OTHER VIEWS

Decisions We Jews Await

I

n the historic federal election on
Nov. 4, exit polls cited in the Forward
indicated that between 77 and 78
percent of Jewish-Americans voted for
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for presi-
dent, signaling that most of the Jewish
community is comfortable with his ability
to make decisions affecting them and all
Americans.
That evening, the American Jewish
Committee sent a letter of congratulations
to President-elect Obama, commend-
ing him for a race well-run and noting
the difficult choices he must make in the
coming weeks and months as he forms an
administration, formulates a governing
agenda and manages the expectations of
the nation and the world.
It is interesting to note that throughout
the election, a striking feature of both the
Obama and McCain campaigns was the
amount of attention paid to issues of cru-
cial importance to the Jewish community.
Yet, as AJC has long espoused, issues that
concern the Jewish community are, at
their core, issues of importance to all of
those who believe in democratic values.
We believe that one of the most urgent
issues that President-elect Obama must
address is one which America and other
democracies have long been grappling

with: Iran's rapid movement
toward nuclear arms capabil-
ity. Iran's continued enrich-
ment of uranium and refusal
to cooperate with inspectors
from the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) are in
direct defiance of four U.N.
Security Council Resolutions
and its obligations under the
Non-Proliferation Treaty. As AJC
emphasized in recent talks with
members of the local Consular
Corps, there remains a very
strong need for stronger eco-
nomic pressure on Iran. America's contin-
ued strong leadership is necessary as we
confront this grave danger.
Even without nuclear weapons, Iran is a
threat to Israel and to the region. President
Mahmoud Ahamadinejad has called for
Israel to be wiped off the map — a clear
incitement to genocide — and his govern-
ment has supplied logistical, financial and
material support to Hezbollah and other
terrorist organizations throughout the
Middle East. If Iran successfully obtains
nuclear weapons, it will become an even
bigger threat to global security as it will
have more incentive to pursue its expan-
sionist goals and will almost certainly

trigger an arms race among
nearby countries who under-
standably feel endangered and
empowered by Iran's actions.
We are pleased that
President-elect Obama has
made it clear that he, like past
American presidents, is com-
mitted to the security of Israel,
America's closest ally in the
Middle East. American Jewish
Committee has long favored
a peaceful settlement of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict
based on two states living side
by side in peace and security, with the
understanding that meaningful progress
in the peace process will come only when
Palestinian terror is halted.
AJC would urge the Obama administra-
tion to remain adamant that all elements
of Palestinian leadership accept the three
conditions set forth by the international
community — recognize Israel's right to
exist, renounce terrorism and accept exist-
ing agreements between Israel and the
Palestinians.
Another essential issue which
President-elect Obama must address is
America's dependence on foreign oil,
which threatens our national security, our

economy, our environment and our abil-
ity to take a firm stance against countries
which violate standards of human rights.
In working toward energy independence,
American Jewish Committee supports the
development of alternate technologies and
fuels, the development of domestic energy
resources, improvements to our national
energy policy, and behavioral changes
on the parts of governments, companies
and individuals to reduce emissions and
energy consumption. (For its part, AJC
is engaged in the process to make its
headquarters LEED certified, and has
instituted a number of innovated "green"
programs throughout the organization,
including an innovative incentive program
for employees to buy hybrid vehicles).
As senator, Obama addressed AJCs
2006 annual meeting on the subject of
energy security and throughout his cam-
paign enumerated a number of innovative
energy-related programs through his "New
Energy for America Plan." American Jewish
Committee looks forward to working with
President-elect Obama and his administra-
tion in addressing these and other issues. ❑

Kenneth C. Gold is president of the Bloomfield

Township-based Detroit Chapter of the
American Jewish Committee.

Don't Delay Pursuit Of Peace

Washington/JTA

I

n the first visit to Egypt by an Israeli
president in 12 years, Shimon Peres
last month endorsed the Arab peace
initiative and declared, "Peace has never
been more possible. It would be a mistake
to miss out on this opportunity."
His statement comes 61/2 years after the
leaders of 22 Arab countries met in Beirut
on March 28, 2002, to present the Saudi-
led peace initiative.
That proposal offered Israel permanent
peace and full recognition by the Arab
states in exchange for Israel's withdrawal
from all the territory it occupied in 1967
— including all of the West Bank, Golan
Heights, eastern Jerusalem and, at the
time, Gaza Strip — the establishment of
a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem
as its capital and the resolution of the
Palestinian refugee question. All these
are components of the current Israeli-

Palestinian peace track.
the West Bank committed to
The initiative's first presenta-
the peace process and with
tion, at the 2002 Arab League
a four-month cease-fire with
summit in Beirut, was overshad-
Hamas in Gaza, Israel's lead-
owed by the suicide bombing at
ers say they are receptive to
Netanya's Park Hotel the night
including the Arab states and
before, and the peace proposal
their peace initiative in Israel's
did not get much traction in
pursuit of a comprehensive
Israel. Arab states renewed the
regional peace.
idea at a summit in Riyadh on
Peres, with the backing
March 28, 2007.
of Foreign Minister Tzipi
Sadie
Yet while Israeli Prime
Livni and Defense Minister
Goldman
Minister Ehud Olmert lauded
Ehud Barak, has been work-
Special
the Arab step toward peace, he
ing behind the scenes on an
Commentary
had reservations about some
Israeli proposal that is in line
of the plan's details — and a corruption
with the Arab initiative. According to the
scandal to deal with — and the proposal
Israeli daily Ma'ariv, Peres gave Egyptian
fell on deaf ears.
President Hosni Mubarak such a propos-
This time, however, Israel's leadership is al and hopes to hold peace talks with the
listening.
representatives of the Arab states.
Without the suicide bombings that
Of course, Peres is not the prime minis-
terrorized Israelis between 2000 and
ter of Israel.
2004, with a Palestinian Authority in
Including the Arab peace initiative in

any form in Israel's current negotiations
will require the endorsement of Israel's
government and its leader. With the Israeli
government in transition and Olmert, a
strong proponent of negotiations with the
Palestinians and the Syrians, likely staying
on as prime minister until at least early
February, Israel's next election could be a
referendum on the peace process.
Most Israelis worry that the Arab ini-
tiative dictates a final solution on issues
currently up for negotiation, particularly
borders and refugees. Indeed, the issue
of refugees is a "red line" for Livni, who
says Palestinians displaced in 1948 should
return to a future Palestinian state, not
Israel.
Supporters of the Arab peace initiative
point out that it is a framework, not a
final dictate. This could give Israel's new
government wiggle room to address its

Don't Delay on page A38

jpi

November 13 • 2008

A37

