Significant rift opens up in US Jewish community

A significant rift has opened up in the US Jewish community over its response to the Administration's Middle East strategy and anti-terrorism campaign.

That rift is certain to have been widened by Thursday's accusation by Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, that the US is engaged in appeasement akin to Munich. The accusation is widely seen as intemperate.

While the hugely influential, principal Jewish lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), has expressed criticism of the new willingness of the Administration to support the aspiration for a Palestinian state, a letter to the President yesterday from more than 50 Jewish-American leaders strongly backed the US strategy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday AIPAC officials criticised President Bush's advisers who advocated support for the creation of a Palestinian state. Those advisers are encouraging the President "to reward, rather than punish, those that harbour and support terrorism," it said.

But yesterday's letter rejects the idea that US and Israeli interests differ and strongly backs the US approach. "We also commend the skilful and determined efforts undertaken by you and your foreign policy team to end Israeli-Palestinian violence and to renew negotiations between the parties," the letter says. "The United States has always played a pivotal role in Mideast diplomacy. Today, we have both a special opportunity and responsibility to support that role."

Mr Zev Furst, a political consultant, told the New York Times: "This is a major, major development that demonstrates that the American Jewish community is split on this issue.

"People who are powerful in the fund-raising and political activities of the community are distancing themselves from what some Jewish leaders have done this week in their criticism of the Bush administration."

Mr Jonathan Jacoby, a consultant to the Israel Policy Forum, argues: "There is a false and unfortunate impression being created that American Jews need to choose between Israel and the United States. Nothing is further from the truth, and the intent of this letter is to make that clear."