Liberal Jews praise, conservatives pan Obama speech

US President Barack Obama’s speech at a DC synagogue on Friday calling for a Palestinian state for Israel’s sake drew mixed responses from American Jewish groups.

The liberal pro-Israel organization J Street applauded Obama’s remarks, delivered at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington DC to mark Jewish American Heritage Month, saying they were “a clear and forceful reminder that establishing a Palestinian state is necessary to safeguard Israel’s democracy and integral to Jewish values.”

The group said that “the President should know that the vast majority of American Jews supports him and hopes that he succeeds” in his efforts to bring about a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and in reaching a nuclear deal with Iran.

“President Obama’s speech was notable because it laid out the fundamental principle that supporting Israel does not require blind support for every policy adopted by its government,” the group said in a statement. “J Street has been forcefully making that same case since its establishment seven years ago. We believe it is a view shared by the overwhelming majority of American Jews who love and support Israel but are dismayed by the stated positions of so many in the new Netanyahu government.”

Some of Obama’s remarks drew a mixed response from the audience, with some in the packed sanctuary applauding loudly when he reserved the right to criticize Israel when necessary and others staying silent.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, however, the Republican Jewish Coalition lashed out against Obama for some of his comments.

“President Obama is not a friend to American Jews or Israel,” the conservative group’s Executive Director Matt Brooks said in a statement. “Despite his best efforts, this President’s push to rewrite history and paper over the insults of the past will fail.

“President Obama and his administration have attempted to isolate Israel by badgering and berating its democratically-elected Prime Minister in public. At the same time, they appease Islamist Iran — on its way to a nuclear arsenal — and threaten retribution for those who oppose these efforts. One speech will not change this.”

JTA contributed to this report.