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Last update - 01:18 13/02/2008
U.S. Jewish leader worried by thrust of White House campaigns
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Malcolm Hoenlein, U.S. 

The head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Malcolm Hoenlein, expressed concern Tuesday regarding the atmosphere that has surrounded Democratic Senator Barack Obama's campaign for president, while making it clear he has no problem with Obama himself.

"All the talk about change, but without defining what that change should be is an opening for all kind of mischief," Hoenlein said at a press conference in Jerusalem. Obama has made change a central theme in his campaign.

Hoenlein is in Jerusalem for the annual leadership mission of the Conference of Presidents, which will take place this week in Georgia and next week in Israel.
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Hoenlein was careful to stress that "it's not the candidates themselves we are concerned about," pointing out that Obama, like the other major candidates, has signed on to the foundation of a national committee to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary in the U.S.

"Of course Obama has plenty of Jewish supporters and there are many Jews around him," Hoenlein said. "But there is a legitimate concern over the zeitgeist around the campaign."

He also cited the fact that Obama has criticized his rival Democratic candidate Senator Hillary Clinton, for her vote in favor of including the Iranian Republican Guards in the list of terror organizations.

The U.S. Jewish leader warned the American presidential campaign could signal a shift toward declining U.S. support for Israel.

"Support for Israel is at an all time high, [but] our polling suggests that as broad the support is, it is also thin and most Americans see Israel as a dark and militaristic place," he said.

He termed the current election season "transitional" and said that it "could bring about a shift in the political life."

Hoenlein said that Israel's supporters should be worried by "the heightening of the bar and the greater tolerance of anti-Israel statements that wouldn't have been allowed in the past."

He singled out the Walt-Mearschimer book on the Israel lobby, that "has become a bestseller and a college textbook" and said that there "is a steady poisoning of the elites, mainly on campuses that could trickle down."

