Israel Matzav

Donilon regarded as pro-Israel

President Obama's new national security adviser, Thomas Donilon, is regarded as pro-Israel.

He has close ties to Vice President Joe Biden, who is considered the White House official with the warmest ties to the Jewish community. Donilon’s wife, Cathy Russell, is chief of staff to Biden’s wife, Jill, and his brother, Michael, is a senior adviser to Biden.

In a statement released by Biden after Donilon’s appoint was announced last Friday, he said: “Tom Donilon has been my friend and adviser for nearly 25 years. These past two years, he has been at the heart of our foreign and national security policies. He brings to his new responsibilities a remarkable depth of knowledge about the challenges and opportunities our country faces around the world.”

One of Donilon’s clients during his time as a lawyer was Penny Pritzker, daughter of Hyatt hotel chain founder Donald Pritzker and member of the notable Jewish American Pritzker business family. Penny Pritzker is one of President Obama’s strongest Jewish backers. She was the national finance chair of Obama's presidential campaign and was even considered to be his Commerce Secretary.

Donilon’s appointment has also been backed and approved by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. “Tom Donilon understands it’s a dangerous world,” said Committee spokesman Josh Block in a statement. “In every position he has held throughout his career in government, he has been a strong friend of the US-Israel relationship.”

We can only hope that they're right. But as a lawyer I have to tell you that I would not want to have my views judged by association with my clients.

Hmmm.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:19 PM