James Zogby made Al Gore's advisor

The US- Vice President Al Gore and the candidate for the democratic party to the presidential elections in the US has appointed earlier this month the American of Lebanese origin James al-Zogby as Senior Advisor on Ethnic Americans.

"Zogby has been instrumental in mainstreaming Arab Americans into the political process, in addition to playing an active role in Democratic politics for many years," a press statement said.

"I am delighted to appoint Dr. Zogby as the Gore/Lieberman campaign's Senior Advisor on Ethnic Americans," said Gore. "He has been instrumental in mainstreaming Arab Americans into the political process and in playing a leading role in strengthening the links between the campaign and almost 20 other ethnic groups."

As co-convener of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Committee, Zogby has played a central role in a variety of ethnic outreach efforts including building liaisons with Arab, Irish, Italian, Polish and Armenian Americans. Zogby is founder and president of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a Washington, D.C.-based organization which serves as the political and policy research arm of the Arab American community. Since 1985, Zogby and AAI have helped to lead Arab American efforts to secure political empowerment in the United States. Through voter registration, education and mobilization, AAI has helped to move Arab Americans into the U.S. political mainstream.

Zogby has also been personally active in Democratic politics for many years. In 1984, he served as vice chairman and deputy campaign manager of the Rev. Jesse Jackson 's historic presidential campaign, introducing Jackson's name for nomination at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Zogby's distinguished record of political activism also includes his service as a member of the Democratic National Committee. In both 1992 and 1996, Zogby formed and led Arab Americans for Clinton-Gore committees. He is also a member of the advisory council of the National Center for Hate Crime Prevention.

Vice President Al Gore had indicated that the status of Jerusalem is subject to international resolutions and the outcome of bilateral negotiations (Palestinian -Israeli) and he stated that he would not move the US embassy to Jerusalem until these issues are resolved.