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Straight Talk
With Israel's
Diplomat

T

he last time Israel's Consul
briefly about Detroit's bankruptcy exit
General to the Midwest Roey
since our last get together, there was
Gilad and I got together was for
something hovering over breakfast like
dinner in Midtown last summer. At the
the Sword of Damocles: Some power-
time, Gilad, who presides over the affairs ful black members of Congress plan to
of Israel for 11 states, was getting ready
boycott Netanyahu's speech to send a
to go to Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
message to Israel. That threatens black-
Southfield for a community-wide Israel
Jewish relations at the highest levels of
Solidarity rally to address thousands
the federal government.
of Jews in Southeast Michigan about
Key members of the Congressional
the crisis between Israel and llamas
Black Caucus (CBC), led by civil rights
days after his return from
hero and Georgia Rep. John
Jerusalem.
Lewis and CBC chairman
Part of the dinner menu
and North Carolina Rep.
was Detroit as a place with
G.K. Butterfield, Detroit's
untapped potential and a
own Rep. John Conyers,
city that Israel should seri-
the dean of Congress, New
ously consider establishing
York Rep. Gregory Meeks
meaningful ties with to pro-
and many others who
mote trade and educational
view the failure to appro-
opportunities between the
priately notify the White
two.
House of Netanyahu's visit
Ban kole
Last Wednesday, Gilad
Thom pson
as disrespect to Obama, will
Mich igan
and I met again. This time
either be a no-show during
Chro nicle
it was for breakfast at Cafe
Netanyahu's speech or had
Zola, but there was more to
yet to commit to attend.
the regular menu. Initially
"To me, it is somewhat
we were scheduled for dinner at my
of an insult to the president of the
house, but due to last minute changes in
United States. Barack Obama is my
his diplomatic schedule, he suggested we president. He's the nation's president,
meet for breakfast instead.
and it is clear, therefore, that I'm not
At breakfast, it was clear that all
going to be there, as a result of that, not
seemed not too well right now between
as a result of the good people of Israel;
Israel and the United States, in light
Meeks told Politico as he was leaving a
of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin
lengthy White House meeting with Vice
Netanyahu's upcom-
President Joe Biden and Obama.
ing speech before
Another CBC member from Georgia,
Congress. The White
Rep. Hank Johnson, told Politico, "It's
House is furious that
not just about disrespect for the presi-
the Israeli leader did
dent; it's disrespect for the American
not notify President
people and our system of government
Obama and his
for a foreign leader to insert himself
administration about
into an issue that our policymakers are
the visit as a mat-
grappling with. It's not simply about
Roey Gilad
ter of diplomatic
President Obama being a black man dis-
protocol, respect and
respected by a foreign leader. It's deeper
courtesy for the Office of the President
than that:'
of the United States. To make matters
Black America's loyalty to President
worse, the defiant Republican House
Obama is not only unquestionable (from
Speaker John Boehner, who extended
the number of blacks who voted for him
the invitation to Jerusalem, only notified
overwhelmingly twice) but is also a his-
the White House an hour before he went
torical obligation.
public with the news.
For many, Obama represents the
On the other hand, Netanyahu doesrit
embodiment of the black experience
feel that the ongoing negotiations
in varied ways. He is the product of the
between the U.S. and Iran is a good
blood that was shed on "Bloody Sunday"
omen for Israel, and is planning to make
during the March on Selma.
his case to the American public when he
To every black child, Obama is the
comes to Washington.
most powerful example of the possibili-
As Gilad and I exchanged pleasant-
ries, shared personal stories and talked
Straight Talk on page 26

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March 5 • 2015

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