Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) has announed this morning that he is resigning from Congress to lead the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.
In his statement, Wexler said that "taking over as president of the Center for Middle East Peace offers me an unparalleled opportunity to work on behalf of Middle East peace for an important and influential non-profit institute. After much discussion with my family, I have decided that I cannot pass up on this opportunity."
“My one regret is that I will be unable to complete my current term in office, but I truly believe there is no time to waste," he said. "We are at a unique and critically tense moment in the history of the Middle East with both significant opportunities to succeed in the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as major challenges involving Iran, Hamas, and al Qaeda. In the coming months, Israeli and Arab leaders will be faced with monumental decisions that will dramatically affect the region and the entire world for decades to come. Critically important American security and foreign policy interests are also at stake. I am convinced that now is the time for me to engage on these issues on a full time basis.”
Here’s an excerpt of Ron’s brief with some more information on the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation:
The center was founded in 1989 by Slim-Fast diet foods magnate S. Daniel Abraham and Wayne Owens, a Democratic congressman from Utah. Owens led the center from 1993 to his death in 2002.
While the center had something of a heyday during the Clinton administration’s intensive peace-making, it has been somewhat moribund since Owens’ passing.
Wexler took the lead during last year’s election in campaigning for Barack Obama among Jews during the primaries; Jewish support was at first heavily behind Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Wexler angered some centrist and right-wing Jewish backers last year when he accepted the endorsement of J Street, the new dovish pro-Israel lobby.
Just two weeks ago, Wexler spoke about the Middle East at the Center for American Progress, and that does provide some indication of where Wexler might focus his efforts in his new job. (Here’s a link to video of the entire speech on the Center’s Web site). He emphasized, as I wrote earlier this month, that President Obama needs to do a better job of reaching out to Israelis:
"We need to understand that we ignore Israeli public opinion to our own detriment," said Wexler during an appearance at the Center for American Progress. "Because in order for us, along with the Israeli leadership, to create the political dynamic that allows" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "take risks," said Wexler, "we’ve got to do it from the bottom up. He runs for re-election, too."
And he stressed the importance of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s initiative to build a "de facto" Palestinian state. He also praised Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s two-year plan to build the institutions and infrastructure of a Palestinian state, and said the United States "ought to get behind it" and support it poliitcally.
Why is Wexler leaving Capitol Hill? Laura Rozen at Politico suggests that it partly has to do with being able to make more money (Jewish day school tuition is expensive, and Wexler’s kids have attended a D.C.-area Jewish day school):
Democratic foreign policy hands said earlier today that Wexler, an important early Obama supporter in Jewish Democratic circles, was seeking to transition out of the Hill to private sector work where he could make more money and pay for children’s school tuitions, etc.
S. Danny Abraham is a long time associate and supporter of Wexler from his Palm Beach district, major Democratic party donor close to the Clintons, and dovish pro-Israel philanthropist. The Middle East center Wexler will head is revived from an earlier incarnation. Among its past associates, Clinton-era DAS Toni Verstandig and Dan Rothem.
And of course, speculation now begins on who might run to replace Wexler in his Palm Beach and North Broward County district in South Florida. The Miami Herald reports:
"I’m still a little bit in shock over all this," said state Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland, though he added he was "for sure" considering a run for the seat.
Other potential Democratic contenders in the district covering parts of North Broward and Palm Beach counties are state Sen. Ted Deutch of Delray Beach, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter and former Broward County Commissioner Ben Graber.
Any of the hopefuls would do well to review Wexler’s legendary interview with Stephen Colbert for tips on what not to say on the campaign trail:
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Better Know a District – Florida’s 19th – Robert Wexler | ||||
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Wexler’s full statement announcing his move is after the jump:[[READMORE]]
Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) issued the following statement:
“Today, I am announcing that I will be accepting the position of president of the Center for Middle East Peace and will leave Congress effective in January of 2010.
“More than anything, I want to thank the voters of Palm Beach and Broward Counties who have allowed me the privilege of representing our community in the United States House of Representatives and the Florida Senate for the past nineteen years. I have truly cherished the opportunity to serve my constituents – many of whom make up the generation that sacrificed in World War II and Korea and rebuilt our nation after the Great Depression.
“I have both admired and learned from my constituents, especially their love of country and commitment to community.
“I am proud that everyday I have sought to advocate for and provide a voice to my constituents: whether it was fighting for a legitimate vote during the 2000 election, working toward enacting a voter verified paper trail in Florida, or advocating for health care, education, Social Security and countless other issues. Therefore, my decision to leave Congress did not come easy.
“Those who know me, and those who have followed my career know that one of my overriding passions has been my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee helping to strengthen and preserve the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and working toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians and between Israel and the Arab world. Additionally, I have made a special effort to improve congressional relations with key allies in the Muslim world by founding the Turkey and Indonesia caucuses. Moreover, it was an extraordinary honor to serve as a Middle East advisor to President Obama during the presidential campaign, and I treasure the experiences I had traveling the country, and especially throughout Florida, advocating for the President’s Middle East agenda.
“Taking over as president of the Center for Middle East Peace offers me an unparalleled opportunity to work on behalf of Middle East peace for an important and influential non-profit institute. After much discussion with my family, I have decided that I cannot pass up on this opportunity.
“My one regret is that I will be unable to complete my current term in office, but I truly believe there is no time to waste. We are at a unique and critically tense moment in the history of the Middle East with both significant opportunities to succeed in the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as major challenges involving Iran, Hamas, and al Qaeda. In the coming months, Israeli and Arab leaders will be faced with monumental decisions that will dramatically affect the region and the entire world for decades to come. Critically important American security and foreign policy interests are also at stake. I am convinced that now is the time for me to engage on these issues on a full time basis.”
About the Center for Middle East Peace
The Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 1989 that engages with all relevant parties, Israel, the Palestinians, Arab countries, the United States, Europe, Turkey, Russia, etc. – to reach a just and comprehensive peace that will bring an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Center’s activities include travel in the region, diplomatic exchanges, programming, opinion research, policy development, and conferences featuring Middle Eastern and world leaders seeking peace. The Center brings Middle Eastern policy makers, American and European officials, and international business leaders together to engage in the multifaceted diplomatic, political, economic, and people-to-people work and advocacy required to lead a robust effort to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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