Israel Matzav

Jesse Jackson: 'The end of decades of putting Israel's interests first'

Moadim l'Simcha, a happy holiday to all of you. For anyone wondering how an Orthodox Jew could be online on the second day of Sukkot - a day on which Jews around the world are prohibited from doing work (including being online), please go here.

Tuesday's New York Post includes a lengthy interview by Amir Taheri with a black politician from Chicago, Jesse ("Hymietown") Jackson. The interview is dripping with Jew-hatred. Unfortunately, because it's in the Post and not the Slimes, much of the chattering classes will miss it. But let's take a look at some 'highlights' (Hat Tip: Charles).

PREPARE for a new America: That's the message that the Rev. Jesse Jackson conveyed to participants in the first World Policy Forum, held at this French lakeside resort last week.

He promised "fundamental changes" in US foreign policy - saying America must "heal wounds" it has caused to other nations, revive its alliances and apologize for the "arrogance of the Bush administration."

The most important change would occur in the Middle East, where "decades of putting Israel's interests first" would end.

Jackson believes that, although "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" remain strong, they'll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.

"Obama is about change," Jackson told me in a wide-ranging conversation. "And the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it."

...

Jackson is especially critical of President Bush's approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"Bush was so afraid of a snafu and of upsetting Israel that he gave the whole thing a miss," Jackson says. "Barack will change that," because, as long as the Palestinians haven't seen justice, the Middle East will "remain a source of danger to us all."

"Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims," Jackson says. "Thanks to his background and ecumenical approach, he knows how Muslims feel while remaining committed to his own faith."

Jackson also had some comments about Iran.

On Iran, he strongly supports Obama's idea of opening a direct dialogue with the leadership in Tehran. "We've got to talk to tell them what we want and hear what they want," Jackson says. "Nothing is gained by not talking to others."

Would that mean ignoring the four UN Security Council resolutions that demand an end to Iran's uranium-enrichment program? Jackson says direct talks wouldn't start without preparations.

"Barack wants an aggressive and dynamic diplomacy," he says. "He also wants adequate preparatory work. We must enter the talks after the ground has been prepared," he says.

Of course, Iran has a few pre-conditions for opening that 'direct dialogue' (Hat Tip: Charles).

Vice President for Media Affairs Mehdi Kalhor said on Saturday that Iran has set two preconditions for holding talks with the United States of America.

In an exclusive interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency, he said as long as U.S. forces have not left the Middle East region and continues its support for the Zionist regime, talks between Iran and U.S. is off the agenda.

It is the Americans who are in dire need of reestablishing ties with Iran, he underlined.

Iran is not obliged to reestablish ties with the U.S., he said.

"If they take our advice, grounds for such talks would be well prepared," he said.

It is stupidity to hold talks without any change in U.S. attitude, he underlined.

I'm sure that Jackson and Obama won't have a lot of problems with those conditions.

By the way, Jackson warns that he isn't an Obama confidant or adviser, "just a supporter." But consider this from the Post interview:

But he adds that Obama has been "a neighbor or, better still, a member of the family." Jackson's son has been a close friend of Obama for years, and Jackson's daughter went to school with Obama's wife Michelle.

"We helped him start his career," says Jackson. "And then we were always there to help him move ahead. He is the continuation of our struggle for justice not only for the black people but also for all those who have been wronged."

Just like Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright. No 'official' position, but lots of influence.

Jackson endorsed Obama on March 29, 2007, long before a lot of other people got on the bandwagon. And while there was a crude dispute between them this past summer, it was patched up almost immediately.

Obama won't appear much with Jackson in public before the election. He knows that won't help him get elected. But you can bet that Jackson, Al Sharpton and maybe even Louis Farrakhan will be welcome in an Obama White House (God forbid).

Tell that to your grandchildren.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:55 PM