Jeb Bush names W. as adviser on Israel
Likely Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush has cited his brother, former US President George W. Bush, as one of his main foreign policy advisers on Israel in a meeting in New York City.
During an off-the-record meeting with a group of Manhattan financiers on Tuesday, Jeb Bush said, “If you want to know who I listen to for advice, it’s him,” The Washington Post reported on Thursday quoting people who attended the event.
The Republican guests spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to provide information about the confidential meeting.
The newspaper said the remarks were made in response to a question about Jeb Bush’s political advisers and their policy views.
Meanwhile, Jeb Bush spokesman Tim Miller told CNN that "Gov. Bush deeply respects his brother's service to this country and in response to a question about [former US Secretary of State] James Baker and Israel, he reiterated that he looks to his brother whose stalwart support for our ally is in line with his commitment to standing with Israel in the face of great threats to their security and our own."
Three people present at the event confirmed to CNN that Jeb Bush said his brother was an adviser on the Middle East. The former Florida governor said that he leans on his brother for insights when it comes to Israel and the Middle East, guests said.
George W. Bush (right) and Israel's Ariel Sharon walk together at the end of a joint press conference in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington in April, 2004. (AP photo)
Two sources from the Jeb Bush staff also told the US broadcaster that the comments were specifically regarding Israel; they were not focused on foreign policy more broadly, as some other reports said.
"There were some eyebrows raised because people might not have realized it was in the context of Israel," said one of these two sources. "I knew it was in respect to Israel."
The other source said, "It was clear that Jeb was referring to Israel."
Bush administration relations with Tel Aviv were very intimate, but during the Obama administration the ties have been frayed over a number of issues, including excessive interference by the Israeli lobby in American foreign policy.
Republican presidential candidates and potential hopefuls have vowed to restore the “strong bonds” between the US and Israel.
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