WIESENTHAL CENTER POSES QUESTIONS ON ISRAEL, TERRORISM, RACISM AND THE U.S. ECONOMY TO LEADING PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS

 Full questionnaire can be seen and downloaded at www.wiesenthal.com

As the country moves closer to the Presidential election, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, one of the largest Jewish human rights organization, asked the leading three candidates, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, about their views on global and domestic issues that concern the Center and its 400,000 strong membership. Most of the ten questions focus on foreign policy such as the crisis in the Middle East, the war on terrorism, and Darfur, but the candidates were also asked about domestic matters like the economy and immigration.

For instance, when asked about specific steps she would take as President to reach the objective of a democratic Palestinian state alongside a safe, secure Israel (#1), Sen. Clinton said, “I believe that U.S. diplomacy is critical to resolving this crisis and we must engage in regional diplomacy to gain Arab support for a Palestinian leadership that committed to peace, rejects violence, and is willing to make the painful compromises necessary to end the conflict.”

Sen. McCain, responding to a question about how his administration would stop a nuclear Iran (#4), said it would need to go beyond the UN framework, blaming the opposition by Security Council members Russia and China to imposing effective sanctions. This opposition “is why I proposed the creation of a League of Democracies in which Israel would be invited. When democracies are united in addressing threats like Iran, we cannot afford to allow autocracies to thwart action.”

Reiterating his condemnation of the incendiary remarks made by the pastor of his church, Sen. Obama used his answer to the question (#8) about the rising scourge of racism, Anti-Semitism, xenophobia and homophobia to call on America to continue the open, honest and respectful dialogue that has been a prevailing theme throughout his campaign. As president he, “will pursue policies that further seek to eradicate discrimination from our society; that work toward closing the stubborn achievement, wealth and health care gaps; and that will help create a society that is more equal and free, both domestically and abroad.”

All three candidates reaffirmed their commitment to a safe secure Israel and praised the Jewish state as a natural ally to the U.S. They also agreed that nurturing a moderate and willing Palestinian partner is the best way to create the two-state solution and to bring a lasting peace to the region.

The entire questionnaire can be seen and downloaded at www.wiesenthal.com . Please note that the Wiesenthal Center does not endorse any candidate. The questionnaire is for informational purposes only.  

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.

For more information, contact the Center's Public Relations department, 310-553-9036.