He also mentioned Republican candidate Ron Paul, saying "he is openly anti-Israel and who managed to raise $15 million in two days and is the second preferred candidate of many young voters - that is very worrying."
Hoenlein said that the fact that little space in the candidates' debates had been devoted to foreign policy and the Iranian issue was also a source of worry.
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  1.   Jews now using anti-Semitics tactics 16:11  |  Mark B. 12/02/08
  2.   This is great 16:14  |  Common sense 12/02/08
  3.   Anti-Israel? $15 Million? No. 16:15  |  Brad 12/02/08
  4.   Hoenlein, Obama has specified what this change is about 16:17  |  Mark B. 12/02/08
  5.   Hoenlein Hysteria 16:28  |  Dovy 12/02/08
  6.   ISRAEL SHOULD BECOME THE ONLY SOURCE OF CONCERNS 16:37  |  indrajaya 12/02/08
  7.   Sorry, it is expected.. 16:46  |  Buzaglow 12/02/08
  8.   tick tick tick 16:49  |  al 12/02/08
  9.   The Problem Isn`t Obama Part 1 16:49  |  Yosemite 12/02/08
  10.   The answer is simple: vote McCain! 16:57  |  Steven 12/02/08
  11.   The Problem Isn`t Obama Part 2 17:06  |  Yosemite 12/02/08
  12.   I am an AIPAC member 17:11  |  Sam 12/02/08
  13.   israel support? What Israel support? 17:19  |  omolll 12/02/08
  14.   it`s about time 17:49  |  samos 12/02/08
  15.   Quarters, nickels, dimes? Is it spare change? 17:50  |  DJStahl 12/02/08
  16.   You mean Jews have power over Electoral College system 18:06  |  Jeffery Stone 12/02/08
  17.   Concern on loosing support 18:10  |  Joe 12/02/08
  18.   Obama Campaign 18:10  |  Garry 12/02/08
  19.   concerned 18:20  |  Shmuelshachor 12/02/08
  20.   Worried about shift in US public opinion? 18:22  |  US Observer 12/02/08
  21.   Once upon a time there was Old America, which 18:28  |  ManInTheMiddle 12/02/08
  22.   American Jews, not Israel Lobby 18:28  |  W 12/02/08
  23.   Yay! get to keep the $20.00 which no goes to Israel 18:32  |  Natallie Durson 12/02/08
  24.   Israel Support is Really Not Surprising 18:38  |  Tom 12/02/08
  25.   Long Overdue!! 18:44  |  Cool B 12/02/08
  26.   yeah please vote for OBAMA-LAMA 18:47  |  ottomatik 12/02/08
  27.   #13 Omolll, Much to Agree On 18:49  |  Tom 12/02/08
  28.   New Perspectives 18:50  |  J B 12/02/08
  29.   Improper & Misplaced Outcry 18:50  |  Stephen 12/02/08
  30.   Common sense - WHat great miracle? 18:53  |  Huh? 12/02/08
  31.   The real threat 18:53  |  Defenstrator 12/02/08
  32.   Yosemite: Immigration 18:57  |  American Sandwich 12/02/08
  33.   Obama for President 18:57  |  Choni Davidowitz 12/02/08
  34.   Mark B #4 19:01  |  Yariv 12/02/08
  35.   Poor Obama, for the Hoenleins of this world...... 19:09  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/02/08
  36.   #13 19:10  |  William 12/02/08
  37.   Obama will help sell Israel to progressives 19:11  |  Progressive Zionist 12/02/08
  38.   Hoenlein is a yenta 19:35  |  Jake 12/02/08
  39.   Omol we all want peace, but who is killing innocent people 19:37  |  Ferragamo 12/02/08
  40.   If this is true, we brought it on ourselves 19:37  |  Dave Zuckerman 12/02/08
  41.   Immune against Corruptions 19:47  |  st forte 12/02/08
  42.   #2 19:52  |  Number One 12/02/08
  43.   Obama 19:55  |  dtoub 12/02/08
  44.   Change Change-I`m also puzzled by endless talk of Change.What do 19:58  |  Alan 12/02/08
  45.   I agree 100% with Hoelein 19:59  |  MarkC 12/02/08
  46.   tick tick tick and ticks 20:00  |  Howard 12/02/08
  47.   Yosemite 20:05  |  Waleed 12/02/08
  48.   Sam, AIPAC memebr 20:08  |  Sam M 12/02/08
  49.   Ferragamo 20:15  |  Muslim 12/02/08
  50.   Israel should be worried. 20:18  |  Atoo Landarv 12/02/08
  51.   Jews Supporting Obama - An Act of Cowardice 20:20  |  Tod Zuckerman 12/02/08
  52.   # 14 Swiss on poor Obama 20:21  |  Lynn 12/02/08
  53.   Obamas Foriegn Affairs advisors 20:25  |  Rick 12/02/08
  54.   To #1 Mark B 20:30  |  Michael 12/02/08
  55.   # 23 Alan...exactly the problem I am having. 20:41  |  Lynn 12/02/08
  56.   Candidates NEVER Do What They Say While Running 20:44  |  Jane 12/02/08
  57.   # 38 Tonight I have learned something about Lynn...... 20:53  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/02/08
  58.   Howard #25 21:08  |  Yariv 12/02/08
  59.   We should support Ron Paul 21:11  |  christa 12/02/08
  60.   Obama 21:14  |  Yariv 12/02/08
  61.   # 38 Lynn, I`m afraid I missed..... 21:16  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/02/08
  62.   To Tod Zuckerman 21:25  |  Greg 12/02/08
  63.   Lynn - you choose to stay deaf 21:27  |  Greg 12/02/08
  64.   Rick - and the current team is helping??? 21:29  |  Greg 12/02/08
  65.   delcining us support - good or bad? 21:30  |  lee 12/02/08
  66.   What does it mean to support Israel anyway??? 21:32  |  Greg 12/02/08
  67.   IJewish leaderships wants Israeli Priorities, not US 21:37  |  El-Birawi 12/02/08
  68.   Yariv - are you serious??? 21:39  |  Greg 12/02/08
  69.   Lee # 65 21:55  |  Leah 12/02/08
  70.   Greg 66 22:03  |  Jude 12/02/08
  71.   Naive 22:03  |  Joe 12/02/08