Erdogan says will go ahead with Gaza visit

Published on May 16, 2013

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the White House on Thursday that he intends to go ahead with a planned trip to the Gaza Strip next month despite pressure from the United States to delay it.

White House: Evidence Syria used chemical arms not ‘airtight’

Published on April 26, 2013

The White House said on Friday it was continuing to study evidence that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons and would not set a timetable for corroborating reports.

White House: U.S. intelligence community believes Syria used chemical weapons

Published on April 26, 2013

The U.S. intelligence community believes Syria used chemical weapons on anti-government rebels.

U.S. believes Syria used chemical weapons but says facts needed

Published on April 25, 2013

U.S. intelligence agencies believe Syria's government has likely used chemical weapons on a small scale, the White House said on Thursday, but added that President Barack Obama needed "credible and corroborated" facts before acting on that assessment.

Sequester cuts White House Jewish heritage reception

Published on April 4, 2013

The White House will not hold a Jewish History Month event this year because of the sequester.

Obama meets with Jewish leaders to prepare for Israel trip

By Rob Eshman
Published on March 7, 2013

Some 20 Jewish leaders met privately with President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday morning, March 7, in what one participant called “an honest and substantive exchange” concerning the President’s upcoming trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The source asked that his name not be used because participants were told the meeting was to be strictly off-the-record.

A gridlock bypass in Congress?

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on February 27, 2013

A remarkable thing happened in Washington, D.C., last week. National leaders of business and labor hammered out an outline on immigration reform. This might not only give a major boost to a new immigration policy; it might also show a path around the gridlock that has driven the nation into budgetary face-offs month after month.

Just say no: Sequestration hurts families

Published on February 25, 2013

The sequester principle — that a sword of Damocles hanging over Congress and the White House would produce good public policy that reasoned debate could not — never made any sense.

The Rabbi who interviewed Helen Thomas

Published on February 13, 2013

It may have been divine providence or it may have been just blind luck, but either way, Rabbi David Nesenoff’s visit to the White House in May 2010 was a transformative event — in his life and in that of one of the world’s most renowned journalists.

White House: Obama won’t bring new peace ideas to Israel

Published on February 6, 2013

President Obama's visit to Israel will focus on Syria and Iran, and he will not initiate new peace moves, the White House said.

Suicide bomber kills guard at U.S. embassy in Turkey

Published on February 1, 2013

A far-leftist suicide bomber killed a Turkish security guard at the U.S. embassy in Ankara on Friday, officials said, blowing open an entrance and sending debris flying through the air.

The comedy of being Jewish

Published on January 30, 2013

The 1960s spawned a plethora of comedy albums, among them a hugely successful satire of the Kennedy White House, called “The First Family,” written and produced by Bob Booker, who went on to write and produce for television, working with some of the most famous names in the entertainment industry.

White House: Fordow explosion reports ‘not credible’

Published on January 29, 2013

The White House said reports of an explosion at an Iranian nuclear facility were not credible.

Hagel reassures Jewish leaders on Iran, Israel’s edge

Published on January 22, 2013

Chuck Hagel in a meeting with Jewish organizational leaders affirmed his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge.

Obama nominates Jacob Lew to succeed Geithner at Treasury

Published on January 10, 2013

President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated his chief of staff, Jack Lew, as the next Treasury secretary, praising him as a expert on the pressing national issues of spending cuts and deficit reduction.

Jews and pro-Israel community warm to prospect of a Secretary of State John Kerry

Published on December 24, 2012

Obama to nominate Kerry for sec. of state

Published on December 21, 2012

President Obama is set to nominate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) as secretary of state.

White House readies gun-control plan as more children laid to rest

Published on December 19, 2012

The White House revealed the first steps of a gun-control plan on Wednesday as the United States grieved for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in another wave of funerals.

An Iranian-Jew’s trip to the White House

By Sam Yebri
Published on December 19, 2012

“What is the difference between a New York City garment district bookkeeper and a Supreme Court Justice? Just one generation.”

