President Obama is holding meetings with American Jewish leaders at the White House Monday amid growing concern about the administration’s deteriorating relationship with the Israeli government.
The president is meeting behind closed doors in the Roosevelt Room separately with leaders of American Jewish organizations, and with Jewish community leaders, in the wake of warnings that the White House is reevaluating its policies toward Israel.
Mr. Obama is also expected to try to build support for the administration’s framework nuclear agreement with Iran, a proposal that is strongly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
After Mr. Netanyahu won reelection last month, Mr. Obama criticized the Israeli leader for trying to marginalize Arab voters in his campaign. The White House questioned whether Mr. Netanyahu would ever support a two-state solution with the Palestinian Authority and said the U.S. would be forced to reassess its approach toward Israel.
They’re the latest signs of tension between Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu, a fraying relationship that has prompted concern among many Jewish leaders in the U.S.
For example, American Jewish Committee leader David Harris told the Jerusalem Post that the post-election furor “runs completely contrary to the spirit of U.S.-Israel relations.”
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said he was troubled by the administration’s call for a reassessment of policy toward Israel.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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