Fred Karger on Israel: “You Cannot Start A Negotation By Losing The Faith Of Your Ally”

Share |

Fred Karger considers his attachment to the current debate over President Obama’s shift in policy towards Israel to be “an emotional one”. He’s made a handful of trips to the Jewish nation in the last decade, his most recent being just days before President Obama’s controversial speech relating his shift in policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian borders.

As the first Jewish Republican Presidential candidate, Karger acknowledges that his knowledge of, and his involvement with his religion wasn’t always particularly strong, but after his first trip to Israel in 2000, he says that the “passion” and fervent strength of the small nation showed him the full depth of his heritage, encouraging him to learn all he could. He attended a mission trip through the Republican Jewish Coalition in 2005, (Fred has been a member of RJC for the last 25 years, during his time as a campaign organizer for Reagan, Bush, and Ford,) and he was given then the chance to tour the country’s military bases, and attend a trial. But Fred explained that his last trip to Israel, his first as a Presidential candidate, was much different that any of the previous excursions, as the officials and ambassadors of the region “rolled out the red carpet” for him, and welcomed him to discuss policy, politics, and meet with many members of the Israeli leadership.

Karger traveled to Israel as a formal Presidential candidate on May 13th, after stopover in London, and landing in Tel Aviv, just an hour away by car from Jerusalem. Karger says his purpose for the trip was more than just another homecoming, he looked forward to “getting a good cross section” of the Israeli people, their beliefs about working toward the two state solution, and to see how they have become more involved in the peace process. The trip as a candidate also offered him the chance to “get acquainted” with leaders such as Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, at the Knesset; the Israeli government assembly, and several members of the Israeli gay rights organizations. He says the Israeli legislative body welcomed him with open arms, as he distributed his trademark “Fred Who?” Frisbees to guards at the Knesset compound. He was also present for a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opened the Knesset’s summer legislative session. Fred also repeatedly commented on the dangers put upon the population in Israel, tweeting several times during his trip about the dangerous situations at the borders, and pointing out that resident’s are often issued “new gas masks.”

Fred spent much of his five day trip at different important religious and political sites around the country, visiting the Holocaust Memorial, laying a wreath to commemorate his visit, touring the “Old City” of Jerusalem, walking through Rabin Square, where he noted that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s work toward the peace process ended, he was assassinated during a rally at the square in 1995. Karger was very moved by his visit to the Western Wall, which has stood as a symbol to Judaism alongside Temple Mount since the 4th century, he offered at the site a reverent prayer.

Fred returned to the United States via London, where he poked fun at candidate Newt Gingrich during a trip to Tiffany’s London, tweeting; “Looking for Newt at London Tiffany’s. Got some great jewelry to put on his revolving charge here.” After a few visits in the United Kingdom and attending a fundraiser for the British Stonewall, Karger arrived in Washington DC on May 21st, in time to attend the AIPAC conference, where he perceived a “coolness from the primarily liberal organization” towards President Obama. Karger tweeted as he settled himself in that he and 10,000 others were prepared “to hear Obama explain himself.” In our interview, Karger acknowledged that he had been “very disappointed in the President’s negotiations,” pointing out that, “You can not start a negotiation by losing the faith of your strongest ally.” As he watched the remarks given by House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid he noted that the political leaders “did their very best to distance themselves from the fact that the President is willing to sell out in order to curry favor from nations that do not act with the good favor of the US in mind.” Karger continued, “Republicans have always been stalwart in their alliance with Israel, and the members of the House and Senate appear to be most offended by President Obama’s newest policy formula, offering a foothold to an enemy of Israel.”

Karger is the first Republican Jewish, and the first openly gay Presidential candidate. After a lifetime in politics as a consultant with The Dolphin Group, and offering his experience to at least nine major political campaigns, and many smaller races, Fred announced his intentions to run for President as a direct result of the Prop 8 debate in California in April of 2010, during a presentation at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. He created an exploratory committee on June 18th of last year, and spent most of the next twelve months fundraising and working towards getting him recognition level increased by the general population, visiting colleges and universities, and using the media’s response to his candidacy, “Fred Who?” as his campaign slogan. He formally announced his candidacy March 23rd, and subsequently went on to win a GOP straw poll at St. Anselm College after a speech at their Presidential forum was very well received.

Fred most recently made headlines for his attempts to participate in the Fox News South Carolina debate at the beginning of May, leading an email campaign as he questioned the validity of the requirements put in place by Fox News VP Michael Clemente. Eventually the hosting organizations decided that Fred had not earned a high enough average in national poll numbers to participate in the debate, but he did attend, watching from the galleries. Fred acknowledges the battle he will face in his campaign, but has often said that the satisfaction of seeing his advocacy for gay rights and the nation of Israel materialize in debate format will be enough for him. Outside of a debate appearance, he would like to “restore America’s sense of optimism” in regards to it’s future and the political arena.

Visit the links below to:
Receive more information about Karger’s Presidential campaign.
Follow Fred on Twitter.
To read the Jerusalem Post’s article about Fred’s visit.