Henry Levine http://www.jta.org/user/profile/17744 en-us zsilberman@washingtonjewishweek.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Jacobs politics -- and his views on Israel line up pretty well with those of his predecessor and the majority Reform Jews. And Beinart's article is viewed by many -- though by no means all -- Reform Jews as dead on. I have been a Zionist all of my life and am a very strong advocate of a democratic, Jewish Israel. Expanding settlements deep in the West Bank does not enhance Israel's security. And taking steps towards the incorporation of millions of individuals who are not citizens and are denied what most in the US would consider basic civil rights is not consistent with advancing the cause of a democratic (or Jewish) Israel. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00 Suffice it to say that the campaign that Mr. Brooks remembers is not the one experienced by me or ( I believe) most of the other 78% of American Jewish voters who ultimately voted for President-elect Obama. To cite just two examples: 1. I recall no attacks on Senator McCain's support for Israel, but numerous false attacks on the President-elect's views. He was and is a strong supporter of Israel's security, and there never were and are not now "serious and legitimate reasons to be concerned by [his] positions on Israel, Iran and the Middle East." 2. Senator Lieberman's fate is undetermined as I write this, but in light of the fact that he not only endorsed Senator McCain but spoke at the Republican convention and [despite promises not to do so] criticized President-elect Obama during the campaign, any decision to replace him as chairman of one of the Senate's most important committees can hardly be viewed as a threat, rebuke, or penalty. The Democratic Caucus did not leave Senator Lieberman -- he left it. 2012-02-09T;22:54:00-05:00