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July 2, 2004/Tamuz 13 5764, Vol. 56, No.41
Jewish officials praise new U.N. ambassador
RACHEL POMERANCE
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - One of the most pro-Israel U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations might seem like a tough act to follow, at least to supporters of the Jewish state.
But U.S. Jewish officials are lauding John Danforth, an attorney, Episcopal priest and former Republican senator from Missouri, who will be sworn in July 1 to succeed John Neg-roponte.
Praised as a paragon of integrity, a crusader for human and civil rights, and a friend of Israel, Danforth is expected to stand up for the Jewish state - and the moral calling of the United Nations.
"Mr. Danforth as a senator had an impeccable record on Israeli issues," said Arye Mekel, Israel's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. "The fact that he is very close to President Bush is a very good thing." Mekel called Bush's level of backing for Israel "unprecedented."
While agreeing that Negroponte was a bulwark against attacks on Israel, Mekel said the famed "Negroponte doctrine" merely reflected Bush administration policy.
Danforth's appointment comes as the United Nations is making an effort to address anti-Semitism within its corridors and around the world. The international body held its first-ever conference on anti-Jewish prejudice June 21. "Let us acknowledge that the United Nations' record on anti-Semitism has at times fallen short of our ideals," U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan told the conference. "The fight against anti-Semitism must be our fight. And Jews everywhere must feel that the United Nations is their home." Elan Steinberg, executive vice president of the World Jewish Congress, said he hoped Danforth's appointment would be a "fortuitous" step in the fight against anti-Semitism.
Danforth did not return phone calls seeking comment. Heir to the Ralston Purina pet food fortune, Danforth, 67, received joint graduate degrees from Yale University's law and divinity schools.
After practicing law in New York and serving for seven years as Missouri's attorney general, Danforth represented Missouri from 1976 to 1995 in the U.S. Senate, where he was highly regarded as a moderate and bridge-builder. Danforth was appointed by President Clinton to lead an inquiry into the 1993 federal siege on Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. The inquiry cleared the government of blame. Since 2001, Danforth has served as Bush's envoy to Sudan.
A partner in a St. Louis law firm, Danforth has participated in a few controversial acts, like voting against sanctions on apartheid South Africa, voting to cut funds for U.N. peacekeeping and limit U.S. support for international planning, according to the Washington Post.
He also led the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas, who was a legislative assistant to Danforth when he was senator.
But Democrats seem to view the Thomas hearings as a blip in Danforth's career.
David Goldstein, who directed the Jewish Community Relations Bureau of Kansas City during Danforth's Senate tenure, used to brief Danforth on Israel issues. Goldstein recalled listing the geopolitical reasons for U.S. support of the Jewish state.
Danforth agreed but added, "the real reason we ought to support Israel is it's our moral responsibility. They're our friends," Goldstein related.
Indeed, Danforth's record indicates solid support for foreign and military aid to Israel, solidarity with the Jewish state and support for Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its undivided capital.
Jewish officials speak of him in glowing terms.
"A staunch advocate of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship," Danforth has "deep ties" to the local and national Jewish community, said Josh Block, spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
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