Obama and Jews

I was recently asked by a reporter to comment on Obama's remark that one can be "for Israel and against Likud." This is how I responded:

Stereotypes of any kind trouble me. Obama's statement reminds me of the opinion that one can be "for Jews and against Israel." Theoretically, these remarks might be tenable; but in practical terms, they lump all "Likud" or all "Israel" together as one undifferentiated group. When we group people together we don't have an understanding of them as individuals, and it becomes relatively easy to be wary of or antagonistic towards the group as a whole.

Thus, when one makes a remark like this, it demonstrates ignorance, bias and possibly (dare I say it?) antisemitism.

I don't know how Barack Obama truly feels and we will never know, no matter what he says publicly. But his influences together with his lack of understanding are worrisome.