Prominent Jewish philanthropist Edgar Bronfman sides with Obama
Preeminent American Jewish philanthropist and Birthright Israel Board Member Edgar Bronfman has long been at the forefront of Jewish community activism. The former President of the World Jewish Congress and current President of The Samuel Bronfman Foundation, Bronfman has been actively involved with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, the Anti-Defamation League, and B’nai Brith.
Now, Bronfman is defending Obama’s approach to Israeli settlement construction in the Huffington Post, arguing it is “the only approach you can take if you truly love Israel and care about its survival.”
Here’s an excerpt from his recently published op-ed:
The American Jewish community has, over decades, been a steadfast source of strength for Israel — inside Israel and out, and from our local communities all the way up to Washington. As Zionists, I and the vast majority of American Jews will always remain committed to the security and well-being of the Jewish state.
However, on the issue of settlements there is seemingly a divergence of opinion: a majority of American Jews agrees with President Obama and does think that a halt to settlement construction is a reasonable request in the interest of peace.
To be sure, the Arab states and the Palestinians have to do their part, too, and the international community needs to hold them to account. After all, a future Palestinian state has to be a viable economic and political entity if it is to succeed and there is to be a lasting peace.
But continued “natural growth” in West Bank settlements cannot be allowed to take priority over the possibility of normalized relations with the entire Arab world. Peace with its neighbors, not the sensitivities of a small minority of religious settlers, has to be Israel’s ultimate objective.
People have taken to calling this the “tough love” approach towards Israel, but this is wrong. Rather, it’s the only approach you can take if you truly love Israel and care about its survival. A peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with two states for two peoples, is the only realistic way for Israel to ensure its Jewish and democratic character, and hence its existence.
Muddling through for another 30 years on the present course, only to have someone write again about the need for an end to settlements, is not only unsustainable but unloving.”
Here’s the full article:
“Stopping Construction, Building Peace,” by Edgar M. Bronfman. The Huffington Post, August 24, 2009