AIPAC has always been known as a well-resourced "loud" and right wing lobby group in the USA on behalf of Israel. AIPAC supported the Iraq War and has lately spoken in favour of attacking Iran.
What AIPAC does for the "image" of Israel and the Israel Lobby is another thing altogether. Many would say it is not only appalling but not in the interests of Israel. To speak out against the likes of AIPAC is to invite an accusation of ant-semitism, anti-Zionism or, if Jewish, a self-hating Jew or the like.
Enter J Street. The Editor of The Nation interviews the Executive Director of the pledging organisation - here. One can only hope that J Street will counter the strident AIPAC.
"For too long now, when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other issues of war and peace in the Middle East, the mainstream media and too many politicians in the US have deferred to the most extreme right-wing positions represented by organizations such as The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Christian Zionist communities.
In fact, there is a far more open and dynamic debate about the peace process in Israel than in the US. (For example, over 64 percent of Israelis favor direct talks with Hamas.) But a new lobby organization and PAC – J Street – aims to end the right-wing monopoly and give voice to the substantial number of Jewish and non-Jewish Americans with more moderate views on these issues.
Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami told me last week, "The important thing is that there's a diversity of opinion in the American Jewish community. There's no monolithic view… there's an argument. And that's what J Street's about – it's about the fact that we deserve representation too in this debate. We understand that there are a substantial number of American Jews who hold very right-wing positions when it comes to Israel and they should have a voice in the public policy process. But there's also a very substantial number of American Jews who hold very moderate views on Israel and they also need a voice, and we should have that argument just like we do on any other public policy issue without resorting to name-calling, without labeling one side antisemitic or self-hating Jews and all of that. We should discuss the merits."
Ben-Ami finds the knee-jerk reaction to people expressing views that differ from organizations such as AIPAC troubling and an anomaly in Jewish culture and the intellectual tradition. "If you have three Jews over for brunch on a Sunday and you say, ‘What flavor bagels should I buy?' you'll end up buying 10 bagels because people will have all sorts of different opinions," he said. "[But] if you ask, ‘What do you think about Israel?' you're only allowed to give one opinion? It's just not Jewish. It's not part of the fabric of our society – that we don't argue, that we don't have different opinions, that we don't see the nuance. I mean, that's what it means to be Jewish, right?"
What AIPAC does for the "image" of Israel and the Israel Lobby is another thing altogether. Many would say it is not only appalling but not in the interests of Israel. To speak out against the likes of AIPAC is to invite an accusation of ant-semitism, anti-Zionism or, if Jewish, a self-hating Jew or the like.
Enter J Street. The Editor of The Nation interviews the Executive Director of the pledging organisation - here. One can only hope that J Street will counter the strident AIPAC.
"For too long now, when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other issues of war and peace in the Middle East, the mainstream media and too many politicians in the US have deferred to the most extreme right-wing positions represented by organizations such as The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Christian Zionist communities.
In fact, there is a far more open and dynamic debate about the peace process in Israel than in the US. (For example, over 64 percent of Israelis favor direct talks with Hamas.) But a new lobby organization and PAC – J Street – aims to end the right-wing monopoly and give voice to the substantial number of Jewish and non-Jewish Americans with more moderate views on these issues.
Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami told me last week, "The important thing is that there's a diversity of opinion in the American Jewish community. There's no monolithic view… there's an argument. And that's what J Street's about – it's about the fact that we deserve representation too in this debate. We understand that there are a substantial number of American Jews who hold very right-wing positions when it comes to Israel and they should have a voice in the public policy process. But there's also a very substantial number of American Jews who hold very moderate views on Israel and they also need a voice, and we should have that argument just like we do on any other public policy issue without resorting to name-calling, without labeling one side antisemitic or self-hating Jews and all of that. We should discuss the merits."
Ben-Ami finds the knee-jerk reaction to people expressing views that differ from organizations such as AIPAC troubling and an anomaly in Jewish culture and the intellectual tradition. "If you have three Jews over for brunch on a Sunday and you say, ‘What flavor bagels should I buy?' you'll end up buying 10 bagels because people will have all sorts of different opinions," he said. "[But] if you ask, ‘What do you think about Israel?' you're only allowed to give one opinion? It's just not Jewish. It's not part of the fabric of our society – that we don't argue, that we don't have different opinions, that we don't see the nuance. I mean, that's what it means to be Jewish, right?"
Comments
A short time ago our Philadelphia Newspaper ran a feature article on the good work coming out of Philadelphia's two largest mosques. Just less than 2 weeks after running the article, those very same people praised tried to blow up Ft. Dix! Everyone who knew the terrorists was shocked because these Muslims were well liked. They were attractive, educated people who seemed well matriculated into American community. It turned out that they were very decitful in dealing w/their American neighbors. They hated us just as much as any follower Al Queda.
On American campuses the Arab American/Muslim American Student Assns are emulating their conservative sisters & brothers from the Middle East. They are having their "born-again" Muslim Experience. The co-eds are wearing full length shroud-like dresses and burques; and the men students are taking another look at arranged marriage. They seem to like the radical education going on in Middle East, the Madrassas.
I personally find Rabbi Yoffie, one of J street's leaders, to be very provencial and officious in terms of the crude way he deals with Evangelicals. Sir, whether you like it or not, American Evangelicals are a thriving, healthy sector of American Society. You are erring by trying to marginilize them. These are people who belong to beautiful, prosperous congregations. They are not of one mindset or babbling bible spouters. I suggest you get to know the large sector of Americans who now belong to Evangelical churches before you go labeling them.
American is still a two party (plus) country. It seems some folks offer tolerance for all kinds of exotic sects from the East, for example, but are very quick to ridicule the neighbor next door. It's been interesting reading your remarks, but as a Reform Jew, I think J Street is a serious mistake. Lots of good and interesting ideas could have, and may still come from our Christian friends if we stop snarling at the hands of those offering palms of friendship.
Obviously there are no minds to be changed here in Re to J Street, however, if you feel ea. American Jew is going to discount John Hagee you are mistaken. He is far from the common country Rube that his detractors portray him to be. He is a complex man who has done lots of good work in his community; goodness that I feel over-rides the flamboyant, out-of-context remarks his detractors have mared him with.
I would just love to look at all of Rabbi Yoffie's sermans & position papers from the last 30 years. I think we might see some real surprises!
I do thank you for bringing these serious matters up for discussion. Israel's problems are very difficult to resolve right now regardless of opinion. Sadly, the world is not at peace. I don't pretend to have the answer, but I think J Street is a poor option. Fairy Tales just don't come true.