Jerusalem Street U.S.A.

Jerusalem Post Conference in New York exposes wide rifts among Israelis and Diaspora

NEW YORK (The Forward) – The day’s confrontational mood, a sharp departure from the soothing tones of Israeli unity usually presented to Diaspora audiences, was partly accidental. Protocol dictated that Olmert give the opening talk, since he was the highest-ranking guest on the bill, as a former prime minister. As it happens, he has been in a fighting mood on several fronts lately, publicly defending the legacy that was cut short when his government fell in 2009, even as he defends himself in court on the corruption charges that brought his government down.

Olmert’s stock speech, which he has delivered in several public and private appearances in New York and Washington, has included three elements in varying combinations: First, a defense of the much-criticized wars he fought in Lebanon and Gaza, which, he noted, have brought six years of quiet on Israel’s northern border and a dramatic reduction in rocket fire in the south. Second, an attack on Netanyahu’s Palestinian policies, which have failed — deliberately, Olmert contends — to resume the peace negotiations Olmert was conducting until his government collapsed. Third, attacking Netanyahu’s apocalyptic Iran tactics, which Olmert claims have unnecessarily strained relations with Washington.

On this occasion, Olmert’s main focus was Iran. The Islamic republic, he said, is neither the Nazi-like existential threat that Netanyahu claims it to be nor the simple target he claims Israel can overcome alone. For all Israel’s strengths, Olmert said, “we should face the international community with quieter tones.” It isn’t healthy for either party, he said, if America is seen as “under the command of the state of Israel.”

The rest of the day was, for all practical purposes, a response to Olmert’s challenge. Erdan and deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon dismissed Olmert’s criticisms and defended Netanyahu’s policies, followed by a handful of other government officials and a few Jerusalem Post writers.

Jerusalem Post Annual Conference: Fighting for the Zionist dream

Neocon JPost columnist Caroline Glick

Another flashpoint was the caustic, 15-minute attack on President Obama by arch-conservative Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick, who brought parts of the audience to its feet with repeated cheers for her, boos for the president and a standing ovation at the end. Speaking soon after her, Dershowitz angrily warned the crowd against undermining Israel’s relations with Washington by such hostile displays. “Do not ever, ever boo a president of the United States when speaking in the name of the state of Israel,” he scolded. The crowd’s response was a mix of polite applause and more angry boos.