american jews may indeed be more liberal than the politics of their peers in israel but does it really matter and what is the relationship connecting american jews and the israeli lobby. to cross-talk relations between american jews in israel i'm joined by norman finkelstein in new york he is a political analyst and author of the new book knowing too much why the american jewish love affair with israel is coming to an end in washington we have daniel pollack he is the co-director of government relations for design this organization of america and in amman we have rabbani he is a an independent writer an analyst specializing in policy in affairs and the arab israeli conflict all right gentlemen crosstalk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want norman finkelstein you have a new book knowing too much why are american jews. falling out of love with the state of israel as you claim in your book. i think there are basically two reasons the long term factor is that american jews are basically liberal since nine hundred since the 1930's for example american je

neutralizing, improvised explosive devices, which have been really ruinous for american troops serving in iraq and afghanistan. but israel providing ports of call for the six fleet and hifa, american military aircraft land in israel. that's what that navy propeller jet was doing when they picked me up to take me to the truman. they were landing there. the sailor who say come and visit have a wonderful time. it's the friendliest port in the mediterranean for them. israel is not just involved in advancing america's military prowess on the battlefield. we're also engaged in saving american limbs and saving american lives. some of you may remember that at the outset of the iraq and afghani conflicts there was a lot of things said that they went to the battlefield with insufficient armor. there's a kibutz founded by americans that came up with an ingenious idea of making a do-it-yourself instant armoring kit. as of today, this little kibutz has armored about 20,000 american military vehicles serving in war areas and we have saved countless lives through these armoring kits. we at the embassy, we get the thank you letters from

but israel thought wars. 1967, without a single american both know american arms. but things change after the 64. israel defeated three soviet-backed army state and on the seventh day of that conflict, american foreign policymakers woke up and said there's this superpower in the middle east. we should be aligned with this superpower. and that they can be a strategic alliance has blossomed manifold way ever since then. to get a sense of it, you have to talk about what america gets issue. america gives israel roughly $3 billion in military aid every year. military aid is not civilian it to 75% of the is spent in the nested. it creates tens of thousands of jobs in this country. but for the eight, and the age is roughly, the hd come about $3 billion, provide about one half of a new class destroyer. for that aid, america gets, america gets intelligence at the highest and most professional level about occurrences in the east, and we share our intelligence daily with the united states. i know that is to be appreciated on both sides. you get an army. defense forces, which i

one of the questions should this be a referendum on obama's approximately see towards israel, and americanost important reason there are not significant differences. in fact this notion that somehow president obama has been anti-israel -- i served with the president who did take some steps that were blocking israel in congress. george h.w. bush. the only time in my 31 years in congress when israel was frustrated trying to get a policy through the congress when president george h.w. bush or w.h., whatever. i don't mean to denigrate it, i think it is h.w. he brought loan guarantees. israel sought loan guarantees to assimilate the immigrants. he blocked it, yitzhak shamir said this land will remain jewish for as far as the eye can see forever. i try to ameliorate that by pointing out shamir at that point was very short and very old and probably couldn't see that far. the fact is that push was able to block us from getting the loan guarantees. damaging israel. you also had the famous, i don't remember anybody in the obama administration being as openly negative about israel as secretary of sta

israel fought wars in 1948, 1967, not one single american bullet. israel defeated three soviet- back armies and on the seventh the of the conflict, americans realize there was a super power in the middle east and thus began the u.s. strategic alliance that has blossomed and burgeoned the manifoldly ever since. talk about what america gives israel, roughly $3 billion in military aid every year. 75% is spent in the united states, they tell us what to buy and create tens of thousands of jobs. that a today will buy you about one half of a destroyer. america gets intelligence at the highest and most professional level of appearances in the middle east and we share our intelligence daily with the united states. i know, personally, it is deeply appreciated on both sides. you get an army, the israel defense forces that is highly motivated and train. a very sophisticated. we are larger than the french and british armies combined. we are situated at the nexus between africa, asia, and in the middle eastern area out. where america does not have to deploy troops

