The J Street Conference: Where’s the Outrage?
In other words, there are supposed to be groups — on both sides of the spectrum — that are considered too radical to be legitimate, to be part of the “conversation.” A group, for instance, advocating the expulsion of all Arabs from Israel. And what of a group that “calls for an end to U.S. aid to Israel, accuses Israel of ‘apartheid’ policies, and supports divestment campaigns against Israel”?
Jeremy Ben-Ami says, if not in so many words, that such a group is legitimate. He claims he and J Street “disagree” with it — but he invites it to their conference as a full participant. There could be no clearer conferral of legitimacy.
What’s most striking, though, is how many appear to agree with him. Members of Knesset from Israel’s opposition Kadima and Labor parties attended the conference and spoke at it. So did Dennis Ross, chief Middle East adviser of the Obama administration. So did Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. So did journalist Peter Beinart. So did Ron Pundak, director of the Peres Center for Peace in Israel. All these supposedly mainstream, left-of-center Israeli and Jewish figures were willing to share the podium with Rebecca Vilkomerson. And, for that matter, with Edina Lekovic of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, who — in the words of Noah Pollak in a letter to Ross before the conference — was a managing editor of a magazine that praised Osama bin Laden as a “freedom fighter”; or James Zogby of the Arab-American Institute, who “has compared Israelis to Nazis and accused the IDF of ‘genocide’ and a ‘Holocaust’”; or Michael Sfard, a lawyer who “is best known as a leading advocate of ‘lawfare’ — prosecuting Israeli soldiers and officials in European war-crimes trials”; or about a dozen others of that ilk.
All part of the “conversation”? Something was on display at last week’s J Street conference in Washington, and it was not pretty. Is opposition to Israel’s worst slanderers and foes now a “right-wing” position? Those concerned about Israel, the U.S.-Israel relationship, and U.S. Middle East policy can look at this spectacle and draw their own conclusions.
David, I have another take on the conclusions that should be drawn from J Street’s ‘inclusive’, bash Israel fest.
IF Kahane Chai, Rabbi Kahane, had NOT been marginalized for stating the truth, that Arabs do not belong in Israel, (in the same manner that Jews are deemed a bridge too far for Arab countries and no one bats an eye) J Street would be unable to cause such a stir.
Why? Because Israel would be viewed as a nation willing to place its NATIONAL interests above ‘democratic’ interests, where taking a stand was seen as a GOOD thing, and where messing with her would be seen as too fearsome.
Consider:after ALL the mayhem committed in the name of Muslim/Arab rights, how many world leaders, pundits too, are going after Iran, other than mouthing platitudes?None.
My point being, by having taken a stand decades ! ago, against the (mostly) internal fifth column, Israel would not be facing a brewing inside threat with MANY more Arabs to contend with.While it is always unpleasant to admit these things, it is a lot MORE unpleasant to reap its whirlwind AFTER the threat has amassed.
Israel is in a damned if you do, and a damned if you don’t position.The very FACT that Israel destroyed thriving Jewish communities in Gush Katif,(now a part of Hamastan Gaza)expelling close to ten thousand Jewish citizens, digging up their graves, and basically rendering them homeless, despite all this, Israel is deemed an ‘apartheid’ state.So, isn’t it better to IGNORE world demands and keep ones land mass for Jews, than to let the enemy(internal and external)gain the upper hand and then cry – woe to me?
Right on. The J Streeters get away with inviting all kinds of wackos, and nobody thinks twice about it because they’re Left wackos. Anything equivalent on the Right, and the organization would get blackballed out of the community and out of public life.
All brought to you through the sponsorship of that wonderful enlightened world citizen, George Soros. Why hasn’t he been under investigation leading to an indictment?
To #1–Adina, in my view the call to remove all Arabs from Israel is both deeply immoral and wildly unrealistic.
David, in my view it may be unrealistic too-given the appeasement oriented leadership-but it is surely not immoral.
Why is it immoral to transfer Arabs out of the ONLY Jewish state?Why is it immoral to expect ones leaders to place the majority population-whose historical, biblical and legal title to the land is without question-above a minority population, many of who identify as Palestinian, some of who even aid our enemies?
Moreover, world leadership had NO problem when Jews were expelled from their legal homes by Israeli leadership, they even championed it, although they coined it with a syrupy term- ‘evacuation’.
