The following interview with World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder was published by the German news magazine 'Der Spiegel' on 19 April 2010.
SPIEGEL: You have accused US President Barack Obama of having allowed a “dramatic deterioration” of relations with Israel. What do you mean?
Lauder: The Obama administration is blaming Israel for the stalling peace process, but it is in fact the Palestinians which are opposed to negotiations. Obama’s criticism of Israel is disproportionate.
SPIEGEL: Isn’t the Israeli government also to blame? After all, it announced the plan to expand a settlement in the eastern part of Jerusalem during US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit.
Lauder: That was bad timing. But the Israeli government has made extraordinary concessions: it has accepted the idea of a Palestinian state, a moratorium on settlement building, and it has removed over a hundred roadblocks in the West Bank.
SPIEGEL: And yet, that lip service to a two-state solution was only paid following pressure by Obama. As a close friend of Prime Minister Netanyahu, aren’t you biased?
Lauder: On this, I don’t represent my friend, but Jews world-wide. I would have written the same letter if someone else were prime minister in Jerusalem. Over his attempts to engage the Muslim world Obama has strongly neglected the relationship with Israel.
SPIEGEL: At least he has said that a solution to the Middle East conflict was in the “national security interest” of the US.
Lauder: His main concern should be Iran. The regime in Tehran is threatening Israel and the entire Western world with its plans to build a nuclear bomb. That is why Obama should end his feud with Israel.
