Jewish Press Exclusive - McCain: 'Proudly Pro-Israel' - Says Haaretz Article Left 'Serious Misimpressions' ,Jason Maoz, Senior Editor

In statements to The Jewish Press this week, Arizona Senator John McCain reacted sharply to an article earlier this month in the Israeli daily Haaretz that he said left "several serious misimpressions" regarding his views on Israel and the Middle East.

As reported in the Media Monitor column in last week's Jewish Press, the May 1 Haaretz article portrayed McCain, the early front-runner for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, as someone who, if elected president, would "micromanage" a more even-handed Mideast policy than that of President Bush; envisioned "concessions and sacrifices by both sides"; and expected Israel to eventually retreat, with some modifications, to pre-Six Day War borders.

A source in McCain's office characterized the Haaretz interview as a brief, impromptu session and the resulting article as long on the reporter's suppositions and short on concrete quotes from McCain.

"You'll note," said the source, "that the article featured perhaps one complete sentence from the senator; otherwise the report is basically the reporter's narrative interspersed with several fragmentary quotes" from McCain.

The senator himself was clearly miffed at his portrayal in Haaretz, saying that "after reading the Haaretz article and subsequent report in The Jewish Press," he felt the need to "clear up several serious misimpressions."

McCain said that "in contrast to the impression left by the Haaretz article, I've never held the position that Israel should return to 1967 lines, and that is not my position today."

The senator further maintained that "in the course of that brief, off-the-cuff conversation, I never discussed settlement blocs, a total withdrawal, or anything of the sort."

Final settlement lines, McCain added, "depend on the decisions of the Israeli government and its interlocutor on the Palestinian side." The problem, he continued, is that "at the moment there simply is no Palestinian interlocutor, as it is impossible to negotiate with people calling for one's destruction."

And that, McCain said, is where he believes "the confusion about the article comes in. The questioner asked a few hypothetical questions about some time in the indeterminate future - but that future will never arrive so long as Israel lacks a partner for peace. Talk of concessions on either side or of negotiators is premature so long as Hamas remains dedicated to the use of violence and the extinction of Israel."

McCain sounded a pessimistic note on the viability of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, at least in the short term. "There can be no comprehensive peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians until the Palestinians recognize Israel, forswear forever the use of violence, recognize their previous agreements, and reform their internal institutions," he said.

"Unfortunately, with the election of Hamas, this process has taken a huge step backward, and it's simply impossible to push today for a comprehensive accord."

McCain's remarks reflect a long-standing commitment to Israeli security and a skepticism about the readiness of Palestinians to coexist with Israel. It is precisely his outspokenness in defense of Israel and strong pro-Israel voting record that had observers scratching their heads over the Haaretz article.

"That just didn't sound like the John McCain everyone in Washington knows," said a political consultant who's worked with both Democrats and Republicans and who requested anonymity because he doesn't know who, if anyone, he might sign on with in 2008. "If there's anyone who doesn't buy into the State Department, striped-pants view of the Middle East, it's McCain."

The McCain that both supporters and opponents have come to know, said the consultant, is the McCain who in June 2001 told a special AIPAC seminar that "America's unequivocal support for Israel - not evenhandedness, not moral equivalence, not winking at Palestinian violence - is the best guarantor of peace in the Middle East."

AIPAC spokesperson Jennifer Cannata told The Jewish Press that McCain "has a strong record on behalf of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The senator consistently supports U.S. foreign aid to Israel and is a cosponsor of bills currently under consideration in the Senate that impose sanctions on Iran's nuclear program and isolate the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority."

Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, characterized McCain's record on Israel-related issues as "excellent."

"McCain has identified with many Jewish causes," said Hoenlein, who noted that the Presidents Conference will be hosting McCain in a few weeks. "He's definitely a staunch supporter of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship."

McCain was unequivocal in his remarks to The Jewish Press.

"I'm proudly pro-Israel, and my positions have been consistent and clear," he said. "Israel, as one of America's closest allies and the only democracy in a dangerous neighborhood, deserves our support and assistance. That's why I view with such alarm the victory of Hamas and the Iranian president's vile comments about wiping Israel off the map."

Read Comments (3)

Not sure McCain is a friend
Date 10:01, 01-21, 08

I don't swear by my memory. I seem to recall, several years back when I watched a lot of cable television, CNN, ABC, NBC, etc., later Fox News; I think it was the Bush I administration that was putting pressure on the Shamir government. It could have been another administration. I remember McCain interviewed saying that Israel needed to comply with administration demands. I don't remember what the demands were precisely, but as we know they are almost always immoral and unfair. McCain stood out in my mind as another callous bully, like many in Washington. This kind of things stick in my mind.

Steve Klein
Fla.

RE: "not sure he''s a friend"
Date 09:01, 01-25, 08

To Steve:

That would almost certainly have been during the Gulf War, when the administration was urging "restraint" after the scud missile attacks from Saddam's Iraq.

In the end, I think Shamir's decision to hold fire was absolutely the right thing to do, and saved countless lives. As my ex-husband was serving in Saudi Arabia during the war then, I am eternally grateful for the Israeli government making that sacrifice at the behest of the US.

I do not believe AT ALL that McCain's alleged (maybe not the right word, because I do not doubt you) agreement with Bush on that issue indicates an unfriendliness to Israel. He would naturally fall on the side of wishing to keep the war then from exploding into what could have been a nightmare scenario for the US *and* Israel, especially with American troops in harm's way. Of course, I know Israel is in harm's way every single day--but so does Senator McCain. His positions on everything else regarding the Middle East and terrorism show that he does, and show that he knows who America's only real friend is.

Well We Have a Choice
Date 11:02, 02-8, 08

Haaretz usually is not the most even handed newspaper out there. I have my doubts about the story. But who is left to pick Bill Clinton back in the mid east presure cooker ramming down a agreement down Israel's throat again, or Obama who has a few anti Israel advisors. McCain is the best bet. I wrote a letter to him about campaign financing a few years back with some ideas and he wrote me back a personal letter. If he is clean about lobbying and Finance that has to be good for Israel free of Saudi influence. If he thinks of me to write a personal letter back and listen to my ideas he has my vote.

Ralph Levy
Ralph's Rant

ralphsrant1.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-mccain.html