and summarize represented a threat to the diversity of that is really life and you are american born in canton israel and your is really born in still live in israel. and this morning if it to you could come talk more about yourself a little more personally till the tisza in what israeli profile releases. >>> of a sale like this is real is first open for visits by everyone but primarily to young american jews in the audience is real is the most exciting thing that has happened in jewish history into a dozen years. and i would urge each and every one of them to come and visit their homeland because there's a program called birth rate offering free ten day trip to israel for any young to between the age of 8926. to all other americans please come and visit us a direct flight from los angeles' four times a week or fly by way of toronto and philadelphia and new york or europe. >>> where we need to leave in just a moment but justin berg say where were you born in israel. >>> i was born in haifa carry similar our temperatures in the mediterranean, army service in israel and did my b.a. in israel that took

is israel losing power in part because of this issue? >> i think the americannerally supports israel very strongly and israel's right to exist and i think it is very important that america maintain israel's military advantage. i think we have a country that is weary of war. israeli's don't want to jump into war either. i think there are concerns in the u.s. military as to what the implications are for u.s. soldiers in afghanistan, for u.s. soldiers in the gulf and very important to know that many recollect many top security professionals are very, very wary about the consequences of military action. >> i was with netanyahu two weeks ago and he was aggressive and the back lash was don't go. >> there has been a virtual revolt from people in the army on this question. i think that the cooler heads in our national security establishment and theirs i think are saying don't rush into this war. give sanctions and diplomacy a chance to stop iran. >> our final word to you. do you think we will have the conversation, the way the pendulum swings here. then it was the revo

but that two of you in some ways represent a threat of the diversity and is re of your american a born hakeem to israelnd year is really born in lebanon and california. and you came from american orthodox religious background and i'm just wondering if the to of you could talk a little bit more about yourselves little more personally to give a taste of what an israeli profile really is. >>> first of all this route is open for visits by everyone but primarily to young american jews who are in the audience. it's the most exciting thing as happened in jewish history and to dozen year. i would urge each and everyone to them to come visit their homeland with the program called birthright offering a free ten day trip to israel for any young choose between the age of 18 and 26. to all other americans please come and visit us a direct flight from los angeles' four times a week or five by way of toronto and philadelphia and new york or europe. >>> we need to leave in just a moment to continue in a word say where were you born >>> was born in haifa very similar to san francisco high temperatures in the mediterran

neutralizing improvised explosive devices, which have been really ruinous for american troops, certainly in iraq and afghanistan. but israel is providing -- american military aircraft land in issue. that's what that navy propeller jet was doing. everywhere, this is to come and visit have a wonderful time. the friendly support in the mediterranean. but israel is not just involved in advancing america's military prowess on the battlefield. we're also engaged in saving american lives and saving american lives. some of you may remember that at the outset of the iraq and afghanistan flicks there was a lot of criticism in this country that american military vehicles had gone into battle with insufficient armor. remember the vulnerable humvees? the whole kibbutz in northern israel got about americans, and came up with an ingenious idea of making a do it yourself instant armoring kit. and as of today, this little kibbutz has armor about 20,000 american military vehicles serving in war areas, and we have saved countless lives to these armor kits. we get many thanks for this. from the husband, from the wise thinking for saving our k

pacifist, raging against unconditional surrender and after the war turning against american -- [inaudible] and israel after having backed zionism as a moral imperative and working tirelessly to bring jews out of occupied europe. but the final death blow to her career would come when she espoused the palestinian cause, and the major newspapers in the bill syndicate that had carried her column after the herald tribune began to drop her one by one until she was muzzled in silence. although dorothy would find love through marriage toward the end of her life and be regain her childhood faith in god, like rebecca, her work would always trump her commitment to even the most intimate of her relations. realizing too late that their ambitions eroded their relationships with their husbands and sons, michael lewis and be anthony west were to pay a terrible price. while anthony would eviscerate his gifts as a writer, spewing out venomous books and articles in an attempt to bring his mother down, michael found comfort and even revenge in failure. an undisciplined and mildly gifted actor, he -- like his father -- w

