President of ZOA: "AIPAC helps the Palestinians"
Morton Klein, President of Zionist Organization of America, comes out against the pro-Israel lobby. "AIPAC is a left-wing Jewish organization, and an overrated one", he claims, "they act against settlements and for Palestinians. They haven't managed to move the American embassy to Jerusalem or to stop the addition of American help to Egypt - they didn't even try"; He also adds that "the claims about the importance of the Jewish vote to the president are wrong - just look who he appointed to be secretary of defense and to be head of the CIA - two anti-Israelis".
Klein (65) is president of Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). He started out as a mathematician and chemist, but even then had a warm Jewish heart. "My wife complained that all I did was make money and choose which movie to watch at night, instead of using my talent to help other people", he explains, "she would say that 'there are plenty of problems in American Jewish communities, why don't you do something about it?' - and I did, out of respect to her. I thought I'd do it for a year or two, but it's been 20 so far and I don't regret it for one minute".
Before thinking about running a Jewish organization, Klein decided to act voluntarily on behalf of causes he believed in, with the common thread being the war over Israel's image in the US. "My daughter came back from school one day with a history book, and I was amazed to find out that all 12 pages about Israel were pro-Palestinian", says Klein angrily. The book he's referring to is used in hundreds of universities and high schools, and Klein claims "it includes 10 unconfirmed 'facts', all portraying Israel as a primitive and occupying country". He responded by coming out against the book, and even giving lectures about the subject. "I've gotten dozens of phone calls from Jewish-organization leaders and community members asking me to stop. 'You're giving us trouble', they said - but I pushed on".
Why didn't other Jewish organizations, like the Anti-Defamation League, step in?
"I talked with the IDL and other Jewish organizations, but none of them wanted to get involved. They felt it was hurting the Jewish community".
Only after his many corrections, the book's editors were forced to correct it and re-publish it. "It cost them a lot of money, but they deserve it", says Klein. Another case he took under his wing was when he stumbled across a German tourism book, which included wrong and negative facts about Israel. He then wrote a letter to the publisher and the distributers in the US. "The publisher then paid me to come to their European offices and point out the mistakes", explains Klein, "They also hired me to re-write the book". Jewish newspapers across the USA covered these incidents, which made Klein a known and popular man.
ZOA offered Klein to run for the president's position, "and that's how I got into this business", he explains. He started his presidency during the early 90's, while the Oslo agreements were being negotiated. "All of the Jewish organization leaders in the US were convincing their members that the Oslo agreements were good for Israel, that there was a chance for peace and a new Middle East. We were one of the only organizations opposed to the agreements", he says, "it wasn't that we were against giving back territories - we just understood that there was no partner for peace at the time. Even during the Oslo period they weren't arresting terrorists and were distributing anti-Israel books in their schools".
So what is the political association of the ZOA?
"We define ourselves as a center, some might say right-center, organization. But I don't think in terms of left and right, I think of it as rational thinking - are there really any left-wingers remaining after the Oslo agreements?"
Klein explains that the ZOA is one of the main Zionist organizations in North America. "It was founded in 1897, and people such as Abba Hillel Silver and Louis Brandeis have served as its presidents, so obviously it's a substantial organization. During the 40's, the ZOA was the only organization working towards the UN recognizing Israel as a state, while other organizations were opposed to it", he claims. The ZOA was also opposed to the disengagement plan. "Even the modern orthodox groups - the OU, Emunah and Amit - supported it", he says, I saw it with my own eyes: during the meeting of Jewish organization presidents, 51 presidents voted for the plan and we were the only ones to vote against - I guess I'm not a very good lobbyist, since I couldn't get them to change their minds", he adds.
Despite the importance pundits have given the Jewish vote and its influence on the foreign policy during the latest presidential race, Klein claims that "it's overrated. The fact is Obama appointed Chuck Hagel (US secretary of defense) and John Brennan (head of the CIA), both of which are anti-Israel. The ones that actually affect the leaders and polls in the US are Israel-loving Evangelic Christians".
There are claims that AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is one of the strongest forces on Capitol Hill
"Nonsense. AIPAC is overrated. Have they managed to move the American embassy to Jerusalem? Have they managed to stop US adding a billion dollars of support to Egypt? They didn't even try".
That's a bit harsh
"I know AIPAC, since I'm a member in its top committee - and their image is all wrong. They help Palestinians instead of settlements. I see AIPAC as a left-wing Jewish organization".
How do you see the future of American Judaism?
"The assimilation is just growing, and the Orthodox stream is growing due to that. But that isn't the only problem - I'm sad to say that the young generation's connection to Israel is not what it used to be. Jewish organizations have failed to educate the youth about the Arab war on Israel". Klein explains that there is much activity by anti-Israel groups on campuses, and Jewish students are not prepared enough to react. "They don't know how to respond to lies", he says, "When I come to Ivy League schools like Yale and Columbia, I'm attacked by pro-Palestinians - but when I come to second-rate schools, I get more respect for some reason".
