WASHINGTON (JTA) — Christians United for Israel activists lavished President Obama with rare praise for pledging to veto any Palestinian attempt to secure statehood recognition at the United Nations.
"We appreciate that you and members of your administration have indicated that the U.S. will veto such a resolution in the Security Council and vote against such a resolution in the General Assembly," said the form e-mail sent by 33,000 CUFI activists to the White House since Sept. 8. "We’re writing to urge you to follow through on these important commitments."
CUFI has often been critical of Obama. Its founder, Pastor John Hagee, told the group’s annual Washington Summit this summer that the president was "not pro-Israel."
David Brog, the group’s director, said the president deserved praise in this case.
"It is important to give credit where it is due, and that is why we expressed our appreciation to the administration for their commitment to veto the Palestinian unilateral declaration of independence and vote against it in the General Assembly," Brog said in a statement.
The Obama administration has said that the Palestinian Authority effort to secure statehood recognition this month would set back the prospect for renewed peace talks and has pledged to veto the bid should it come to the Security Council.
The Palestinians may seek an enhanced status short of statehood through the General Assembly, where the United States does not have a veto.
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