On Voting for an American President

That Israel is a hot-button issue for many American Jews goes without saying. However, to those casting their votes solely on this issue, I beg you to stop and think for a second. While American support of Israel is crucial to the maintenance of a Jewish state, I do not believe in letting it cloud over domestic issues. As Brent Sasley writes in this Huffington Post article, the American presidency has shown time and time again that it can do little to broker peace in the Middle East. A politician may use pro-Israel rhetoric to court the Jewish vote, but once elected, their support will be as strong as the diplomatic climate warrants. Few presidents, Democratic or Republican, would put their presidency on the line to uphold promises to Israel. In addition, turning the Jewish vote away from domestic concerns could create a climate of adversity here in the United States. If a candidate would infringe upon rights here but support them in Israel, what overall good would their presidency serve for the Jewish community? Compromising on a candidate is one matter, but disregarding current affairs in America in order to show your support for Israel seems foolish. Support Israeli products, support Israeli enterprise, support the Israeli government with your words and actions but when it comes to the polls, remember that the impact an American president may have on the Middle East is limited, while the impact he can have on the United States is massive.