 24/07/09
      56.   Lou Medel 20:02  |  Yesh 24/07/09
      57.   Settlements or Subsidized Housing For Russian Jews 20:04  |  Lewis 24/07/09
      58.   #34 Hannah - New Zealand 20:30  |  Ibn Musa 24/07/09
      59.   I`m a reform Jew 20:42  |  Jennifer 24/07/09
      60.   Yoffie speaks for 1.5 million Jews, hardly an unimportant voice! 21:20  |  Mark 24/07/09
      61.   american jews 21:44  |  mical 24/07/09
      62.   #51 michael 21:59  |  leoblue 24/07/09
      63.   Incorrect 22:10  |  Happy and Proud 24/07/09
      64.   Yoffie wants a weak Israel 22:15  |  art 24/07/09
      65.   to the camp of the dreamer of peace !! 23:00  |  dovdevan 24/07/09
      66.   Shmuel 29 well put 02:16  |  Joe Frazier 25/07/09
      67.   I do hope he is right 02:19  |  WHG 25/07/09
      68.   To #1 02:42  |  Sam 25/07/09
      69.   Ron # 8 and you represent American Jews like Pollard does 04:19  |  Ammerican in NY 25/07/09
      70.   To CJK, re American Jews 04:24  |  Morris Valentine 25/07/09
      71.   Rabbi Yoffe 04:32  |  Jerry Steinfeld 25/07/09
      72.   Yoffie Wouldn`t Come To Israel When There Were Terror Attacks 04:39  |  LS 25/07/09
      73.   Most reformed Jews 04:55  |  Jerry Steinfeld 25/07/09
      74.   To dyinglikeflies - well put 05:10  |  Morris Valentine 25/07/09
      75.   #63, Morris Valentine 06:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/07/09
      76.   Isaac from Md #14 - Ramba `gainst Obama? 08:23  |  dana 25/07/09
      77.   I have little respect towards Jews who don`t live here but tell.. 08:44  |  Amihai 25/07/09
      78.   Amihai #71: part of the problem is the orthodox monopoly - 12:14  |  ivo 25/07/09
      79.   Rabbi Yoffie 13:26  |  Geoff 25/07/09
      80.   Reform Jews represent world opinion 13:48  |  r cummings 25/07/09
      81.   Better be careful 14:45  |  Gully Foyle 25/07/09
      82.   Many US Jews DO NOT back Obama 16:27  |  Barry 25/07/09
      83.   art a weak israel 16:28  |  michael 25/07/09
      84.   self loving jew 16:36  |  michael 25/07/09
      85.   Most US Jews are not Jews but Christians, 16:38  |  JMK 25/07/09
      86.   Yoffie Dead Wrong 16:40  |  Gianni 25/07/09
      87.   What an outlandish claim 16:55  |  Sidney 25/07/09
      88.   #72 gully and reality, every stupid demand over 60 years 16:57  |  vhardman 25/07/09
      89.   To Amihai (#71): Be careful what you wish for 17:02  |  Morris Valentine 25/07/09
      90.   # 42 "Proud "settler" 17:35  |  Bob 25/07/09
      91.   Great Rabbi! 17:41  |  Bob 25/07/09
      92.   Yoffe and Co., you and your people should live in Israel, benefit 17:48  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 25/07/09
      93.   #65 Morris Valentine 20:09  |  Mark B. 25/07/09
      94.   Most Americans back settlement freeze 20:24  |  Darice Bailer 25/07/09
      95.   WRONG!!! 20:42  |  Ben T 25/07/09
      96.   forget religious alliances-secular muslims jews christians unite 20:48  |  soeasytomakefriends 25/07/09
      97.   Your front troops in Israel, "Rabbis for Human Rights" don`t stop 21:12  |  Ruth 25/07/09
      98.   which reform jews 21:14  |  MARK 25/07/09
      99.   Yoffe`s comments 21:21  |  Alain 25/07/09
      100.   Settelements are not an obstacle 22:36  |  Dallasfish 25/07/09
      101.   Reminder- Jimmy Carter supports settlements 23:07  |  Joe Sittizen 25/07/09
      102.   Yoffie is totally incorrect 23:39  |  Sarah 25/07/09
      103.   American in NY - I`m just thankful 23:40  |  Ibn Musa 25/07/09
      104.   #6 David - Boston 23:44  |  Ibn Musa 25/07/09
      105.   c j k 12 03:23  |  potobac 26/07/09
