Max Ajl at the Electronic Intifada on J Street’s identity crisis (and American Jewry’s romantic notions of a Jewish state, still alive and well despite decades of brutal occupation): J Street’s policy positions reflect the assumption that the correct amount of strategically-targeted pressure, consisting of the right mix of harsh words and blandishments, can compel…
Showing all posts tagged Israel lobby
Israel is a burden, suggests leading US figure
Leading American journalist, commentator and conservative Andrew Sullivan: One question that should always be asked of an ally: what is that ally doing for the US? Since the end of the Cold War, that question has been increasingly hard to answer with respect to Israel. Strategically, Israel is obviously a huge burden for the US,…
We are winning (argue J Street)
The following missive was just sent out by J Street. It’s hard to share their optimism (why? Try here), but here’s the message: Last week, with our first national conference, we took a major step forward as a movement. Reuters said we had “arrived as a serious participant in the foreign policy debate.” [1] The…
AIPAC loves Obama and peace does not
A sadly accurate headline from Eileen Read on True/Slant after the Obama administration’s latest cave-in to Israel: Hillary Clinton Makes a New Friend in the MidEast: AIPAC
Obama talks about Israel and kisses her deeply
The Palestinians are slighted once more (and people are still unclear whether Barack Obama is pro-Israel?): Dealing a blow to the Obama administration’s efforts to restart Middle East peace talks, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton failed Saturday to persuade the Palestinian leader to accept an Israeli proposal that would slow but not stop the…
The J Street aftermath
Perhaps J Street’s real position is revealed in a statement they released today, seemingly incapable of understanding the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza: J Street supports passage of a resolution by the U.S. Congress calling for the United States to oppose and work actively to defeat one-sided and biased action in the United Nations when…
Dispatch from J Street
My following article is published in the Huffington Post: The Obama administration’s National Security Adviser General James Jones told the “pro-Israel and pro-peace” Israel lobby J Street this week that America believes “Israeli security and peace are inseparable.” The comment received a wild cheer, although similar comments were made during the Bush years. The over…
Doctors may infiltrate the minds of anti-Semites?
There may come a point in the near future when Zionist organisations don’t try and stop events that feature alternative views. Until that happens, we have here yet another ugly spectacle of Zionist censorship (via Muzzlewatch): Two lectures by Israeli-based charity Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-I) were cancelled after a Zionist organisation told hospitals holding…
Dancing the post J Street blues
The dust is settling after the J Street conference. Many thoughts continue to resonate and the challenges ahead. A good summary of proceedings is from blogger Richard Silverstein, who I was finally able to meet in Washington DC. Where are the spaces for Jewish dissent? How willing is the Jewish mainstream to hear critical voices…
News flash: younger Jews want to use their brains
The JTA reports on J Street’s clear generational divide. Simply put, younger Jews are more ambivalent about Zionism and a two-state solution. They want independent thought and they oppose the Israel right or wrong crowd. Bring it on (and I heard this constantly over the last four days): After all the arguing in recent weeks…