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'Doesn't get it.' Barack Obama
Photo: AP
'Take it to the bank.' McCain
Photo: AP

First-ever US presidential-style debate held in Jerusalem

Obama, McCain representatives spar over Jerusalem, Iranian threat and Sarah Palin during heated debate before hundreds of American citizens residing in Israel

In an historic first, the American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC) organized and sponsored a US presidential style debate held at Jerusalem's Heichal Shlomo Thursday evening.

 

A full house of hundreds of American citizens residing in Israel listened enthusiastically as representatives of the US presidential candidates spelled out their respective campaign’s policies on issues of interest to the Israel-based voter as well as American domestic issues.

 

At the debate, Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, was represented by Marc Zell, co-chair of Republicans Abroad - Israel. Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, was represented by Sheldon Schorer, counsel to Democrats Abroad - Israel. Harvey Schwartz, AIAC's Chairman, was the Moderator.

 

The issues discussed were as diverse as the Iranian threat, peace between Israel and its neighbors, the status of Jerusalem, granting a pardon to Jonathan Pollard, the current US economic crisis, energy policy, healthcare and why each of the candidates would make the best president and vice-president.

 

The latter issue became so heated that Zell rose to his feet and challenged Schorer's assertion that Governor Sarah Palin had authorized books to be banned from an Alaskan library.

 

“That’s an outright lie. That is an outrageous fabrication," said Zell, jumping out of his seat. "I challenge you, sir, to produce competent evidence of that charge. This is just another in a long series of outlandish slanders the Democrats have been concocting to disparage the reputation of Governor Palin."

 

“I made a statement based on what I heard and read,” a somewhat shocked-looking Schorer said.

 

'Their votes will carry great weight'

The Republican representative, Zell, started the evening explaining to the crowd of Americans residing in Israel that "Obama does not get it" in reference to the peace process and claimed that an Obama administration would be a return to the failed Clinton policies in the Middle East.

 

Schorer shot back declaring that he "cannot understand how anybody who is concerned about Israel's security and the threat of Iran could be supportive of George Bush's foreign policy" and that McCain would be more of the same.

 

Zell again launched an attack on Obama's foreign policy inexperience. Obama was attacked by the Republicans for calling on the United Nations Security Council to create a resolution calling for a withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia in the recent conflict, before later realizing that Russia has a veto in the Security Council.

 

Schorer conceded that although Obama had to qualify an earlier statement calling Jerusalem "Israel's undivided capital", the original statement was obviously where the Illinois senator's true feelings were on the issue.

 

On Jerusalem, Zell was more certain and direct. "When John McCain says he stands for a united, undivided Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, you can take that to the bank," the Republican representative said.

 

AIAC Chairman Harvey Schwartz, who moderated the debate, said “The American citizens in Israel are very politically sophisticated. An overwhelming majority of those eligible to vote will do so. They are acutely aware that in what everyone thinks will be an extremely close election, their votes will carry great weight in determining the final outcome."

 

AIAC is a non-partisan, non-political, issue-oriented NGO which is devoted to effectively recruiting and activating the more than 250,000 expatriate American citizens living in Israel in order to "create a united voice that will be heard by the governments of the United States and Israel on issues that pertain to the continued safety and security of Israel and the Jewish People worldwide".

 

The event was co-sponsored by VotefromIsrael.org, which invited the audience to register for an absentee ballot for the upcoming elections. 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.28.08, 23:07
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