      106.   Who is Yofie to speak for American Jewry? 04:55  |  Jack 26/07/09
      107.   American Jews are too self centered to care about Israel 05:30  |  Nechama 26/07/09
      108.   All American Reformed Jews that I know 05:34  |  Nechama 26/07/09
      109.   Sorry,all polls of U.S. Jews prove Yoffie speaks for the majority 05:49  |  Hanna 26/07/09
      110.   # 87 MARK 08:13  |  maoriboy 26/07/09
      111.   # 72 vhardman 08:23  |  maoriboy 26/07/09
      112.   To all Israeli Jew`s 10:10  |  had enough 26/07/09
      113.   for #90 Hanna: Don`t follow majority 10:46  |  Justin White 26/07/09
      114.   David 11:02  |  k 26/07/09
      115.   #35 Nanushka, you`re forgetting one little thing 14:28  |  newageblues 26/07/09
      116.   to #105 maori 15:42  |  mark 26/07/09
      117.   US support for Israel plummeting 15:46  |  Gully Foyle 26/07/09
      118.   kibbutz mefalsim 15:54  |  mark 26/07/09
      119.   American Polls verify that Am Jews want settlements frozen 16:54  |  Ed 26/07/09
      120.   I`m Reform. And (per usual) Yoffe does not speak for me. 17:09  |  velvel in decatur 26/07/09
      121.   Rabbi Yoffie 17:51  |  Svie 26/07/09
      122.   Again i say; What polls? 22:25  |  leoblue 26/07/09
      123.   US jews who back freeze R not practing jews and violate GOD! 22:54  |  sam 26/07/09
      124.   THEN MOST US JEWS ARE SMART! 23:08  |  WHG 26/07/09
      125.   yonatan frimer 36 23:09  |  potobac 26/07/09
      126.   #116 Mark 01:36  |  maoriboy 27/07/09
      127.   what right do they have? 11:40  |  Chaim Aschlocher 27/07/09
      128.   #112 had enough 17:59  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      129.   U.S. Jews are like the German Jews 18:12  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      130.   U.S. Jews have EVERY right to tell Israel what to do 18:20  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      131.   #117 Gully Foyle - Not nearly as bad 18:27  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      132.   127 - what right do they have? 18:32  |  Gully Foyle 27/07/09
      133.   #131 Gully Foyle - It gives the Rabbi as much right 19:44  |  Ibn Musa 27/07/09
      134.   Rabbi Yoffie 20:33  |  RonH 27/07/09
      135.   Response to #11 21:41  |  birenbad 27/07/09
      136.   Most US jews support settling Judea, Samaria with more jews 23:39  |  Ben 27/07/09
      137.   #130 - Home is where the money is 14:38  |  Gully Foyle 28/07/09
      138.   Non-Jewish American Opinion 19:27  |  Stephen 28/07/09
      139.   Gully Foole - Unless you can claim 22:35  |  IIbn Musa 28/07/09
      140.   #139 - Unless you can claim .. 03:06  |  Gully Foyle 29/07/09
      141.   #140 Gully Foole - I am willing to bet 17:47  |  Ibn Musa 29/07/09
      142.   Gully Foole 17:58  |  Ibn Musa 29/07/09
      143.   American Jews 20:37  |  CB 29/07/09
      144.   Zionists not invited 22:56  |  Shaul 29/07/09
      145.   USA Jew who backs more settlement 01:10  |  Garrison 30/07/09
      146.   Israel has no right 02:49  |  Gully Foyle 30/07/09
      147.   o`drama 17:03  |  jon 30/07/09
      148.   Settlement freeze 23:44  |  Paul Malykont 30/07/09
      149.   Time to Cancel Palestine and Create Peace 23:58  |  David 31/07/09
      150.   JStreet`s Independent Survey is proof of this. 02:07  |  Ed 01/08/09
      151.   Boston David--Two Years is Right! 16:45  |  Stephen 01/08/09
      152.   US Jews back settlement freeze 06:40  |  Alex Bar-Elan 03/08/09
      153.   Settlement freeze 16:13  |  David Ailver 04/08/09
      154.   Settlement freeze. 16:28  |  David Silver 04/08/09
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