Influential Jewish Democrats Warn "Don't Trust Obama on Israel"

Last night on 60 Minutes President Obama called Bibi call for the US to establish a red line for Iran as just noise to be ignored.

Obama, interviewed for Sunday's edition of "60 Minutes" on broadcaster CBS, said he understands and agrees with Netanyahu's insistence that Iran not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons as this would threaten both countries, the world in general, and kick off an arms race.

But Obama added: "When it comes to our national security decisions -- any pressure that I feel is simply to do what's right for the American people. And I am going to block out -- any noise that's out there."

There is noise about Israel coming out of the New York's Democratic Party--this noise the president might want to heed. Two influential NY Jewish Democratic Party politicians have warned their fellow Jews not to trust Obama regarding Israel. One, Dov Hikind has crossed party lines and will endorse Mitt Romney; the other former Mayor Ed Koch is still on record as an Obama supporter.

Dov Hikind Democratic Assemblyman representing the 48th District is well respected especially amongst Orthodox Jews across the country. Hikand told the NY Post he’s fed-up with the way President Obama has treated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Jewish state deals with threats from Iran.

The Assemblyman is ready to hit the campaign trail for the GOP Candidate:

“Florida. Pennsylvania. Wherever Romney needs need me, I’ll be there,” Hikind said.

Arguing that Obama has been a bad president, Hikind said he was particularly infuriated that the president couldn’t find the time to meet with Netanyahu during the UN conference but has schmoozed with celebrities at New York fund-raisers.

“Israel is under the gun. Israel is the target of Iran. Israel’s existence is being threatened. And Obama doesn’t have time to meet with the Israeli PM? It’s insulting. It’s degrading. This president scares me,” Hikind said.

“I’m a Democrat but not a knee-jerk Democrat. I’m only loyal to America and the survival of Israel.”

In a recent Fox News appearance (made before his endorsement) Hikand was just as strong in his objections to Obama's Israel policy:

Also expressing disgust at the President’s Israel policy is Ed Koch. Koch appeared on the Aaron Klein radio show yesterday and said he doesn’t trust President Barack Obama on Israel but supports him because he thinks he will be re-elected

"I believe that he is going to win whether I vote for him or not. I believe that he is going to win. So wouldn’t it be better that he wins changing his positions?" he told Klein

Koch doubled down on his worries about Obama and Israel today in an interview with Michael Goodwin:

“I’m pissed,” he told me. “I’m not off the bus yet, but I’m pissed and I’m going to harangue them.”

The anger has a familiar, even circular ring: Obama’s making America look like a paper tiger in the face of Islamic violence, and his policy toward Israel is wrong. Obama’s refusal to meet last week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “unacceptable.”

“There should be a certain courtesy involved,” Koch said. “You don’t just say we can’t fit him into our schedule.”

The 87-year-old Koch, who recently got out of the hospital, is also upset that “nobody has adequately explained to me how the boos for God and Israel at the Democratic convention were louder than the cheers. How can that be?

NY Democrats Koch and Hikand crossed party lines to endorse Republican Bob Turner for the special election to replace Anthony Weiner. Koch has made Barack Obama’s stance on Israel the centerpiece of his endorsement saying:

If Jewish New Yorkers and others who support Israel were to turn away from the Democratic Party in that congressional election and elect the Republican candidate to Congress in 2011, it might very well cause President Obama to change his hostile position on the State of Israel and to reestablish the special relationship presidents before him had supported. His own reelection will be decided next year in 2012. The outcome of the 2011 congressional special election in the 9th Congressional District will certainly get his attention.

After the election the former Mayor returned to the Obama fold, however based on his comments during the last two days that “return” might be a bit on the shaky side.

The “Obama Right or Wrong” segment of the Democratic Party Jews, such as Barbara Boxer, Barney Frank and Henry Waxman have all spoken out against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warming that he better not be trying to sway the election.

Despite pointed questions from the media, Netanyahu has made it very clear that he does not favor one party or the other. When Debbie Wasserman Shultz made the false statement that the Israeli Ambassador thought GOP policies were bad for Israel, Ambassador Oren rushed out a statement saying Ms. Schultz was full of Hebrew National baloney:

"I categorically deny that I ever characterized Republican policies as harmful to Israel. Bipartisan support is a paramount national interest for Israel, and we have great friends on both sides of the aisle."

Instead of looking toward Binyamin Netanyahu as the “Jew” trying to sway the election, perhaps these Democratic Party lemmings should look toward Obama’s anti-Israel policies which are motivating their fellow Democrats to sound the alarm.