GIULIANI RIPS OBAMA'S ISRAEL POLICY
SAYS IT'S AMBIGUOUS AT BEST
By MAGGIE HABERMAN, Post Correspondent
Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Last updated: 6:04 pm
August 26, 2008
Posted: 5:48 pm
August 26, 2008
DENVER - Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani ripped Sen. Barack Obama as "ambiguous" in his stand on support for Israel, miles from the convention hall where the Democrats are celebrating the near-nominee.
Giuliani, who's known as being staunchly pro-Israel and in favor of a strong relationship between the US and the Jewish state, made the comments in a sit-down with The Post as he started a two-day attack on Democrats during their convention, acting as a surrogate for GOP Sen. John McCain.
"There's no question he's ambiguous about" his stand on Israel, Giuliani said, citing specifically that Obama said months ago before a Jewish political group that he supported an undivided Jerusalem, and later aides clarified it.
"I think that his position in dealing with the issues that are important to Israel, like they are important to me in America, is -- (the) best and kindest thing you can say is, ambiguity," he said, clearly referring to security.
Giuliani added it's "of grave concern. It either comes from deeply held views that he has or lack of experience, one or the other. But in either case he's too close to the presidency not to have formed views about this that don't require having to explain it two or three different times."
The comments from Giuliani, who enjoys strong popularity in Jewish communities -- which could play a key role in the swing state of Florida -- came as some Jewish voters have expressed hesitance over Obama, and have cited Israel as the reason.
Obama took a widely covered trip to the Mideast and visited Israel last month, and described the US as a "strong friend" of Israel.
Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor shot back.
"Barack Obama has been a strong friend of Israel in the Senate, as has Sen. Biden, and both will have an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security. Mayor Giuliani has now made more false attacks than John McCain has houses, so voters won't take this latest one too seriously," he said. |
