Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer
The following letter is exclusive to Jews Defending American Values.
My name is Daniel Kurtzer. I currently teach international relations at Princeton University, and previously served for 29 years as an American diplomat. President George W. Bush appointed me as U.S. Ambassador to Israel; President Bill Clinton appointed mas a U.S. Ambassador to Egypt. As you see, I have faithfully served both Republican and Democrat administrations, and in the past I have voted for both Republican and Democrat presidential candidates.
I am writing to share two thoughts about the upcoming presidential election. To be transparent with you, I plan to vote for Vice President Biden, but that is not the point of my email. Rather, I want to share with you two concerns I have at this time.
It is an absolutely unassailable fact that every administration over the past five decades has worked intensively to deepen and strengthen our relationship with the State of Israel. Please, do not believe otherwise, as some political pundits are suggesting. Every President has recommitted the United States to assure Israel’s security and well-being; and every President has found ways to expand our strategic relationship. I say this because you and I are hearing too much nonsense about President Obama and Vice President Biden having “thrown Israel under the bus.” This is election nonsense: Obama negotiated the 10-year aid commitment totaling $38 billion and worked closely with the Israeli government to expand its diplomatic relations and to try to advance the prospects of peace. To be sure, Obama – like all U.S. presidents, including President Trump – had several disagreements with Israel. But there was no diminution in any way of U.S. support for Israel. So, please, when you go to cast your vote, please be absolutely confident that both candidates will continue to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations.
I also want to share a significant concern I have about America’s standing in the world that derives from the rancor that is dividing our own society. President Trump has made it a matter of policy to divide us – black and white, cities and suburbs, wealthy and poor, gun owners and gun opponents. He has weakened almost all of our federal institutions and tried to transform them into instruments to expand his own power and the wealth of his wealthiest supporters. And he has shattered our most important alliances abroad, in Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are fortunate as a country to be strong and resilient, but in the past our alliances and friendships have had a multiplier effect in increasing our influence and power. Unfortunately, President Trump’s extremely narrow definition of “America first” has become “America only” and we are weaker both at home and abroad as a result of it.
Thank you for reading this message. I would be happy to hear your responses at daniel.kurtzer@yahoo.com.
The following video is a joint production of Jewish Democratic Council of America and Jews Defending American Values.
This video was shared by Amb. Kurtzer's son, Yehuda Kurtzer, on Yehuda's personal Facebook page. It has gone viral; feel free to share the post below on your own Facebook page!
I’m very proud of my dad - Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, a highly decorated career diplomat who served with distinction in...
Posted by Yehuda Kurtzer on Wednesday, October 7, 2020
