J Street Conference To Open Amid Controversy

Washington Post:

J Street, an advocacy and lobbying firm created 18 months ago, is holding its first annual conference beginning Sunday, with participation from about 150 Democratic members of Congress, many current and former Israeli politicians and U.S. national security adviser James L. Jones, who will be giving a keynote speech Tuesday.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[StCuthbert]

So J-Street no longer considers itself "pro-Israel"

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256557968276&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

J Street's university arm has dropped the "pro-Israel" part of the left-wing US lobby's "pro-Israel, pro-peace" slogan to avoid alienating students.

That decision was part of the message conveyed to young activists who attended a special weekend program for students ahead of J Street's first annual conference, which began on Sunday.

At their earlier weekend session, the 250 participating students mapped out strategies for bringing J Street's approach to college campuses and encouraging students to join in the effort.

"We don't want to isolate people because they don't feel quite so comfortable with 'pro-Israel,' so we say 'pro-peace,'" said American University junior Lauren Barr of the "J Street U" slogan, "but behind that is 'pro-Israel.'"

[LeLoup]

It is interesting to see how vile, hateful and poisonous some opponents to J Street can be.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1122104.html

If you go read it, you'll find it is pretty strong stuff. (I would have posted a sample, but Arianna doesn't want anyone else than her to have the right to explain our thinking, so...)

Hence, the next time someone tells you "the Jews are this, the Jews are that", this article should forever dispel the notion of a monolithic Jewish community.

It could help foster a better understanding of the issues too.

[Choicelady]

J Street represents one of the most hopeful steps foward to balance in the Mid-East. It's heartening to see its formation, its principle, its witness to and for peace. Because it is openly critical of Israel when such criticism is duly warranted, and because that critique comes from Jews for whom justice is everything, there is a real lifting of the veil of secrecy and preference for the first time since, well, maybe the Balfour Declaration. Palestinians and Jews alike need both advocates and tempering critics if anything is ever to be resolved. For those of us not directly invested in either party, we hold them both in our hearts and lift up the hope that finally - FINALLY - justice and truth will and can prevail over bias and preference.

[Ergon]

Why isn't the president there, and how many AIPAC events has he attended?

[newyorkid]

PaIestine belongs to the PaIestinians.

[bassaiguy]

Hmmmm....Palestine? Is that the province of the totalitarian and defunct Ottoman Empire? Is it the territory of colonial Britain that was ceded in the early 20th century to the entity that has since become the lawfully recognized state of Israel? Or is this Palestine to which you refer the place that most so-called Palestinians actually live - Jordan? I hold two graduate degrees - one in history - and I have yet to find evidence of an Arabic ethnic group self-identifying as Palestinian before the 20th century.

[alysheba 3]

That's funny because it really wasn't that hard.

Syria Palestina continued to be used by historians and geographers and others to refer to the area between the Mediterranean sea and the Jordan river, as in the writings of Philo, Josephus and Pliny the Elder. After the Romans adopted the term as the official administrative name for the region in the 2nd century AD, "Palestine" as a stand alone term came into widespread use, printed on coins, in inscriptions and even in rabbinic texts.[24] The Arabic word Filastin has been used to refer to the region since the time of the earliest medieval Arab geographers. It appears to have been used as an Arabic adjectival noun in the region since as early as the 7th century CE.[25]
(from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_people)

[SpoonieLuv]

And have you ever heard of an actual political entity called Israel before 1948? I'm not talking about some mythical land that superstitious people believe in, but one that had actually existed as a recognized political entity.

[newyorkid]

PaIestine belongs to the PaIestinians. PaIestinians have no choice but to keep fighting without US help.

[IncredulousGeezer]

About time we had some serious, organized opposition among Jews in this country to AIPAC which is neo-con tilted, if not entirely directed.
Obama and the group of diplomats he has charged with pushing the peace process along, folks like George Mitchell, Dennis Ross and, of course, Hillary Clinton should be given a chance to straighten things out over there.
American Jews do not speak with a single voice as the AIPAC-ers would have you believe.

