Obama good for Israel, say former Israeli generals
Jewish Council for Education and Research features former defense establishment officials in endorsement video of US Democratic presidential hopeful. Clip aimed at relieving concerns Jewish voters may have about candidate
WASHINGTON – Seven prominent figures of the Israeli defense establishment have voiced their support of US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
All seven have given short interviewes featured on an online endorsement video, in which they praise Obama's Middle East policies.
The video "stars" former Mossad Director Ephraim Halevy, former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, past head of the National Security Council, General (Res.) Uzi Dayan, Amram Mitzna – former chief of the IDF Central Command, and Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Giora Inbar, who headed the IDF's Lebanon Division.
Also featured are past IDF Gaza Sector Commander Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Shaul Arieli, Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Shlomo Brom of the Air Force Intelligence and former Mossad official Yossi Alpher.
'The right man for the job'
The video was produced by the Jewish Council for Education and Research (JCER), which has joined the Obama campaign in an effort to relieve some of the concerns expressed by the Jewish voters in the US – many of whom believe the democratic candidate's views may prove dangerous to Israel.
"It would take an extraordinary effort to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and 2009 is the last year in which that may be achieved," says Ephraim Halevy in the video. Obama is a "breath of fresh air" and he has great communications skills, which are very important in negotiations, the former Mossad chief adds.
Lipkin-Shahak is quoted as saying that after listening to Obama he "trusts him," and that he welcomes anyone who "might try to deal with the axis of evil in a different way" than that of the Bush administration.
Dayan, on his part, voiced objections to Republican presidential candidate John McCain's views of Iran, saying that "an American president has to be involved in the Iranian issue... the US has to negotiate with Iran because at the end of the day, you have to stop them from getting nuclear capabilities."
Brig.-Gen. Inbar said he "would vote Obama in order to help Israel," Shlomo Brom is quoted as saying that "eight years of the Bush administration have been detrimental to Israel's interests. McCain's views are too close to Bush… that's not in Israel's best interest."
Yossi Alpher warned that McCain would continue Bush's failed policies, Brig.-Gen. Arieli said that "Obama is the right man for the job," and Amram Mitzna noted that "four more years of indecisiveness would harm Israel. It is important that our greatest friend be involved (in the Mideast peace process)."
