Kathryn McEwen added a discussion to the group Americans support Israel

New Israeli Ambassador a 'Conservative Ideologue'

U.S.-born Ron Dermer will assume the post of Israel's ambassador to the United States this fall ? and he faces significant challenges.

Among them is establishing healthy relations with the Obama administration and maintaining support for Israel in Congress, according to Alan Elsner, vice president for communications for J Street.

"Dermer must overcome his reputation as a conservative ideologue if he wants to forge good working relations with a Democratic administration," Elsner writes in an op-ed piece for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

"The same is true in Congress where the new ambassador will be welcomed with open arms by Republicans but may face initial suspicion from some on the Democratic side of the aisle.

"Israel needs all the supporters it can get from both parties ? so leaning one way or the other, or even appearing to lean, is not only inappropriate but a recipe for disaster."

J Street describes itself as a pro-Israel advocacy group whose stated aim is to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.

Dermer must also nurture the crucial relationship between Israel and the Jewish community in America, Elsner posits.

He writes: "Any Israeli ambassador must accept the American Jewish community as it is: predominantly progressive on economic and social issues and dovish on foreign policy."

Dermer was born and raised in Miami Beach, Fla., where his father served as mayor in the late 1960s. He moved to Israel in 1996, and in 2005 became economic envoy at the Israeli embassy in Washington, which required him to give up his U.S. citizenship.

He went on to become a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and on July 9 it was announced that he would become the new Israeli ambassador, replacing Michael Oren.

Elsner adds: "American Jews do care about Israel, but an overwhelming majority believes that reaching peace with the Palestinians based on a two-state solution is vital if Israel is to remain democratic and a homeland for the Jewish people.

"We look forward to a fruitful and constructive relationship with Ambassador Dermer."

Source: http://www.tcunation.com/xn/detail/2476373%3ATopic%3A464118?xg_source=activity

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