israel and advancing their interests. and often, by the way, not necessarily israeli interests. but it has to do with the fawning of american politicians over israel in such a way that israeli interests really aren't advanced because there are too many wars, and wars aren't necessarily the answer. >> up here with a question. >> [inaudible] >> one second, we have a microphone. and your name, please? >> yeah. i'm, my name is -- [inaudible] i'm a minister counseller at the embassy of jordan in washington d.c. not a question, i just thank you to the o'connell family, sean, thank you so much for this great effort to bring this book to reality. jack was a great man, he was a great friend of jordan, friend of king hussein and he served his country's interest and overcan as well -- jordan as well, and we thank you so much for this. the book is clear testimony for what jordan stands for, what king hussein was standing for, for peace in the region. and i hope that the lessons that we read from this book will help us all to achieve what we all want to happen in the region, peace for everybody. thank you. thank you, ambassador. >> than

. >> the american ambassador to israel said a few days ago the u.s. from a military per spectacular tiff to carry out a strike on iran." that's true. >> one of the things we do at the defense department is plan. and we have plans to be able to implement any contingency, we have to, in order to defend ourselves. >> and doggone heartbreaking story out of california with the happy ending. this little dog was severely injured after someone strapped it with explosives and then detonated it. police rush eed the dog to an animal hospital where they named him rocket. the dog's real name is dexter. a $2500 reward is being offered. that'll do it for me. i'm fredricka whitfield. much more of "newsroom" with alina cho in for don lemon. have a great week. [ woman ] for the london olympic games, our town had a "brilliant" idea. support team usa and show our olympic spirit right in our own backyard. so we combined our citi thankyou points to make it happen. tom chipped in 10,000 points. karen kicked in 20,000. and by pooling more thankyou points from folks all over

israel, and i think the answer is no. one of the questions i had was should this be a referendum on obama's policy toward american jews? no for two reasons. the most important reason is there are not significant differences and in fact this notion that somehow president obama has been anti-israel, i served with the president, who did take some steps that were blocking israel in congress. that was george h. w. bush. the only time in my 31 years in congress when israel was frustrated at trying to get a policy through the congress was when president george h. w. bush ordered w. h., whatever -- [laughter] i don't want to denigrate him. israel sought loan guarantees to do one of the great things israel has done which is to assimilate the immigrants and george bush because is talk shamir said this land will remain jewish as far as the eye can see forever. i try to ameliorate that by staying shamir at that point was very short and very old and probably could not see that far. [laughter] the fact is that bush was able to block us from getting the loan guarantees, damaging israel. you also had the famous, and a remember anybody

brotherhood has reassured the american and western leaders that the commitment to stability in egypt on the region, the commitment to the camp david peace treaty with israel, and the commitment to free-market economics. the americans and the french and the brits have been talking to the islamists in egypt and morocco and other places. the reality is that the islamists are here to stay. the reality is the islamists will take ownership of this seat of power from egypt to morocco and jordan. >> is this what democracy in the new middle east will look like? >> remember, the inspiration and the example is not iran. iran is seen as a failed model. the theocracy that exists in iran. turkey served as an inspiration and as an example. the reason is because turkey has been able to marry western-style democracy with authenticity, which is islamic identity. turkey is one of the most important growing economies in the world. islamist seem to be traveling a similar journey to their turkish counterpart. that is why more and more western foreign policy opinion is coming to realize that the islamists do not present a threat. >> when we look over the border at syria, is egy

that's not the right word -- the core anger with american policy is over the israel-palestine question. we have seen exactly how that went up and down. even their attitude toward obama. i know obama is seen here to be sympathetic toward the middle east but in the least he seems to be unsympathetic. beginning in 2010, we are beginning to see things going the other way. i recall appearing on an egyptian television show, quoting from the washington post article emphasizing president obama's christian religiosity was quiet and projects his religiosity here and people were wondering if he was a closet evangelical. in the meantime, people were accusing him of having muslim groups. their judgment is based on policy and the policy that matters most is the israel- palestine policy. host: this past week, our guest posted a policy which is available on-line at politico. this from one of our viewers -- to economic problems paid about -- play a large role in the egyptian elections? guest: they do. but they are talking that is putting bread on the table, freedom, and dignity. those are the things pe

our tradition is -- american presidents all along the years, from both sides of the political aisle, be it in their first term or second term were always friendly toward israel because it reflects something much deeper that goes to the american society. we're sharing the same values. when we look at the arab spring that turns now green, the kind of environment, it's extremely, extremely disturbing and israel is the only outpost of democracy, of stability of the western way of life in the region. >> how concerned are you of the situation in syria giving that it's getting the world attention as it often does. it's started to move into other areas, but the situation remains unchanged there. it's still very dangerous and very unstable. >> i'm quite frustrated for the slowness of its collapse. i believe that he is doomed anyhow. i believe that there is a need to raise our voices both for moral reasons and practical as much more loudly and to make sure that every possible step is taken by world community, by nato, by the united states, by the russians, turkey could have a special hold to it, to accelerate the whole thing. >> it seems to people there's a different

of this if israel had to attack you when they want speak of an attack on iran israel and i'm not a spokesman for the american. the american defense establishment the american president but it's interesting that the americans and the arab countries are in full agreement about the development in iran and that it needs to be stopped israel preparing for any rain attack or some kind of way in retaliation needs to defend itself is never ask anybody to defend it is a living in area in which there were many enemies i think that we see very positive trend of arab countries leaving the camp of. denial negation and coming to the good guys came by presidents about signing peace with us king hussein of jordan saying peace the people who became buddhas after them kept the agreement we wish and hope it would be kept longer there have been comments by leading israeli figures that the israeli population is not being told the full consequences of what an attack on iran would mean do you agree with us. i don't think i should speak on israeli attack on iran i think this is something israeli should not speak oh i'm sorry that s

they're surrounded by a country they're kind of being closed in by all sides from american and period isn't and israel has a stockpile of nuclear weapons they're also funded enormously by this country i mean well to defend themselves from one attack by places like iran from places like iran what gives you the opinion that iran is looking to attack israel well almost some mistake him hasn't the president of iran are going to be mocked. publicly stated that he his mission is to destroy israel that's a mistranslation a commonly known as translation he never said wiping israel off the map that is completely not true so i guess then the whole everything about then i guess suranne you know we could arrange them on nice place to go well if you're saying no and i don't know i just think that you know the saber rattling and and the closing in on these countries isn't making us safer it's not necessarily our business to be you know eighteen israel's fear mongering in that region we can argue all day about this it's been very nice talking to you and it's definitely an issue to continue an absolutely larry import

strengthened further. >> peter, what's the bottom line for you in terms of the role israel is going to play in american influence and power in part because of this issue? and an american public that really does not want confrontation? >> i think the general public generally supports israel. certainly israel's right to exist and i think it's very important that america maintain israel's military technological advantage. but i do think we're a country that is weary of war. obviously, israelis don't want to jump into war either. but i think that there are a lot of concerns in the u.s. military about what the implications of an israeli strike could be for u.s. soldiers who are in afghanistan. for u.s. soldiers who are in the gulf and very important to note that many, many top security professionals in israel themselves are very, very wary about the consequences of military action. >> they made that clear recently. i mean, i was with benjamin netanyahu two weeks ago and he was very aggressive and then backlash to that interview was don't go, don't go, don't strike. >> there's been a virtual revolt from the

we're feeling heat from the american sections and the u.s. alliance with israel. ainly americans are not immune. we've seen in the 1980s the barracks bombing. this wouldn't be the first time, it's the most recent attack. >> you said last night if this is true this would constitute an act of war. what would that mean effectively? >> this came up with an attack on a diplomat on u.s. soil. this is frankly an extension of the debate that started then so any attack against an american official whether it's in the u.s. or someplace around the world really does constitute an act of war. when all that really means is, what then, which tools does the united states choose to use to retaliate against it? does it use military force? probably not because it would be a single attack, but it could, and frankly, that only goes to the fact of what are the tools that become available for the united states to use in retaliation. >> so if in fact it is considered to be an act of war, what do you think are the rules of engagement could then potentially change? >> that's right. the ques

comes to the forefront, like you said, i agree it won't be that much vis-a-vis what the americans care or israelcandidates talking to american diplomats here. first thing they reassured that about that treaty or is it to talk about issues such as their relationship with the united states which many egyptians see as in the last two decades subservant where mubarak is in the populous government and they don't want that anymore. so they -- these issues when it comes to the u.s. is unimportant at this moment. egyptians are choosing their leader. they are very concerned about who that leader will be. as you can see from the voting, they were very divided on what division for egypt should be. no candidate got a majority of these voters, the muslim brotherhood that took 47% of votes during parliament only took a quarter of votes this time so really an important time and very important transition. you're going to see lots of people already have all the candidates crying fraud, talking about elections suspension so this is a really critical time. host: leila fadel, as always, we appreciate your time and

no president has done as much as president obama has done to promote israel's security and i say this having served in every american administration but one since ronald regan was in office i bring a personal perspective to this as well as an analytical and descriptive perspective. thus, prime minister net new has said that our security situation with israel is unprecedented. that was his word for it. if you have relatives or friends in southern israel they can tell you what this has meant in practical terms in recent months. for in addition to the record levels of security assistance the united states was already providing israel, our administration secured an additional $205 million to help produce the short range rocket defense system iron dome. the purpose of this money was to enable israel to accelerate production of iron dome batteries. well, during the recent attacks from gaza, iron dome intercepted nearly 0% of the rockets it tried to engage. and that's dozens of deadly explosions done by otherwise have taken place at hospitals, schools, or homes. it's been a god send for besieged communities along israel's

recycled very old and stale israeli propaganda but it was the book that american jews wanted to have because it completely whitewashed israel. and the book was a huge success and received every accolade in america until norman finkelstein wrote a longer view article in which he exposed the spurious scholarship behind the book and i sent out my findings to like twenty five people typed them up. and then one side or the morning i got a quote from professor chomsky you know this is noam chomsky and he said i read your findings and they saw the right to me i mean is going to be controversial in a generally it isn't but there are certain issues in certain subjects where debate can be difficult. this book in the holocaust industry and norman finkelstein in the author of welcome to you thank you for having me controversial and i can't not use words mean over you know. i. know many things that i don't but i don't even know so that all of us i remain faithful. to the horrendous suffering of my parents yet the nazi holocaust has long ceased to be a source of a morrow or historical miten and it has become a straight out distortion rac

we share a combined concern about the middle east and american security and survival of israel and they're very good friends. finally on the thank yous, i have to thank the voters of south carolina and apologize. we will have broken their tradition of always picking the nominee. this makes me feel guilty every time we go through south carolina. but they were tremendous. they were welcoming, they were enthusiastic. the size of the victory was historic and we'll always remember -- i suspect our whole family will south remember south carolina. it was a tremendous experience. today i'm suspending the campaign but suspending the campaign does not mean suspending citizenship. callista and i committed to be active citizens. we owe it to america and to maggie and robert. in my case, i've been an active citizen since august of 1958 between my freshman and sophomore years in high school when my dad was serving in the army in europe. this august it will be 54 years that i worked essentially on three things: one, what does america need to do to be free, safe and pros press, two, how would you explain

washington and turkey jamal do the policy director for the iranian american national council believes it's enrique's ties with israel and u.s. lawmakers that are driving the push. they're not necessarily considered to have given up their terrorist activities u.s. officials have actually gone off the record and said that it was behind some of the assassinations of iranian scientists and professors that have occurred in recent years so if they make a was behind you know putting these bombs on cars and delivering bombs with motorcycles it sounds like terrorism and there's an acknowledgment that that's the case but they you know u.s. officials have also said they're working with mossad they're working with israel to engage in this campaign and so among hardliners here in the u.s. there's a view of they're the enemy of our enemy so they're our friends you also have domestically or here in the u.s. you have members of congress who are accepting campaign donations from supporters of the m.e. k. you have very prominent us former officials like rudy giuliani for instance who have spoken out in favor of them and have received