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Obama picks pro-Israel hardliner for top post
During the United States election campaign, racists and pro-Israel hardliners tried to make an issue out of President-elect Barack Obama's middle name, Hussein. Such people might take comfort in another middle name, that of Obama's pick for White House Chief of Staff: Rahm Israel Emanuel.
Emanuel is Obama's first high-level appointment and it's one likely to disappointment those who hoped the president-elect would break with the George W. Bush Administration's pro-Israel policies. White House Chief of Staff is often considered the most powerful office in the executive branch, next to the president. Obama has offered Emanuel the position according to Democratic party sources cited by media including Reuters and The New York Times. While Emanuel is expected to accept the post, that had not been confirmed by Wednesday evening the day after the election.
Rahm Emanuel was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1959, the son of Benjamin Emanuel, a pediatrician who helped smuggle weapons to the Irgun, the Zionist militia of former Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, in the 1940s. The Irgun carried out numerous terrorist attacks on Palestinian civilians including the bombing of Jerusalem's King David Hotel in 1946.
Emanuel continued his father's tradition of active support for Israel; during the 1991 Gulf War he volunteered to help maintain Israeli army vehicles near the Lebanon border when southern Lebanon was still occupied by Israeli forces.
As White House political director in the first Clinton administration, Emanuel orchestrated the famous 1993 signing ceremony of the "Declaration of Principles" between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Emanuel was elected to Congress representing a north Chicago district in 2002 and he is credited with a key role in delivering a Democratic majority in the 2006 mid-term elections. He has been a prominent supporter of neoliberal economic policies on free trade and welfare reform.
One of the most influential politicians and fundraisers in his party, Emanuel accompanied Obama to a meeting of AIPAC's executive board just after the Illinois senator had addressed the pro-Israel lobby's conference last June.
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http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9939.shtml
Rahm Emanuel was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1959, the son of Benjamin Emanuel, a pediatrician who helped smuggle weapons to the Irgun, the Zionist militia of former Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, in the 1940s. The Irgun carried out numerous terrorist attacks on Palestinian civilians including the bombing of Jerusalem's King David Hotel in 1946.
Emanuel continued his father's tradition of active support for Israel; during the 1991 Gulf War he volunteered to help maintain Israeli army vehicles near the Lebanon border when southern Lebanon was still occupied by Israeli forces.
As White House political director in the first Clinton administration, Emanuel orchestrated the famous 1993 signing ceremony of the "Declaration of Principles" between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Emanuel was elected to Congress representing a north Chicago district in 2002 and he is credited with a key role in delivering a Democratic majority in the 2006 mid-term elections. He has been a prominent supporter of neoliberal economic policies on free trade and welfare reform.
One of the most influential politicians and fundraisers in his party, Emanuel accompanied Obama to a meeting of AIPAC's executive board just after the Illinois senator had addressed the pro-Israel lobby's conference last June.
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http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9939.shtml
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CAIRO — Two days after his historic election as America's first black president, Barack Obama picked up a pro-Israel Jew as his White House chief of staff.
Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel was selected as Obama's chief of staff, becoming the first senior level official to join the nascent administration.
"I announce this appointment first because the Chief of Staff is central to the ability of a President and Administration to accomplish an agenda," Obama said on Thursday, November 6.
"And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel."
Emanuel was a political and policy aide in former President Bill Clinton's administration.
Born in Chicago in 1959, Emanuel is the son of an Israeli immigrant, Benjamin Emanuel.
His first name "Rahm" means "high" in Hebrew and his last name, "Emanuel" means "God is with us".
Emanuel's father is a pediatrician and a former member of the Irgun, a Zionist militia of former prime minister Menachem Begin, which carried out a series of terrorist attacks against Arabs in Palestine in the 1940s.
On April 18, 1948, Palestinian Tiberius was captured by Begin's Irgun militant group, putting its 5,500 Palestinian residents in flight. On April 22, Haifa fell to the Zionist militants and 70,000 Palestinians fled.
On April 25, Irgun began bombarding civilian sectors of Jaffa, terrifying the 750,000 inhabitants into panicky flight.
On May 14, the day before the creation of Israel, Jaffa completely surrendered to the much better-equipped Zionist militants and only about 4,500 of its population remained.
Rahmbo
Dubbed as "Rahmbo" by US media, Emanuel, a father of three, is known for his tough and aggressive style in the political arena.
He began his political career, initially specializing in fundraising campaigns in 1980s.