Furthermore, in the history of world conflicts MANY populations were transferred to resolve said conflicts.Why was that not immoral?
Therefore, it is not only moral to posit the above, but a just solution, especially if parties are compensated.
Let me put it this way-800,000 plus Jews were expelled from Arab lands without ANY compensation-just because they were Jewish-and it is not even a blip on the international radar.So, is it okay to only expel Jews, but not Arabs?
Adina, I’m not sure if you mean the Arabs in the territories, or within Israel, or both. The idea simply has no connection to reality–it’s like debating whether or not we should convert all the Arabs in the territories and Israel to Judaism. That would solve a lot, but of course is not connected to reality.
Again, why have other nations in conflict used transfer as a viable option?
Specifically, I am referring to the Arabs in Judea and Samaria, as well as all those within Israel proper who REFUSE to accept that Israel is a Jewish state,clearly free to worship the God of their choosing, but NOT free to collaborate against us.
Besides, every nation has a duty to root out treason.Tragically, many Arabs within Israel, (treated better than most nationalist Jews by our leadership)work to subvert our nation.
This is intolerable and must be addressed. Israel is a tiny country, and because of its size many things are possible. It is not as if I am talking about a nation the size of the US.
As for the howling jackals, they will howl regardless.
What PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas say to their own people vs what they tell the US/West is a major impediment to a permanent peace. Team Abbas teaches and preaches an ideology only Hamas/Hezbolleh/Muslim Brotherhood/al Qaeda could love. Generation after generation of Palestinians have been brought up with Israel defamed and delegitimized and Jews blood libeled. Relentlessly exposing what PA/Abbas teach and preach is THE best tool for changing the anti-Israel narrative in the US and Obama Administration anti-Israel policy.
Team PA/Abbas ideology, curriculum and rhetoric of Isalmic supremacy (EXACTLY THE SAME AS PRE 1967) is what makes the pre-1967 borders (arbritrarily and dangerously drawn to give Arabs the high ground which they used to launch war after war) is what makes it obvious that PA/Abbas want to murder Jews and destroy Israel, not live in peace. FIRST the ideolgy, curriculum and rhetoric must completely be reversed. See Palestinian Media Watch web site for details – IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
Team Abbas’ “work” can be broken down to: 1)delegitimization of Israel by lying about the regions’ history and any and all Jewish connection to ANY part of Israel; 2)terror worship and adulation of terrorists; 3)encouragement and justification for murdering Jews; 4)promise of endless war, not peace, with Israel.
Palestinian Media Watch is the organization which meticulously catalogues this information – so meticulously, its principal, Itamar Marcus, has presented to Congress’ foreign affairs committees. A few examples of its research are attached. These are not “exceptions to the rule”. They ARE the rule. For more: http://www.palwatch.org. To communicate with Mr. Marcus: pmw@palwatch.org
The Obama administration has a “no incitement” policy in place. Not only should the policy be enforced (it is ignored), the path to a permanent peace requires a curriculum and political/media rhetoric that embraces ecumenism such as respect for all religions, respect for the real, not faux, history of the region and respect for living in peace with all of ones’ neighbors.
No “Zionist” wants to be played for a fool by jihadis, stealth or otherwise. Check out Palestinian Media Watch and read it/see it/hear it – IN THEIR OWN WORDS. Then, let’s ALL advocate for complete and total cut off of US funding for PA/Abbas and Hamas (which we shamefully fund through UN) until they comply with US no incitement, no violence and yes recognition of Israel policy – in word and deed.
MW to make a presentation to the largest possible audience in your community. Congress has heard the presentation so it is certianly worthy of a presentation at your communal or religious organization. Don’t bother with a room full of “activists”. Get the word OUT.
