US Jews confident in Israeli democracy

[Behind the Aegis]

American Jewish leaders mingled anxiety with belief in Israel's ability to endure hardship Thursday while they closely monitored news on hospitalized Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"It's a time of prayer and uncertainty, but also of enduring confidence in Israel's democracy and stable nature," said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

"Prime Minister Sharon has had a highly personalized leadership in the last five years so it would be very difficult to imagine life without him," Harris said, yet Israel has weathered the loss of other strong leaders in the past.

Echoing those words, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said Sharon "is a very great man, but no democracy is truly dependent on any single individual." Still, he added, "his likely withdrawal from politics creates tremendous uncertainty."

more...