Throughout his long career as head of the Anti Defamation League (ADL), Abe Foxman has earned a reputation for promoting liberal causes and speaking out against all forms of prejudice and hatred. Nobody would describe him as a conservative.

But today, the American left liberal establishment - with Jews at the forefront - has turned on him with a vengeance. He is being viciously assailed for betraying his Jewish values and even promoting Islamophobia.

The issue which sparked this hostility is a proposal to erect a $100 million high-rise mosque and Islamic Center adjacent to New York’s Ground Zero where 3000 people were killed by Islamic extremists. The sponsor is an Islamic organization known as Cordoba which purports to enhance relationships between Islam and the West and promote a moderate Muslim image. The director, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is not currently accessible and some allege that his image as a promoter of tolerance and bridge building is a facade and that he remains associated with Wahhabi teachings.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will be in an unenviable position when he meets US President Barack Obama on Tuesday. He will need to walk a diplomatic tightrope of balancing conflicting issues. He is obliged to firmly resist pressures which could compromise Israel’s security needs, whilst simultaneously demonstrating that he is acting responsibly and endeavoring to satisfy the legitimate concerns of our most important ally.

If he botches this, his government could unfold and the extraordinary public support he has achieved amongst Israelis could unravel overnight.

The ousting of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd by his deputy Julia Gillard was a dramatic event. A year ago Rudd was still highly popular but his abrupt policy reversal on global climate and the environment began a decline, which climaxed when he stunned the business world by abruptly imposing a tax on mining companies engaged in mineral and energy sales to China and India. The Australian Labor Party, which holds the reins of government, was undoubtedly strongly motivated by Rudd’s plummeting standing in the polls which if sustained would probably result in a resounding defeat at the elections scheduled for next year.

The 120,000-strong Jewish community, which other than Israel has the highest proportion of Shoa survivors in the world, is recognized as one of the most Zionist communities in the Diaspora.