PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., says he'll be making the case for the Obama administration in Israel in his new job.
Wexler, 49, has left Congress and will begin his new job as president of the non-profit Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation on Monday, in which he will work with Israelis skeptical of President Barack Obama's support of the Jewish state, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Sunday.
"There is both support and great hope and also a healthy dose of skepticism. All of that is present" in Israel, Wexler told the newspaper. "There's confusion about what in fact the Obama positions are with respect to Israel. I will make the case that, in many cases, the Obama administration has been a remarkably pro-Israel administration."
South Florida political observers said Wexler's support helped convince Jewish residents in 2008 that Obama was worthy of their votes.
"It was a crucial tipping point to have someone of Robert's stature in the Jewish community to vouch for (Obama)," William Daroff, the Washington director of the Jewish Federations of North America, told the Post.
