US: Jewish advocacy groups at odds over politics
Veteran Jewish groups AIPAC, Anti-Defamation League butt heads with rising new power in Jewish-American political discourse – J-STREET
WASHINGTON – When US President Barack Obama invited the heads of the Jewish organization for an introductory meeting at the White House, the veteran leaders were surprised to see a new face in their midst – Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of J-STREET.
J-STREET is a liberal group which has aligned itself with Obama's policies, often criticizing the Israeli government, especially on matters regarding West Bank settlements.
The heated debate soon found its way to the media, beginning with a full-page, Anti-Defamation League ad, which ran in the New York Times when the settlement-related tensions between Jerusalem and Washington seemed to peak.
In an interview with Ynet, Ben-Ami said that the fact that many Jews choose not to automatically support decisions made by the Israeli government, does not make them any less pro-Israel.
Some are willing to give away all territories – including Ariel and Ma'ale Adumim – while others contemplate a more reasonable solution, but everyone is trying to ensure Israel survives another 61 years. The key to that, he added, is demography.
With a small staff and an even a smaller budget, J-STREET has been able to solidify its status as a group which makes bigger headlines that its veteran leftist counterparts the likes of Peace Now and the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace. Its message is clear – "Support Israel. Support peace."
Saving Israel from itself? Obama with PM Netanyahu (Archives: GPO)
But J-STREET has set its sights higher: The group first caught the public's attention by declaring itself an alternative to AIPAC (American Israeli Political Activity Committee), despite the fact that activity-wise, for now, it is no more than a blip on the giant lobby's radar.
Nevertheless, the New York Times recently dedicated a five-page article to J-STREET. The result – Foxman, a seasoned, respected leader has to place an ad; while Ben-Ami, a politician of the new variety, gets free headlines.
The voice of liberalism
J-STREET's support is not just media-based: Many in the Jewish community in the US feel their liberal and progressive views are being ignored. Many, in Israel too, feel that AIPAC's pull to the Right has gone to far, possibly even exceeding that of the government's.
Both the ADL and AIPCA find it hard to tolerate any kind of Jewish criticism of Israel. J-STREET and other leftist groups, however, say that the same kind of vigorous political debate that goes on in Israel should find its way to the US, and that they have the right to tell Obama how they feel he should approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ben-Ami, like many other Jews in the US, feels that Obama is trying "to save Israel from itself" by trying to promote the two-state solution.
A veteran of Bill Clinton's White House, Ben Ami lived in Jerusalem for three years in the mid 1990s before retuning to the US. He believes that American Jews must find a way to reconcile their relationship with Israel – and that it is crucial to their survival in the US.
Ben Ami bases his notion on statistics showing that 40% of US Jews are affiliated with neither a synagogue nor any Jewish or Israeli group, and he wants to see them reconnect with Israel.
Time to voice different opinions
The Foreign Ministry doesn't quite know what to do with J-STREET. Former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Sali Meridor ignored the group. Newly appointed Ambassador Michael Oren, who apparently has a better understanding of the vast support Obama has among the Jewish community, has yet to voice his opinion.
J-STREET will be holding its first annual convention in Washington in October and Jerusalem will have to make an official decision, one way or another.
The group is, however, gaining support among prominent Israeli figures, the likes of former IDF Chief Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, major-generals Shlomo Gazit, Amos Lapidot Danny Yatom and Ami Ayalon, Ora Namir, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Amram Mitzna, Kolet Avital and authors Amoz Oz and David Grossman, to name a few.
JCPA Washington Director Hadar Susskind told Ynet that many Jewish youngsters feel the same – fearing that any voiced criticism of Israeli policies will automatically label them anti-Israeli, when nothing could be farthest from the truth.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is an umbrella organization uniting the leading 14 US Jewish groups, as well as 125 local advocacy groups.
Foxman himself claims that if J-STREET is really pro-Israel, it should have voiced its support during the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Right now, he added, his is waiting to see if the group supports Israel in the wake of the UN Goldstone Report, which accused it of allegedly committing war crimes during Operation Cast Lead.
