The Obama re-election campaign has hired Ira Forman, the ex-chief of the National Jewish Democratic Council, as its Jewish outreach director.

Forman will coordinate the campaign’s outreach to the Jewish community. He will likely play a key role as the campaign works to court Jewish voters — some discontented with President Barack Obama’s handling of the Middle East.

Forman worked for AIPAC in the late 1970s, and later worked in the Clinton administration before beginning his 14-year stint as executive director at the NJDC.

“This president deserves the backing of our community for his outstanding support for the U.S.-Israel relationship and his strong record on domestic priorities and shared social values,” Forman said in a statement.  — jta