By Nathan Guttman October 14, 2009

A prominent Jewish lawmaker representing one of the nation’s most highly populated Jewish districts surprised his constituents and his colleagues by announcing that he is leaving Congress to head a think tank that focuses on promoting Middle East peace.

Florida Democrat Robert Wexler, 48, announced on October 14 that he would be leaving office in January — a decision that left many in Washington baffled, since his congressional seat was seen as safe and he did not indicate a wish to leave politics. Calling his move a “bittersweet moment,” Wexler told reporters at a news conference in Boca Raton, Fla., that he believes leaving Congress is the “best plan for me at this time.”

Wexler will take over as president of the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation, a Washington-based think tank founded by diet food billionaire Daniel Abraham. The center, which in the 1990s was a leading player in Washington’s Middle East scene, has shown little activity in recent years. Recruiting Wexler to head the think tank is meant, presumably, to raise its public profile.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

A self-proclaimed “fire-breathing liberal,” Wexler usually aligned with the left-wing of the Democratic Party, although on issues relating to Israel and the Middle East he has taken a more centrist approach and argued against pressuring Israel.

Wexler was the first Jewish member of Congress to back Barack Obama during the Democratic primaries, at a time when most Jewish voters leaned in favor of Hillary Rodham Clinton. He campaigned vigorously for Obama before Jews in Florida and throughout the country. His close ties with the president could make Wexler, in his new position, an unofficial power broker in Middle East peace talks. The outgoing congressman did not elaborate on his plans, and said only that there are “significant opportunities to succeed in the Arab-Israeli conflict.”

Florida’s 19th District, which Wexler has represented since 1997, is home to about half the members of the state’s 750,000-strong Jewish community. Broward and Palm Beach counties include many retirement communities.

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected]

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount