Pro-Israel Crowd Split on Clinton's Withdrawal From 'Stop Iran' Rally

Hillary Clinton used her appearance at the State of Israel Bonds dinner in Manhattan last night to emphasize her position on a nuclear Iran. 

“U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal. We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons,” she said. “As the Iranian president travels to New York to meet at the United Nations...we must raise our voices together in opposition to the message he carries and the threat Iran poses.”

The event, at the Grand Hyatt, was organized by the Development Corporation of Israel in honor of labor leader Stuart Appelbaum and the sale of $40 million in Israel bonds.

Clinton went into the dinner having just withdrawn from a September 22 "Stop Iran" rally, organized by a coalition of Jewish groups. Clinton planned to attend, but abruptly canceled after learning from reporters that Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, would also be there.

(After Clinton withdrew, invitations for Palin and other elected officials were also rescinded because organizers said they did not want it to become a partisan political rally.)

Clinton’s cancellation roiled some Jewish organizers and supporters. But last night, she received warm support from the pro-Israel crowd, which at times yelled out things like, “We love you!” and even references to her becoming president one day.

As Clinton left the stage, she walked passed a throng of reporters, ignoring their shouted questions.

I quickly found myself surrounded by a group of dinner attendees who were trying to get a photograph of her. Many of them were Iranian Jews, who had mixed feelings about Clinton’s withdrawal from the rally.

Albert Bassal, a real estate agent who is Iranian and Jewish, was vocal during Clinton’s speech. When I asked him what he had said he told me, “I said, 'Thank you for your support of Israel.'” Regarding her cancellation, Albert said, “I don’t feel nothing against her,” but he admitted he knew people that were upset about it.

Sammy Cohen, another Iranian Jew also working in the New York real estate business, said, “I’m very surprised why she do not come. It’s not right. She has to come, to show her support.” Cohen called her remarks at the dinner “very good.”

Mansour Zar, who owns a woman’s clothing store on Broadway, said of Clinton's speech, “We love it. We like it. Very interesting." When asked about Clinton’s withdrawal from the rally, Zar said, “Maybe she is very busy.”

“She has to show her face,“ said Kevin Adhami, a New York-based accountant who was standing nearby. He was referring to the rally. “She’s a delegate from New York and she should show up.”

Rita Yaghoubi, a housewife, said Clinton “should definitely go.”

Yaghoubi added, “She should show herself.”