Nixon excluded Jews on Israel

published 11/12/2010 at 01:36 AM by Jennifer Fermino

Former President Richard Nixon didn't want any Jewish members of his staff involved in policy-making decisions on Israel -- including his then national security adviser Henry Kissinger, formerly classified documents reveal.

"No Jew can handle the Israeli thing," notes from a July 1971 meeting taken by Nixon's Chief-of-Staff Bob Haldeman read, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Haldeman later wrote in another missive, "Forget the Jews. They're against [the administration]."

If Kissinger, one of the most powerful members of Nixon's team, tried to meddle in Israeli policy, Nixon had explicit plans to deal with him.

"Whenever [Kissinger] calls -- [then-aide Alexander] Haig should notify [the president]," the note reads.