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How Israel may be damaging the

alliance between blacks and Jews

By Colbert I. King

July 24

2003

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Do u know what Obama Coffee is? Black and weak.

1

A June 21 tweet by Judy Mozes, wife of Israeli

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Why Iran wont

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interior minister and vice prime minister Silvan

Shalom.

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Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes, a well-known Israeli radio and

television personality, deleted the tweet and later apologized
after drawing criticism for what she called a stupid joke.
Those who regard the Iran nuclear deal as a grave threat to
Israeli and U.S. interests have a moral duty to vigorously
oppose it, just as those of us who view the deal as the best way
to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon should work for its
adoption. Vilifying the president of the United States with
slurs and insults, however, is out of bounds. Except, perhaps,
in some places and with some people.
U.S.-born Michael Oren, Israels former ambassador to the
United States, has done his own anti-Obama number. Citing
President Obamas upbringing, Oren suggested in a series of
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recent articles in Foreign Policy that the presidents

abandonment by his mothers two Muslim husbands

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created in him a desire for acceptance by their co-religionists

that has now influenced his foreign policy. Conspiracy
theorists and birthers could hardly have said it better

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Obamas Christianity notwithstanding.

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This is beneath the Michael Oren I thought I knew.

It has come to this: racially charged affronts to the president of

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the United States from, of all places, Israel.

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According to the Book of Esther, Haman, a high official of the

ancient kingdom of Persia, sought to annihilate the Jewish

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people. A few months ago, Shlomo Riskin, chief rabbi of Efrat,

a West Bank settlement, likened Obama to a scourge on the
Holy Land, telling an audience, The president of the United
States is lashing out at Israel just like Haman lashed out at the
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Riskin wasnt the first rabbi to dub Obama a reincarnation of

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Haman.
In 2012, Dov Lior, then chief rabbi of another West Bank

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settlement, Kiryat Arba, also compared Obama to Haman,

according to Israels Army Radio. But Lior stooped lower. He
labeled Obama a kushi of the West, which, the Jerusalem
Post reported, is a modern-day derogatory term used to
describe people of African descent.

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Its not only the name-calling and insults hurled at Obama

that grab the gut. Behavior sends signals, too.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus speech before

Congress drew rave reviews from his Republican hosts and
most but not all of Israels supporters. Many members of
the 46-member Congressional Black Caucus were outraged
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that Netanyahu would go behind the back of the White House

and arrange with Republicans to use the U.S. Capitol as the
stage to challenge the presidents Iranian nuclear
negotiations. Several chose to stay away.
U.S. representative and caucus member James E. Clyburn of
South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat, said he
regarded Netanyahus speech as an affront to Americas first
black president.
In an interview with USA Today columnist DeWayne
Wickham, Clyburn called Netanyahus White House end run
a real in-your-face slap at the president, and black folks know
it. ... [Netanyahu] wouldnt have done it to any other
president. Pressed as to why Netanyahu would disrespect
Obama, Clyburn responded, You know why.
Should it come to a search for 40 Democratic votes to join the
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Houses 247 Republicans in voting to override a possible

Obama veto of legislation blocking an Iranian deal, dont look
for help from the Congressional Black Caucus. Hostility to the
current Israeli leadership is real, and not just among caucus
members. Many of their African American constituents are
quietly seething, too.
Clyburns and black folks know it speaks volumes.
To no surprise, Republicans are trying to exploit the situation.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent out a
petition urging people to sign and [t]ell Obama its now time
to stand with Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Are the
petitions being circulated in Zip codes where large numbers of
blacks reside? It would be wasted effort.
There is a larger concern. While the jury is still out, the
argument over the Iran deal could well stress the longopen in browser PRO version

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standing and largely fruitful political alliance between blacks

and Jews in this country.
It would be a pity if the nuclear arms debate shapes up as a
dispute between U.S. supporters of Netanyahus policies and
Americans who respect and trust Obamas judgment. And it
would be a sorrow to those of us who still look with favor upon
an alliance that has stood the test in the hardest of times.
That may explain why the Obama Coffee insult, the
rabbinical slurs and the below-the-belt punches of Israeli
officials are so sad, dispiriting and potentially disrupting in
ways that once seemed unimaginable.
Read more from Colbert Kings archive.
Read more on this issue:
Abraham H. Foxman: With Jews power comes responsibility
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Richard Cohen: Israels moral argument is on the line

Colbert I. King: Why the Iran nuclear deal is not a friendship
agreement

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