Daybreak: Mixed Messages
Obama in Cairo, and more from the morning papers.
June 04, 2009
• President Obama gave his big-deal Cairo speech this morning, in which he reiterated his support for Israel and for a two-state solution. But he also said that the United States “does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.” [WP]
• But don’t think that was a demand. The White House emailed the Jewish Council for Public Affairs with reassurances that Obama hopes to resolve settlement issue “quietly” and without “rancor or ultimatums.”. [Politico]
• President Bush, on the other hand, explicitly promised to allow continued settlement growth, despite public declarations to the contrary, according to Israeli officials.[NYT]
• And the Reform Movement has reduced the amount of financial support required from congregations, despite a $6 million budget reduction that has led to 60 layoffs and the closing of 14 regional offices. [Reform Judaism]