[Choicelady]

It might be helpful if we let the people involved straighten things out for themselves. Imposing US dictates is what's helped get us IN this and so many other conflicts. I hope J Street tells the US to butt out.

[lechatnoir]

The best way to control the opposition is to lead it. Stalin, of course.

[Choicelady]

Giving the benfit of the doubt, I'm sure there's sense in your comment somewhere, just can't quite find it.

[nexxtep54]

In 1897the League of Nations granted the UK the British mandate of Palestine with responsibility for establishing "such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment of the Jewish national home". In 1947 the UN decided to partition Palestine into 3 sections; a Jewish state, a UN administered Jerusalem and an Arab state This was accepted by the Zionists of the time but rejected by the Arabs. As a result of the wars after Israel declared independence from Palestine Israel now controls territories beyond those delineated in the 1949 armistice agreements.
That said, how has this become a uniquely American problem to be solved by American diplomacy?
It's time the UK and the UN stepped up to the plate and anted up for their past decisions.

[renatam]

Because beyond being exploited by the State of Israel...NOBODY exploits Americans like the former colonial empire otherwise known as the United Kingdom.

In every debacle we find ourselves (exception Vietnam, which was our gift from the second colonial powerhouse known as FRANCE)...we have somehow inherited the burden of responsibility AFTER British Petroleum or whatever there is to get - get finished getting their contracts and banking interests taken care of first. Somehow, the overburdened American taxpayers and military get to carry the bag for generations AFTER world wars, etc. we do not start - not to mention dealing with Communist States - to protect Europe, whose citizens enjoy a quality of life and security most Americans can never dream of - including universal healthcare as a human right and not having to PAY for neverending wars. They send TOKEN support and pull out early, leaving us holding the bag.

Now. Israel has joined the bandwagon for a generation.

Fellow Americans who do not hold dual passports - let's throw off this yoke from them all and let them PAY THEIR OWN WAY across the board. We just bailed out European (and Israeli?) banks as well. Enough.

[nexxtep54]

But they all seem so gentlemanly and polite . . .

[Rog49Thomas]

There are a few gaps in your account.

(1) During WW1, the British Empire in extremis promised the Holy Land to the Arabs (if they would revolt against the Turks), to the Zionists (to secure support including all important financial support) and via a secret treaty with the French (Sykes-Picot Treaty) to partition the Ottoman Empire among themselves.

(2) The League of Nations was formed after WW1.
The official instrument for the Mandate for Palestine is dated 12 August 1922.

(3) After WW1, the inhabitants of Palestine were not consulted about their own wishes about their own land.

(4) During the Mandate, there was both an Arab and a Zionist uprising against the Brits as well as intercommunal violence.

(5) After the Shoah, more Jews began to emigate to Palestine. The Brits attempted to restrict immigration to follow through on that bit of the Mandate not included in your post.
"It being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

(6) As a result, Irgun and Lehi terrorists attacked the Brits - the assassination of Lord Moyne in Cairo and bombing of King David Hotel Jerusalem. being the two most often cited.

(7) Essentially bankrupt and with no stomach for solving an intractable problem, the Brits threw the problem on the UNO.

[alysheba 3]

And let us not forget that the UN has attempted to resolve the situation by issuing Resolutions in an attempt to end the increasing military occupation of Palestine by Israel. Any time the UN tries to exert any pressure (economic or political sanctions) America uses it's VETO on the Security Council to stop any actions against Israel.

[SimJack]

Shoot, I hoped J Street was going to house the pro-marijuana/hemp lobby.

[nexxtep54]

We'de forget how to get there.

[anticapitalist1983]

Je.ws Against the Oc.cupation:
http://www.jatonyc.org

AWALLS - Israelis and Palestinians united against the separation wall:
http://www.awalls.org

support these awesome groups!