The speech President Obama should have given after the Connecticut school shooting

By Rob Eshman
Published on December 14, 2012

When news of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School first broke, President Barack Obama stood before the nation, felt our grief and shed a tear.

At White House, Chanukah’s light comes from Sandy-ravaged shul’s menorah

Published on December 14, 2012

It has become something of a White House Chanukah tradition. For the second time, the Obama White House used a menorah from a hurricane-hit region to mark the holiday.

Obama expresses deep concern to Egypt’s Morsi about violence

Published on December 6, 2012

U.S. President Barack Obama called Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Thursday to express his "deep concern" about the deaths and injuries of protesters in Egypt and said dialogue between opposing sides should be held without preconditions, the White House said.

New violence in the Congo: Having a conscience means working overtime

Published on November 21, 2012

With rockets raining down on Israel, it’s hard to focus on anything else. Our families, our friends, our compatriots are under attack, and our hearts ache for them.

Obama, Netanyahu talk ‘de-escalation’

Published on November 16, 2012

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday and the two discussed options for "de-escalating" the situation in Israel and Gaza, the White House said.

U.S. urges Turkey, Egypt, others to encourage Hamas to de-escalate

Published on November 15, 2012

The United States has asked countries that have contact with Hamas to urge the group to stop its recent rocket attacks from Gaza, a White House adviser said on Thursday.

Obama, go to Israel

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on November 14, 2012

President Barack Obama has many urgent issues on his desk as he enters his second term. His hard work begins now, having won the uphill battle against not just his rival, but also against the unemployment rate, the deficit, the slow economic recovery and the overall pessimistic mood of the American electorate.

Olmert: Likud an ‘extreme right-wing party’

Published on November 8, 2012

Speaking at Columbia Law School, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the Likud an “extreme right-wing party” and suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have better relations with the White House.

Election 2012: What no president can do

By David Suissa
Published on November 7, 2012

As I write this, I still don’t know who’s won the presidency. But by the time you read this, barring an Electoral College tie, you certainly will know.

Obama victory opens window for negotiation with Iran

Published on November 7, 2012

The re-election of Barack Obama may open an opportunity for new negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program as sanctions pile economic pressure on its theocratic leaders.

Angelenos wait in long line at Brentwood polling station

By Jay Firestone
Published on November 6, 2012

Last pushes for Jewish votes in Ohio, other swing states stir emotions

Published on November 5, 2012

The family wedding. The entrance to the local synagogue. The future of Israel. Your precious grandchild.

Obama, Netanyahu united against Iran nuclear drive, White House says

Published on September 28, 2012

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday expressed solidarity on the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, the White House said, amid signs of easing tensions over their differences on how to confront Tehran.

Lewinsky to write tell-all memoir about affair with Clinton

Published on September 20, 2012

Monica Lewinsky reportedly is writing a memoir about her White House affair with President Bill Clinton.

Obama, Netanyahu discuss Iran

Published on September 12, 2012

President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about Iran as the White House denied that the prime minister requested a Washington meeting.

White House agrees with Netanyahu on sanctions, calls for patience

Published on August 2, 2012

White House officials agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assessment that sanctions have not set back Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, but counseled patience.

White House: Romney’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital contradicts U.S. policy

Published on July 31, 2012

A White House spokesman noted that Mitt Romney's calling Jerusalem the "capital of Israel" contradicts United States policy over several successive administrations.

McCain condemns Bachmann for claim of Muslim Brotherhood agents in U.S. gov’t

Published on July 19, 2012

Sen. John McCain took to the Senate floor to condemn a suggestion by Rep. Michele Bachmann that the federal government has been penetrated by Muslim Brotherhood agents.

State Dept. reviewing how member of terror group visited White House

Published on June 25, 2012

The U.S. State Department is reviewing how it granted a visa to an Egyptian lawmaker who met with top Obama administration officials and is known to be a member of a terrorist group.

White House won’t budge on Pollard release, despite Peres plea

Published on June 13, 2012

The U.S. stance denying clemency to Jonathan Pollard remains the same for now, a White House spokesman said, despite the plea by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

White House to host dinner for Peres

Published on June 7, 2012

President Obama will honor Israeli President Shimon Peres with a White House dinner after he awards him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Obama celebrates Jewish petitioning of government

Published on May 30, 2012

President Obama celebrated the values of communities petitioning government at a White House reception honoring Jewish American Heritage Month.

White House ‘regrets’ reference to ‘Polish death camp’

Published on May 30, 2012

The White House expressed its regrets about President Obama's use of the term "Polish death camp."

White House reassures Jews as it readies Baghdad offer to Iran

Published on May 22, 2012

The differences between the U.S. and Israeli positions on Iran’s nuclear program are about to become very clear, and the Obama administration is reassuring the Jewish community that the divide is not so vast.

No change in White House approach to Israel following new coalition

Published on May 9, 2012

The Obama administration will not change its policy approach toward Israel in light of the new government coalition, a White House spokesman said.

March 30, 2012

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on March 30, 2012

Santorum’s Southern sweep mars Romney’s front-runner status

Published on March 14, 2012

Rick Santorum swept two Southern states in Republican primaries, complicating Mitt Romney's status as front-runner and all but burying Newt Gingrich's chance for the nomination.

UCLA homeless aid group headed to White House

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on March 8, 2012

A UCLA student group that supports the homeless is headed to the White House, one of five initiatives to win the White House’s Campus Champions of Change Challenge. The White House selected 15 finalists from hundreds of applicants, and online voters chose the top five.

White House: Obama didn’t discuss bunker busters with Netanyahu

Published on March 8, 2012

A White House spokesman denied reports that President Obama promised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bunker-buster bombs and refueling planes that could help in a military strike against Iran.

Obama and Netanyahu disagree, in private and in public

Published on March 6, 2012

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree, at least in principle: Keep the talk on what to do about Iran behind closed doors. But once they’re behind those doors, they can’t agree — and they can’t seem to resist bringing their disagreements into the open.

UCLA Homeless Aid Group Has White House Hopes

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on March 1, 2012

Jewish groups urge White House to act on Sudan

Published on January 31, 2012

Jewish leaders delivered a letter to the White House urging action to allow food to reach hundreds of thousands of people facing starvation in Sudan's border regions.

With Jack Lew’s appointment, community once again has a White House address

Published on January 10, 2012

President Obama on Monday announced that Jack Lew, currently his director of the Office of Budget and Management -- a Cabinet-level position -- would replace William Daley as White House chief of staff.

Report: Obama to name Lew to top White House slot

Published on January 9, 2012

President Obama reportedly will name Jack Lew to be his chief of staff. Lew, an Orthodox Jew, will replace William Daley, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday.

White House warning: Assad must end crackdown or face ‘additional steps’

Published on December 21, 2011

The Obama administration warned that the international community will take "additional steps" to pressure Syria's rulers to end their crackdown unless they agree to the full withdrawal of forces from residential areas.

West Point’s Jewish choir sings for the president and diversity

Published on December 20, 2011

It doesn’t get more “only in America” than this: A Christian president with an African-born Muslim father throws a Chanukah party at the White House, and the featured act is the West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir -- a group that serves as a beacon of Jewish pride and identity at the nation’s top military academy, while also boasting a non-Jewish conductor and plenty of non-Jewish members.

Obama administration gets some of the leeway it sought in new Iran sanctions

Published on December 19, 2011

New sanctions targeting Iran’s financial sector and its sale of crude oil give President Obama leeway to moderate their possible impact on oil markets and to use carrots as well as sticks to sway third parties into isolating the Islamic Republic.

Iran sanctions compromise includes opt-outs sought by White House

Published on December 13, 2011

A compromise congressional bill targeting Iran's central bank includes opt-outs sought by the White House.

Obama lights White House menorah at reception [VIDEO]

Published on December 9, 2011

President Obama hosted 550 people at the White House Chanukah reception.

Hanukkah at the White House

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on December 9, 2011

Ross leaving White House

Published on November 10, 2011

Dennis Ross, the top Obama administration Middle East strategist, is leaving the White House.