Jeremy Ben Enemy is the wind-up toy that begins every “conference” with the bromide about inclusiveness, hearing opinions we don’t agree with, bla bla bla. Judging from the way I was manhandled at one of these and witnessing the J Street Kapos attempt to push me out of the building for simply and politely articulating an apparently forbidden comment on the Settlements, all his claims are the product of an experienced and ruthless PR thug. The most divergent opinion I heard (two years ago) was a lively discussion on whether fire or ice should be used against Jews beyond the Green Line. Aside from “othering” Israel, the entire conference consisted of uncritical love for Palestinian Arabs and their organizations (including Hamas!) and self-pity in the form the Jewish Left’s whining in the wilderness. Close your eyes and you could have been back in the 1930′s at a CPUSA meeting. For a fleeting moment (maybe a week after the ’67 war) groups like Ameinu, the Arbeiter Ring and The Jewish Labor Committee were imperceptibly moved, but quickly reverted to form when they realized that Israel simply wanted to survive in a hostile sea rather than assume command of the Fifth Internationale.
“The respectable left plays a dangerous game.”
There is no such thing as the respectable left, Radosh notwithstanding. The J street crowd in not respectable nor do they wish to be. The game is not dangerous – it’s dynamite.
Ensuring real security for Israel requires it to do as much as it can, as opposed to as little as it can, to avoid ruling over large numbers of non-Jews. Keeping the West Bank under Israeli military control may be necessary for the time being, however, there are no good reasons for Jewish people to colonize any parts of it, nor to colonize the Arab areas of Jerusalem. Such moves create facts on the ground that sooner rather than later will make a two-state solution an impossibility. And Israel can rightfully say “we are not South Africa or Rhodesia” only as long as such a solution remains a possibility. The only other option is a single non-ethnic state.
Therefore people who support real security for israel must expose those who support Jewish rule over large numbers of non-Jews for who they really are: enemies of the Zionist dream.
Adina,
The way to achieve about 80% of our your goal of getting “Arabs out of Israel” is to get the hell out of the West Bank and to stop economically choking Gazastan and let it sink or swim on its own.
What PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas say to their own people vs what they tell the US/West is THE major impediment to a permanent peace. Team Abbas teaches and preaches an ideology only Hamas/Hezbolleh/Muslim Brotherhood/al Qaeda could love. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME KIND OF CURRICULUM AND RHETORIC AS PRE 1967! The is the ideology of Islamic supremcy — straight up. Generation after generation of Palestinians have been brought up with Israel defamed and delegitimized and Jews blood libeled. Relentlessly exposing what PA/Abbas teach and preach is THE best tool for changing the anti-Israel narrative in the US and Obama Administration anti-Israel policy.
Team Abbas’ “work” can be broken down to: 1)delegitimization of Israel by lying about the regions’ history and any and all Jewish connection to ANY part of Israel; 2)terror worship and adulation of terrorists; 3)encouragement and justification for murdering Jews; 4)promise of endless war, not peace, with Israel.
Palestinian Media Watch is the organization which meticulously catalogues this information – so meticulously, its principal, Itamar Marcus, has presented to Congress’ foreign affairs committees. A few examples of its research are attached. These are not “exceptions to the rule”. They ARE the rule. For more: http://www.palwatch.org. To communicate with Mr. Marcus: pmw@palwatch.org
The Obama administration has a “no incitement” policy in place. Not only should the policy be enforced (it is ignored), the path to a permanent peace requires a curriculum and political/media rhetoric that embraces ecumenism such as respect for all religions, respect for the real, not faux, history of the region and respect for living in peace with all of ones’ neighbors.
First item on Roadmap/Oslo: Palestinians must abandon violence in word and deed. No killing, no incitement to kill, etc., etc. All funding for all Palestinian parties PA/Abbas and Hamas (which we shamefully fund via UN) must be cut off until this ideology and rhetoric is completely and totally reversed and Israel is recognized. What is the point of negotiating with an entity that makes it clear to its own people you exist only to be killed. SEE website Palestinian Media Watch and be cured of the disease of willful blindness.
History question. What caused WWII? Not “Who”? “What”? Answer: Willful blindness.
What PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas say to their own people vs what they tell the US/West is a major impediment to a permanent peace. Team Abbas teaches and preaches an ideology only Hamas/Hezbolleh/Muslim Brotherhood/al Qaeda could love. Generation after generation of Palestinians have been brought up with Israel defamed and delegitimized and Jews blood libeled. Relentlessly exposing what PA/Abbas teach and preach is THE best tool for changing the anti-Israel narrative in the US and Obama Administration anti-Israel policy.
Team PA/Abbas ideology, curriculum and rhetoric of Isalmic supremacy (EXACTLY THE SAME AS PRE 1967) is what makes the pre-1967 borders (arbritrarily and dangerously drawn to give Arabs the high ground which they used to launch war after war) is what makes it obvious that PA/Abbas want to murder Jews and destroy Israel, not live in peace. FIRST the ideolgy, curriculum and rhetoric must completely be reversed. See Palestinian Media Watch web site for details – IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
Team Abbas’ “work” can be broken down to: 1)delegitimization of Israel by lying about the regions’ history and any and all Jewish connection to ANY part of Israel; 2)terror worship and adulation of terrorists; 3)encouragement and justification for murdering Jews; 4)promise of endless war, not peace, with Israel.
Palestinian Media Watch is the organization which meticulously catalogues this information – so meticulously, its principal, Itamar Marcus, has presented to Congress’ foreign affairs committees. A few examples of its research are attached. These are not “exceptions to the rule”. They ARE the rule. For more: http://www.palwatch.org. To communicate with Mr. Marcus: pmw@palwatch.org
The Obama administration has a “no incitement” policy in place. Not only should the policy be enforced (it is ignored), the path to a permanent peace requires a curriculum and political/media rhetoric that embraces ecumenism such as respect for all religions, respect for the real, not faux, history of the region and respect for living in peace with all of ones’ neighbors.
No “Zionist” wants to be played for a fool by jihadis, stealth or otherwise. Check out Palestinian Media Watch and read it/see it/hear it – IN THEIR OWN WORDS. Then, let’s ALL advocate for complete and total cut off of US funding for PA/Abbas and Hamas (which we shamefully fund through UN) until they comply with US no incitement, no violence and yes recognition of Israel policy – in word and deed.
Tragically getting 2,400 people to a conference means that organization is going strong. Certainly the vast majority are active leftists, professional Israel haters, communists and assorted political pond scum. The real tragedy is that so many main stream personalities from the US and Israel are granting these people a legitimacy they do not deserve.
Unfortunately it means that they have as much chance of disappearing as antisemitism. People need to hate, to join groups that will have them, to pretend and to lie; the main tools of recruitment for organizations like J-Street.
J Street provides a home to mostly ignorant Jews who have neither the knowledge nor the character to cope with hostility to Israel and anti-Semitism. If you can’t beat ‘em–the attackers–and are too lazy and weak to find out how to stand up to them–join ‘em! It’s called J Street, aka Jerk Street, Jihad Street.
DELEGITIMZIE “J”IHAD STREET, AND OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANTI-ISRAEL POLICY BY EXPOSING PA/PLO/FATAH/ABBAS – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas say to their own people vs what they tell the US/West is a major impediment to a permanent peace. Team Abbas teaches and preaches an ideology only Hamas/Hezbolleh/Muslim Brotherhood/al Qaeda could love. Generation after generation of Palestinians have been brought up with Israel defamed and delegitimized and Jews blood libeled. Relentlessly exposing what PA/Abbas teach and preach is THE best tool for changing the anti-Israel narrative in the US and Obama Administration anti-Israel policy.
Team Abbas’ “work” can be broken down to: 1)delegitimization of Israel by lying about the regions’ history and any and all Jewish connection to ANY part of Israel; 2)terror worship and adulation of terrorists; 3)encouragement and justification for murdering Jews; 4)promise of endless war, not peace, with Israel.
Palestinian Media Watch is the organization which meticulously catalogues this information – so meticulously, its principal, Itamar Marcus, has presented to Congress’ foreign affairs committees. A few examples of its research are attached. These are not “exceptions to the rule”. They ARE the rule. For more: http://www.palwatch.org. To communicate with Mr. Marcus: pmw@palwatch.org
The Obama administration has a “no incitement” policy in place. Not only should the policy be enforced (it is ignored), the path to a permanent peace requires a curriculum and political/media rhetoric that embraces ecumenism such as respect for all religions, respect for the real, not faux, history of the region and respect for living in peace with all of ones’ neighbors.
All US funds for PA should be withdrawn until the new ecumenism is in place. (It goes without saying that all US funding for Hamas, which we fund via UNWRA, should come to an end until Hamas does the same and releases Corp. Galid Shalit unconditionally). Congress controls appropriations and can see that this is done. The Obama Administration needs to table all “talks” until Team PA and Hamas comply. “Peace” will be nothing but piece of paper until the Palestinians abandon their current ideology in both word and deed.
I hope you will bring this to the attention of all your readers and all in a position to change the current U.S. policy of misguided tolerance and willful blindness. Exposing the pretend Palestinian “moderates” for what they are – in their own words – can bring about a reversal of the anti-Israel narrative in the US which will then bring about a change in current US foreign policy.
What PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas say to their own people vs what they tell the US/West is THE major impediment to a permanent peace. Team Abbas teaches and preaches an ideology only Hamas/Hezbolleh/Muslim Brotherhood/al Qaeda could love. Generation after generation of Palestinians have been brought up with Israel defamed and delegitimized and Jews blood libeled. Relentlessly exposing what PA/Abbas teach and preach is THE best tool for changing the anti-Israel narrative in the US and Obama Administration anti-Israel policy.
Team Abbas’ “work” can be broken down to: 1)delegitimization of Israel by lying about the regions’ history and any and all Jewish connection to ANY part of Israel; 2)terror worship and adulation of terrorists; 3)encouragement and justification for murdering Jews; 4)promise of endless war, not peace, with Israel.
Palestinian Media Watch is the organization which meticulously catalogues this information – so meticulously, its principal, Itamar Marcus, has presented to Congress’ foreign affairs committees. A few examples of its research are attached. These are not “exceptions to the rule”. They ARE the rule. For more: http://www.palwatch.org. To communicate with Mr. Marcus: pmw@palwatch.org
The Obama administration has a “no incitement” policy in place. Not only should the policy be enforced (it is ignored), the path to a permanent peace requires a curriculum and political/media rhetoric that embraces ecumenism such as respect for all religions, respect for the real, not faux, history of the region and respect for living in peace with all of ones’ neighbors.
All US funds for PA should be withdrawn until the new ecumenism is in place. (It goes without saying that all US funding for Hamas, which we fund via UNWRA, should come to an end until Hamas does the same and releases Corp. Galid Shalit unconditionally). Congress controls appropriations and can see that this is done. The Obama Administration needs to table all “talks” until Team PA and Hamas comply. “Peace” will be nothing but piece of paper until the Palestinians abandon their current ideology in both word and deed.
I hope you will bring this to the attention of all your readers and all in a position to change the current U.S. policy of misguided tolerance and willful blindness. Exposing the pretend Palestinian “moderates” for what they are – in their own words – can bring about a reversal of the anti-Israel narrative in the US which will then bring about a change in current US foreign policy.
J Street is a fifth-column, traitorous group of useful idiots; but, sadly, will probably be around for a long time – at least as long as Soros’ money & the Tides Foundation are there to breathe ugly life into it…
In the past year, “J”ihad St. has SELF delegitimized. How to put it completely out of business? Check web site Palestinian Media Watch. http://www.palwatch.org This is the organization that keeps tabs on what PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas tell their own people vs what they tell the US/West. The curriculum and political/media rehtoric of hate of rabid anti-Semitism, justification for Jew murder, incitement to terror and worship of terrorists, and turning history upside down by denying any and all Jewish connection to ANY of the land, even Tel Aviv.
Let’s stop working so hard at “defending Israel”. Let’s show the world what the pretend “moderate” Palestinian leadership says to its own – in its own words.
Make EVERYONE you know, especially those too busy to “get involved” become intimately familiar with this material. Invite PMW to make a presentation to the largest possible audience in your community. Congress has heard the presentation so it is certianly worthy of a presentation at your communal or religious organization. Don’t bother with a room full of “activists”. Get the word OUT.
Exposing Team PA/Abbas for the stealth jihadis that they really are will change EVERYTHIING. Once people know that ideologically the faux “moderates” are no different than Hamas/Hezbolleh/Muslim Brotherhood, only the tactics are different, the world will stop pressuring Israel and start pressuring Team PA/Abbas to CHANGE COMPLETELY.
Our goal: NO peace “talks” until Team PA/Abbas toss out its inciteful curriculum and politcal/media rhetoric and adopt one of ecumenism such as: “all men and women are created equal irrespective of religion”! And….of course….no US funding for PA/Abbas and Hamas (which we shamefully fund through UN).
This makes perfect sense to me…
This post couldnt be more factual!!
That was very scholarly blog..
Very well written piece of writing..