FACTBOX-Obama's advisers on Middle East policy
March 11 (Reuters) - Barack Obama's Middle East policy advisers say the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate will take a hands-on approach to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking if elected president but without pressuring Israel any more than his rivals for the White House.
Following are Obama's top advisers on Middle East policy.
DANIEL SHAPIRO
Shapiro, a strategist on Middle East issues for Obama, has advised members of Congress, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat. Shapiro worked on the National Security Council of former President Bill Clinton, husband of Obama's chief rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
ANTHONY LAKE
Lake, a top foreign policy adviser for Obama, was one of Bill Clinton's senior advisers during his 1992 campaign and later became Clinton's national security adviser.
DENIS MCDONOUGH
Obama foreign policy adviser McDonough previously served as an aide to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.
DANIEL KURTZER
Kurtzer served under President George W. Bush as ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005 and was ambassador to Egypt under Bill Clinton. Kurtzer has written a book assessing the peace efforts of the most recent three U.S. presidents. Kurtzer, who teaches at Princeton, is the newest addition to Obama's team of Middle East advisers, having joined only a few weeks ago.
SUSAN RICE
Rice, a former assistant secretary of state for Bill Clinton, is Obama's top foreign policy coordinator.
ROBERT WEXLER
Known as a staunch supporter of Israel in the U.S. Congress, Wexler, a Florida congressman, is a strong ally of Obama and has been active in outreach for the Obama campaign with Jewish voters. Campaign aides say he and Obama consult frequently on Middle East issues.
ERIC LYNN
Lynn, a former foreign policy adviser to Rep. Peter Deutsch of Florida, is a main liaison for the campaign to the Jewish community.
DENNIS ROSS
Ross, a former Middle East envoy during the Clinton administration, has given advice to the Obama campaign but is not a formal adviser. He has not endorsed a candidate.
BEN RHODES
Rhodes, Obama's foreign policy speechwriter, has worked for former Rep. Lee Hamilton, the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group. (Reporting by Caren Bohan; Editing by Bill Trott)
