U.S. Jewish leader denies fallout with Obama over settlements dispute
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent Last update - 00:00 28/07/2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103314.html

Alan Solow, the chairman of American Jewry's powerful umbrella group, the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, raised
eyebrows among political observers after his organization issued a statement
criticizing President Barack Obama over his stance on Israeli construction
in East Jerusalem.

Solow, who is known to have a longstanding relationship with Obama from
their earlier days in Chicago, admonished the administration over its recent
diplomatic row with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revolving the planned
building of new apartment units in the hotly contest eastern part of
Jerusalem.

"Hundreds of Arab families have moved into Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem
and the same right should be accorded to Jewish residents to live wherever
they choose in Jerusalem," Solow said in a statement released by the
Conference of Presidents. "No government of Israel has or can pursue a
discriminatory policy that would prevent the legitimate presence of Jews in
any area of the capital."

In an interview with Haaretz, Solow denied that the statement is indicative
of a personal fallout with the president.

"The Conference has a long-standing policy on Jerusalem, and the
disagreement between the governments of the U.S. and Israel were in the
news," Solow said.

"Because the Conference had such a clear stated policy, it seemed
appropriate to me that despite being someone who has known President Obama
for a long time and continues to have very good working relations with him,
I thought it was appropriate that the Conference official position be
articulated."

"This president understands the difference between having disagreements in
particular strategies and a broader fundamental breakdown in our
relationship," Solow said.

"He's always respected my right to disagree with him and vice versa. And the
fact that I don't agree with him on this particular policy is not a broader
reflection of anything deeper than a disagreement on this particular issue
at this specific point of time."

Solow refuted allegations made in some right-wing circles that Obama's chief
of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is working to drive a wedge between the president
and the Israeli leadership.

"There is no evidence that I've seen that indicates that he's in any way
acting to undermine the historically strong relationship between the U.S.
and Israel," Solow said