Israeli politician tells Emanuel to remember he’s Jewish

The Chairman of Israel’s National Union party has penned a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, urging him to support Israel’s interests.

Ya’acov “Ketzele” Katz reminded Emanuel of his Jewish roots and cited a passage from the Book of Esther.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish,” Katz wrote. “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

According to the Jerusalem Post, Katz was motivated to write to Emanuel after reports surfaced of a terse meeting between Emanuel and an unnamed American Jewish leader.

“In the next four years, there will be a peace agreement with the Palestinians on the basis of two states for two peoples, and it does not matter to us who is the prime minister,” Emanuel reportedly said.

Katz, whose party does not support Palestinian statehood, voiced concern.

“For many Israelis, this report is a cause for worry because it reveals a condescending attitude toward our prime minister and Israeli public opinion,” Katz wrote. “This is an attitude that Israel does not expect from a real friend such as the US, and all the more so from an Israeli Jew who has succeeded in being appointed White House chief-of-staff.”

Emanuel and his wife are members of the Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel synagogue in Chicago.