Orthodox Union leaders met with top Obama administration officials at the White House. At this morning’s meeting, Dennis Ross, special assistant to the president and senior director for the Central Region, told the group – according to someone in the room – that he was not surprised that Iran put forward a proposal for talks, but that the United States is engaging the Iranians to test and push them, and to take away excuses.Ross added that the United States doesn’t want to be part of a fake process, and that an invitation to dialogue was part of measuring whether Iran really was willing to change its behavior.
Asked about the dispute over settlements in the West Bank, Ross did not concede any error in the administration’s demands for an absolute settlement freeze, but said the “logic was to create an environment to get into negotiations” and that “we will wrap up these discussions and not everyone will get what they want, but all will get something.”
The group also discussed domestic policy with senior adviser David Axelrod and discussed the president’s faith-based agenda with Joshua DuBois, the head of the White House Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships — including reducing abortions and the importance of fatherhood.
Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett welcomed the group to the White House. The OU leaders also had briefing sessions with David Axelrod, Senior Adviser to the President; Dennis Ross, Senior Director for the Central Region on the National Security Council; and Joshua Dubois, Director of the White House Office of Faith Based Partnerships.
From The White House, the OU leaders proceeded to Capitol Hill for the Leadership Mission’s annual Senate Luncheon. In a formidable demonstration of their high regard for the OU and its influence, many senators attended and addressed the luncheon.
The OU leaders the proceeded to lunch with U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill. After the Senate luncheon, the OU leaders held their final sessions with senior leaders of the House of Representatives: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the Republican Whip, and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
{JTA/News Media Feeds/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