[LolaB]

thanks for passing along the links :)

[UncleJimbo]

"J" Street.....Too Funny!...... "C" Street is Funny too for all the Wrong Reasons!

[chedet]

J for jew and C for christians..... very nice...

[Choicelady]

No - "J Street" is named for a street that does not exist in Washington,so, by contrast, exists in hope. It was named as an "aha"-moment opposition to the well-known corporate K Street lobbyist groups that include AIPAC. I'm close friends with one of the founders, so I know that's accurate.

[lainey]

Having just returned from the region and from talking with people on both sides, one thing has become relevant to me...the people of both sides want peace. As we sit so far away from the harsh realities of their existence and make assertions based on limited knowledge, we do a disservice to any real reform that can be made. Israel is speaking with Iran, Syria and Hamas. Both sides acknowledge the roles their governments and extreme thinkers have caused and each believe that now is the best time for peace. Taking sides is not something that the people who live there wish to partake in anymore; I wish more Americans would feel the same and just stand on the side of peace. Open your minds, take away your hatred for either side and promote real peace. As liberals, it is what we should long for, not the perpetuation of any type of hate. Americans have little understanding of this issue and should become more thoughtful students before posting on the situation. And the fact is, the people of the region need not support of terrorist activity, separation, checkpoint illegalities, religious infliction( especially on women). but they need a non-biased voice to speak up for the civilians on both sides that suffer. It would be nice to hear from more people who saw opportunities and embraced them, instead of sticking to one point of view and keeping it there.

[solarian]

I guess the j street crowd doesn't like america if you love israel so much move there and the congressmen who attended please resign from congress you are un-american

[Mollabaji]

your suggestion for congressmen attending to resign is shallow. Let us have a list of their names and which districts and states they represent so come election time, campaing to fire them and elect those who serve American rather than Israeli interests. Anyone with the list?

[lainey]

this makes no sense at all.

[Choicelady]

How do the J Street Lobby people NOT love America???? Are you saying you have to be uncritically supportive of Israel to love America? Your comment is obscure and weirdly off the point.

[LeLoup]

Suggest you drop the liquor or take your meds 30 minutes before posting.
I profoundly resent people like you who have the nerve to tell me who I love and what's right.

Take a hike the next galaxy.

[H321]

What has America gotten back as a result of its unrequited love for Israel?
More people hating us, terrorist attacks, Israel ignoring US calls to stop the settlements?
Hey that's your tax dollars at work!

[LolaB]

so what has American gotten? Lets start with avoiding the 3rd world war on a nuclear platform.

And for the record... many countries hate us for reasons other than an affiliation with Israel. Maybe you should try asking people from other countries what they think and see for yourself. Much of their hatred is due to George Bush's policies over the wars and the economy. I just got back from a trip abroad and got earfuls about George Bush. NO ONE mentioned Israel.

[TheLonelyGod]

Are you using a computer to post that comment?

That's what America has gotten from Israel.

[alysheba 3]

Perhaps you should use your computer for research:

According to the Computer History Museum, the Micral N was the earliest commercial, non-kit personal computer based on a microprocessor, the Intel 8008.

André Truong Trong Thi (EFREI degree, Paris), a French immigrant from Vietnam and François Gernelle developed the Micral N computer for the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), starting in June 1972.[1][2][3] Alain Perrier of INRA was looking for a computer for process control in his hygrometric measurements.[4][5] The software was developed by Benchetrit, with Alain Lacombe and Jean-Claude Beckmann working on the electrical and mechanical aspects.
(from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micral)

Unlike other hobbyist computers of its day, which were sold as electronics kits, in 1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sold the Apple I computer circuit board, which was fully prepared and contained about 30 chips. The first complete personal computer was the Commodore PET introduced in January 1977. It was soon followed by the popular Apple II. Mass-market pre-assembled computers allowed a wider range of people to use computers, focusing more on software applications and less on development of the processor hardware.
(from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer)