Rand Paul faces tough crowd in frum Brooklyn

Looking to woo New York’s Orthodox Jewish community, Republican presidential contender Rand Paul faced tough questions Monday about his support for Israel and his approach to foreign policy in the Middle East.

The Kentucky senator spoke in front of a group of several dozen rabbis and other Jewish community leaders at Torah Umesorah (the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools) in Flatbush as part of an outreach effort to a community widely courted by his party.

“I think Israel is one of our best allies and best friends around the world,” Paul said. “They’re the only democracy in the Middle East. And I’m very supportive.”

Paul’s past calls to eventually end all U.S. foreign aid, including to Israel, set him apart in the crowded field of GOP candidates for president, who all support such aid, and he has worked hard in recent months to broaden his appeal among those voters who are focused on foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.

His visit came the day before the Senate begins debate over empowering Congress to review and possibly reject any nuclear pact with Iran. Israel is strongly opposed to a proposed deal between the U.S., five other world powers and Iran, a country whose leaders have vowed to destroy Israel.

Paul spoke at length about his position on the ongoing negotiations, telling the crowd a letter sent by 47 senators to Tehran — which said any nuclear agreement with the Obama administration that lacks congressional approval could be unraveled by future presidents — actually strengthened the president’s hand at the table.

“I am for negotiations as opposed to war,” Paul said.

Regarding foreign aid to Israel, Paul said that his position is “the same as it’s always been: One day Israel should be independent.” But he added, “I’m also not saying that it has to end now.”

Asked whether he is an isolationist, Paul said that America’s interventions across the Middle East in recent years, including toppling Saddam Hussein in Iraq, had had unintended consequences. Among them, empowering the Islamic State group that overran large parts of Iraq last year.