East Hampton - The Jewish Center of the Hamptons (JCOH) hosted real estate mogul, editor-in-chief of the U.S. News and World Report and foreign policy expert Mort Zuckerman on Sunday, Sept. 6, for a talk on the new administrations stance with regard to Israel and the Mid-East peace process.

The hundreds that packed into the synagogue on Sunday "reflects what has become a mood of great anxiety over what is going on in the Middle East," Zuckerman began, expressing concerns about President Barrack Obama's policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Though Zuckerman labeled himself as an Obama supporter, the president's comparatively weak position on Israel is causing concern.

From the inception of an Israeli state after World War II, America has been arguably the small country's strongest ally, letting agitators the world-over know that a war with Israel is the same as war with the United States. "The message has long been, 'We understand your fears and we will not desert you,'" Zuckerman asserted, however President Obama "surprised" many when he called for a freeze on settlement expansion on the West Bank. Obama's position means that "the onus for peace should be on Israel," Zuckerman explained, which "is not something that is supported by the majority of the world," he added.

Due to this posture, Israeli government officials "became the subject of great pressure," and simultaneously "caused the Palestinians to set an even higher bar," stating outright that all settlement construction must stop before they would be willing to sit down for negotiations again.

As the floor opened up for questioning, the conversation turned toward Iran, which Zuckerman called an "existential threat."

The new president's change in position from former administrations' support of the settlements "means basically, at this point, that a new administration comes in and tells the Israelis that they cannot trust the promises of an administration," Zuckerman contended, quoting the concerns of Israeli officials who stated that "We made an agreement with America, not President Bush."

According to Zuckerman, who claims to have first-hand knowledge of the discussions, former President Bill Clinton "would make sure there was a dialog before any decisions on Arab issues were made. That is the nature of that alliance." By contrast, "There is no dialog between the Obama administration and Israel," he maintained, insisting that the administration's stance is fully the president's own and not that of his advisers.

As the floor opened up for questioning, the conversation turned toward Iran, which Zuckerman called an "existential threat."

Zuckerman described the Jews as "a traumatized people" throughout their history leading up to slaughter of millions during the Holocaust. "Israel was to be the end of that perpetual status - minority," he stated, asserting that it was "reconstituting, not creating, a Jewish homeland," and that Israel is "not a consolation prize for the Holocaust."

"If they are abandoned by the U.S. this is going to be a hugely dangerous situation for Israel," he continued, "How do you share a home with someone who denies your right to be there?"

After speaking for a little more than half an hour, Zuckerman opened the floor to questions, the first of which charged President Obama with being a Muslim. "I can't allow you to proceed on that," Zuckerman quickly interjected, "There is no truth to that." With that out of the way early, the discussion turned to the threat posed by nearby Iran and their plans to acquire a nuclear bomb.

"I think it is an existential threat to Israel," Zuckerman agreed, "The potential that they would hand off nuclear capabilities to some terrorist groups who would use that to wipe out as many Jews as possible. I cannot tell you for sure what's going to happen here - Israel will likely act unilaterally at some point," he reasoned, as many living in Israel today survived the Holocaust and would not tolerate living in such an environment of fear again.

Despite the concern produced by the new American administration, there is some cause for hope with the new Egyptian administration. "Iran is a threat to Egypt," Zuckerman asserted, claiming that Iran is attempting to destabilize several countries while "Israel stands as a counterbalance to Arabian power. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,'" Zuckerman quoted an old proverb, "I think they [Egypt] see Israel in those terms."

Zuckerman summed up the entirety of the situation as he wrapped up the discussion. "Nobody can stop reaching for that Holy Grail of peace, even while doing what we must to protect ourselves. They believe this is Arab land and not Jewish land, and there's no changing their minds," he explained, adding finally that "hope is a good breakfast, but a poor supper."