He then became the director of the finance committee of then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton presidential primary campaign.
When Clinton was elected president, Emanuel became a senior adviser to the Democratic president from 1993 to 1998.
After Clinton left office, Emanuel turned to investment banking before being elected to the House of Representatives.
In 2002, Emanuel supported the Bush administration's plans to invade Iraq to topple the Saddam Hussein regime.
In 2006, he was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Under his leadership, the Democrats gained 30 seats in the House of Representatives, allowing them to gain control of the House after 12 years of Republican control.
In 2007, he was elected to serve as the Democratic Caucus Chair, the fourth highest ranking Member of the House Democratic Leadership.
Bad Cop
Emanuel is a strong supporter of American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and personally introduced Obama to the group's directors during the 2008 presidential campaign.
In 1991, Emanuel volunteered to serve in Israel's army during the first Gulf War.
He has been a vocal critic of the Palestinian intifada against the Israeli occupation, criticizing Arab countries for not pressuring the Palestinians to stop "violence".
At a 2003 pro-Israel rally in Chicago, Emanuel said Israel was ready for peace but would not get there until Palestinians "turn away from the path of terror".
Emanuel's selection has prompted positive headlines in Israel, where some were concerned earlier in the election campaign about the likely direction of Obama's Middle East policy
In his White House post, Emanuel is likely to emerge as a key player in implementing Obama's agenda, which includes foreign policy, health care, energy and tax reform and efforts to tackle climate change.
Some US Observers have portrayed Emanuel as the "bad cop" to Obama's "good cop".
Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel was selected as Obama's chief of staff, becoming the first senior level official to join the nascent administration.
"I announce this appointment first because the Chief of Staff is central to the ability of a President and Administration to accomplish an agenda," Obama said on Thursday, November 6.
"And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel."
Emanuel was a political and policy aide in former President Bill Clinton's administration.
Born in Chicago in 1959, Emanuel is the son of an Israeli immigrant, Benjamin Emanuel.
His first name "Rahm" means "high" in Hebrew and his last name, "Emanuel" means "God is with us".
Emanuel's father is a pediatrician and a former member of the Irgun, a Zionist militia of former prime minister Menachem Begin, which carried out a series of terrorist attacks against Arabs in Palestine in the 1940s.
On April 18, 1948, Palestinian Tiberius was captured by Begin's Irgun militant group, putting its 5,500 Palestinian residents in flight. On April 22, Haifa fell to the Zionist militants and 70,000 Palestinians fled.
On April 25, Irgun began bombarding civilian sectors of Jaffa, terrifying the 750,000 inhabitants into panicky flight.
On May 14, the day before the creation of Israel, Jaffa completely surrendered to the much better-equipped Zionist militants and only about 4,500 of its population remained.
Rahmbo
Dubbed as "Rahmbo" by US media, Emanuel, a father of three, is known for his tough and aggressive style in the political arena.
He began his political career, initially specializing in fundraising campaigns in 1980s.
He then became the director of the finance committee of then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton presidential primary campaign.
When Clinton was elected president, Emanuel became a senior adviser to the Democratic president from 1993 to 1998.
After Clinton left office, Emanuel turned to investment banking before being elected to the House of Representatives.
In 2002, Emanuel supported the Bush administration's plans to invade Iraq to topple the Saddam Hussein regime.
In 2006, he was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Under his leadership, the Democrats gained 30 seats in the House of Representatives, allowing them to gain control of the House after 12 years of Republican control.
In 2007, he was elected to serve as the Democratic Caucus Chair, the fourth highest ranking Member of the House Democratic Leadership.
Bad Cop
Emanuel is a strong supporter of American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and personally introduced Obama to the group's directors during the 2008 presidential campaign.
In 1991, Emanuel volunteered to serve in Israel's army during the first Gulf War.
He has been a vocal critic of the Palestinian intifada against the Israeli occupation, criticizing Arab countries for not pressuring the Palestinians to stop "violence".
At a 2003 pro-Israel rally in Chicago, Emanuel said Israel was ready for peace but would not get there until Palestinians "turn away from the path of terror".
Emanuel's selection has prompted positive headlines in Israel, where some were concerned earlier in the election campaign about the likely direction of Obama's Middle East policy
In his White House post, Emanuel is likely to emerge as a key player in implementing Obama's agenda, which includes foreign policy, health care, energy and tax reform and efforts to tackle climate change.
Some US Observers have portrayed Emanuel as the "bad cop" to Obama's "good cop".
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