Now that Ehud Olmert is on his way out, it’s time to evaluate his possible successors. Or at least their language skills.
Seymour Reich, one of the United State’s most prominent Jewish leaders, fears that should Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz be elected Kadima chairman and become prime minister, his poor English would damage the State of Israel’s ties with America’s Jewish community.
Reich, president of the Israel Policy Forum and a former chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, offers former Defense Minister Amir Peretz as an example.
“Peretz found it very difficult to explain his ideas and thoughts to the Jewish community,” he said. “He couldn’t overcome it, although he tried to very hard. I hope any new Israeli leader will be fluent in English and will be able to understand both the subtleties and phrases.”
