Presidential hopeful Governor Mitt Romney took his fundraising campaign abroad to Jerusalem for three days this summer, a move that, though controversial, spoke volumes about his intentions regarding Middle East policy. For the whirlwind three day trip, orchestrated by Marc Zell, the co-Chairman of Republicans abroad, Romney was all sabras and shwarma. The governor set out to wow Americans and Israelis alike, meeting with Israeli regional leaders, visiting holy sites, and greeting local residents.
Zell, a partner at the international Zell, Goldberg & Co. law firm, explains that the time he spent with Romney revealed the governor’s “genuine…sincere and also highly intelligent character.” Zell met Romney for the first time upon his arrival in Israel, remarking that he was “quite taken aback by him both as a candidate and as a human being,” adding that both Romney and his brother Scott “really struck me and impressed me with their sincerity, integrity, passion, and warmth, not only for Israel but also for America.”
The Jerusalem branch of Zell’s firm was primarily responsible for the success of Governor Romney’s visit. This author had the distinct privilege of interning for Mr. Zell this summer, helping to coordinate Romney’s Israel visit. Preparations began weeks before his arrival, preoccupying a significant number of the firm’s employees with the task of ensuring a smooth visit for Romney and his family.
On July 30, the last day of his trip, Romney hosted an exclusive fundraiser breakfast at the King David Hotel. The fundraiser – the first such event in Israel’s history for an American presidential candidate – was a major success, raising millions for Romney’s campaign. The attendees, Zell reflects, were captivated by Romney’s “sense of composure” and impressed by his confidence. “With the kind of track record that he [Romney] has,” Zell attests, “when you’re in his presence and you listen to him talk, there is a comforting sense that he knows what he’s doing. If given the opportunity, he could really turn things around.” Zell believes that the trip – though it instigated much controversy and was challenged by political commentators – helped Romney share his personality and sincerity to both an Israeli and international audience.
On Sunday July 29th, the first full day of Romney’s visit, Jews around the world observed the 9th of Av, the Jewish national day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the Jewish temple and numerous other tragedies that have stricken the Jews throughout history. The decision to visit on this particular date only stirred up more controversy; within Zell’s office, some employees saw the choice of date as “crass,” though others believed it to be “a brilliant political move,” while still others deemed the matter insignificant. In any case, the choice of arrival dates certainly garnered a fair share of attention – arguably a positive development for any presidential candidate.
In what was perhaps the single most controversial statement of his trip, the governor’s address to the Jerusalem Foundation included his firm declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In stark contrast to the confidence with which Romney spoke, the White House’s Press Secretary could not manage to even mentioned Jerusalem when asked repeatedly by reporters what America considers the capital of the Jewish state. The statement might displease the enemies of Israel, yet Romney did not seem too concerned, sticking boldly to his words.
Since his return, Romney has faced much criticism for his attempts to fundraise and campaign abroad, yet the visit undoubtedly sent a strong message about his serious commitment to furthering democracy in the Middle East and addressing the tremendous conflict in the region. The trip was highly covered in the American media, enabling his perspective on Middle Eastern policy and the American-Israel relation to reach a large audience of Americans. No doubt the pro-Israel and evangelical voting demographic saw the trip in a positive light, but perhaps even those Americans seeking a president with a strong commitment to democracy in the Middle East and a strong stance in the conflict with Iran were similarly impressed.