4/21/08

JTA: Kurtzer Advises Obama

JTA reports on one expert who is advising Obama on foreign policy.
Obama campaign embraces Kurtzer
Ron Kampeas

The Obama campaign has sought to bolster its outreach to Jewish voters with Daniel Kurtzer, the first Jewish U.S ambassador to Egypt and the first Orthodox Jew to serve as envoy to Israel. But in some circles he could prove more problem than solution, given his stance on the Middle East.

WASHINGTON (JTA) – In recent weeks the Obama campaign has sought to bolster its outreach to Jewish voters with a big name: Daniel Kurtzer, the first Jewish U.S ambassador to Egypt and the first Orthodox Jew to serve as envoy to Israel.

Kurtzer, whose role has sharply increased ahead of the critical April 22 primary in Pennsylvania, would appear to embody the bipartisan reach that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has preached in his bid to win the Democratic presidential nod.

President Bill Clinton named him to the Cairo post in 1997, and President Bush sent him to Tel Aviv in 2001...more

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