Greene mailer attacks Meek on Israel

Democratic Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene, who is Jewish, attacked his primary opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Miami Rep. Kendrick Meek, and President Obama in a mailer for Meek’s lack of a record on Israel, drawing condemnation from Jewish groups. The front page of the mailer (.pdf) has a big picture of people who are assumed to be Palestinians throwing rocks, and large white text reads, “Has there ever been a more important time to stand with Israel?”

The inside of the mailer asks in large red text, “Who can you trust to protect Israel?” Greene promised to unequivocally defend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unlike President Obama, according to the mailer: “At his White House visit in March, the American President refused dinner or photographs with Binyamin Netanyahu. … As Senator I will defend our Israeli Prime Minister no matter who is the adversary.”

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren said in May that the snub Greene referred to is false — the visit was not official so it did not include photographs, and was scheduled at the last minute. The president stayed in Washington to see the passage of health care reform instead of going overseas.

Greene also attacked Meek while campaigning in Kissimmee for wanting peace in the Middle East, reported the St. Petersburg Times. “[All] Kendrick Meek said is, ‘I’d like peace in the Middle East.’ To me, that’s not a response that friends of Israel want to hear,” he said.

Jewish groups denounced the attack and defended Meek’s views on Israel. An AIPAC spokesman said to the Times, “Kendrick Meek has a very strong record on issues of importance to the pro-Israel community and is considered a staunch supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship.” The Jewish Democratic Council echoed the sentiment in a press release: “U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek has a stellar record of support for Israel, and it is wrong for anyone—of either political party—to call that record into question.” The group also condemned Greene’s attack. “That’s why it is so deeply disappointing to see Florida U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene and his campaign circulating materials and direct mail pieces politicizing support for Israel.” Meek has received $65,222 from pro-Israel groups this cycle, according to OpenSecrets.org.

Jews make up about 5 percent of Florida’s population, and the vast majority of them vote Democratic. However, a poll conducted by the liberal-leaning Jewish organization J Street showed that Israel ranked as only the sixth most important issue for American Jews, with only 10 percent saying it was one of two issues most important for the midterm elections.

Recent polls show Greene trailing by double digits against Meek. Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, longshot candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Senate, quipped on Greene’s attack to the Times, “Is he running for the Knesset or is he running for the Senate?”