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Riz Khan
Obama and the pro-Israel lobby
Can the new US president rely on this powerful group and for how long?
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2009 18:40 GMT



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Barack Obama's tough stance against Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank has already put the US president at odds with the new Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu.

Disagreement between the two ally countries is rare and in the past, Israel has always been able to rely on its strong supporters in Congress to help persuade the White House on any contentious issues. 

That dynamic, it seems, could be changing.

During Netanyahu's last visit to Washington, he was reportedly shocked by the number of US Congressmen who backed Obama and pressured the prime minister on issue of settlements. 

On Thursday's Riz Khan we discuss the changing face of America's pro-Israel lobby and ask whether Obama can continue to rely on this powerful group and, if so, for how long.

Riz is joined by Daniel Fleshler, the author of Transforming America's Israel Lobby, and Mitchell Barak, a former aid to Netanyahu and CEO of KEEVOON, the Israeli communications firm. 
You can join the conversation. Watch the show live on Thursday, July 2, at 2030GMT, with repeats on Friday at 0030, 0530 and 1130.
Source:
Al Jazeera
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