President Obama’s prospects at a Maryland country club might be up in the air over his policies toward Israel, namely allowing the U.S. to abstain from a controversial United Nations vote last month.
The Washington Post reported members of the Woodmont Country Club, a predominantly Jewish country club in Rockville, Md., are split on whether to offer the outgoing president a membership when he comes a private citizen.
It’s not clear Obama wants to become a member, but his Israel policy looms large for current members.
“He has created a situation in the world where Israel’s very existence is weakened and possibly threatened …” member Faith Goldstein wrote days after the U.S. abstained from the UN vote in an email obtained by the Post.
“He is not welcome at Woodmont. His admittance would create a storm that could destroy our club. ”
Israel supporters were up in arms last month after the U.S. didn’t block a resolution condemning settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Obama was ripped as not supporting Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he’s had a contentious relationship with during his time in office.
The golf-loving president might be accepted as a member by other members.
“A person’s political affiliation was never a consideration,” wrote Simon Atlas, a member of the club who used to be active in Democratic politics in Maryland. “We looked at [a person’s] philanthropy, at standing in the community, at reputation. These other things never came up.”
Obama has played golf several times at the Rockville club multiple times during his tenure as president.
