Regarding the White House’s role, she is pleased, explaining Washington not “places its finger on the right place, and realizes the main issue in the Middle East is Iran”. Hotevely adds the White House realizes uprooting Jews or Arabs is not a good idea, and ditto for settlements “For settlements are not the problem”. That said, when asked, she confirmed there are no promises that settlements will not be removed in a peace agreement but adds it is the approach of the government as well as her approach.

“We have three principals which includes the IDF will remain in place between the Jordan Valley and Mediterranean, (2) Jerusalem will always remain the united capital of Israel and (3) which I mentioned already, no Jews or Arabs will be uprooted.”

She highlights this is the first US administration since 1967 that does not view settlements as an obstacle to peace, pointing out Arab nations refused to recognize Israel long before 1967.

The i24 interviewer points out that she was scheduled to speak at the Princeton University Hillel, but the latter canceled her appearance, explaining the pressure exerted by Jewish students who do not agree with her were responsible for it. Chabad agreed to host her however.

Is Israel losing young Jews of America [based on the decision by Hillel to cancel your appearance] and doesn’t your government have some responsibility for some of the policies that you are perusing and not just the Palestinians?

Not being put on the defensive, she explains “it is something really bad” that students who do not agree with her opinion pressured to cancel her appearance, questioning the lack of tolerance for another opinion. “What is happening to freedom of speech… inviting a representative of the Israeli government and canceling on the same day… you should be concerned about this liberal dictatorship…those young people in top universities are unwilling to hear the voice of another opinion.

Conversation shifts to the machlokes at the Kosel, when a Hillel person explained he cannot pray as he likes at the Kosel.

Hotevely speaks of the solution, the area called “Ezrat Yisrael”, which she visited and describes as being beautiful. “Most of the time it is empty”, explaining “not because they don’t like the arrangement but most of the time, they are not even interested in going to the Kosel”. She goes on to explain in the Ezrat Yisrael they can egalitarian prayer, entire families together, pointing out this is not what they seek, but rather for them, “this is a political matter to get recognition through the Kosel issue”.

“This is the home of all Jews of all streams. You are welcome to come and influence Israeli politics. Please come. I am willing not to have a right-wing leadership to have all Jews share this amazing place called Israel. The issue is not understanding the complexity of the region. People who never send their children to fight for their country. Most of them do not have children serving as soldiers going to the marines, Afghanistan and Iraq. Most have a convenient life…”

While her remarks pertaining to US Jewry and the Reform are not viewed as being politically correct by many, including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, there can be no dispute that Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotevely was in essence correct. That said, the Prime Minister’s Office was quick to release a message distancing itself from Hotevely’s remarks.

The PMO’s statement read, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu condemns Tzipi Hotevely’s offensive remarks regarding the American Jewish community. The Jews of the Diaspora are dear to us and are an inseparable part of our people. There is no place for such attacks, and her remarks do not reflect the position of the State of Israel.”

There was a storm in response to Hotevely’s remarks, leading her to issue a clarification and an apology. She stressed American Jewry makes a large contribution to Israel as well as government policies and Israel remains home to all Jews.