Tzipi Livni Shows Prime Ministerial Stuff on J Street Conference

The more I listen to Congressional Opposition chief John Boehner as of late, the more I wish he could find the dignity and common ground for big objectives that Israel's Opposition Party Leader, Kadima Party chief Tzipi Livni, has just demonstrated in a knock-the-ball-out-of-the-park letter to the executive director of the self-described pro-Israel, pro-peace group, J Street.

Monopolies don't like competition -- and there is a concerted effort underway now by a giant political monopoly in the 'friends of Israel arena' to squelch alternative voices and players. This isn't good for the current incumbent, nor for the new entrant to the marketplace, nor for American or Israeli interests either.

In a surprisingly stumbly showing, the charismatic Israel Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren has decided to let an underling rather than himself catch the goings on of the J Street conference that is drawing more than 1,500 attendees and whose headliners include both Obama National Security Adviser and 4-star General Jim Jones as well as former Vietnam War veteran and US Senator Chuck Hagel who is said to be President Obama's next chair of the President's Federal Intelligence Advisory Board, a post held by Brent Scowcroft during the first term of the George W. Bush administration.

Ambassador Oren is reportedly a great guy -- but great people tend to rise to represent issues and people above silly rifts and divides. If Jim Jones and Chuck Hagel can support this new American outfit's work, Oren should think hard about putting down too solid a line he won't cross.

Particularly because Tzipi Livni has sent in a remarkable letter of affirmation to J Street, recognizing potential differences but affirming a shared strategic vision for the best interests of Israel.

Standing ovation to Tzipi Livni for this thoughtful and politically meaningful expression of support for J Street's work.

What really moves me about this note is that the tone and posture of this letter is characteristic of someone who really can and should lead a nation. It's someone who can see beyond factions to what the aspirations of the whole nation need to be.

I hope Ambassador Oren finds other ways to find his way back to being an Ambassador for not just one wing of Israel but for all of the legitimate dimensions of Israel. I have strong confidence that he will -- and I think Tzipi Livni has shown him the way to do it.

Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note.

 

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Comments

[mommamia526]

05:44 PM on 10/23/2009

Well, let us see now. Livni can not make it. Abbas and Hamas will not ssspeak to each other, and the socalled peace plan is not, as some suggest, achievable as a pieces plan. And with pieces I assume Israel in pieces, Hamas and Abbas in pieces, AIPAC either expressly not invited or disinvited - that is where Livni's letter points to. AIPAC may be afraid of an open debate, as Fortune!, alleges, but without its participation we will never know. IF it is the case that AIPAC was expressly disinvited, or not invited, however, some other parties might be afraid of an open and honest discussion. The best skippers stand ashore, as the Dutch saying goes, and discuss loudly how the ships ought to be brought in. Unfortunately, no one will let them try it. They are old and out. We all know why Tzippi was NOT elected and why Netanyahu was. It had something to do, among other matters, with the constant - eigh year long - avalanche of kassams out of Hamastan and also the one out of Hezbullahstan. The population demanded to be protected against it. J Street may well have the best of intentions, just like the dutch skippers ashore, but there is a huge ship to be brought in, not a tiny sailboat.

[alysheba 3]

04:33 PM on 10/22/2009

And this is the reason that so many pro-)srael, anti-Israeli policy Jews wish that Tzipi Livni had been able to form a coalition for the Israeli elections. Voices Like Ms. Livni's are the voices which understand that for a truly just solution ALL sides need recognition of both their justified grievances and their justified concerns.

Perhaps the next election in Israel will remind us of the 2008 election in America. Hopefully the Israeli people will realize that discussion and dialogue with counties and peoples with opposing views will get you further than wars and murders.

[mommamia526]

05:56 PM on 10/23/2009

Hamas has enjoyed, apparently, the operation Cast Lead. In any case, projectiles are still being shot off out of Hamastan; this week into a settlement in the Negev. Hamas and the PA's spokesman Abbas, have *issues* as we can all see in the press, and the Palestinian Street has enough of its *leadership*. And what do YOU think, Alysheba, Livni indicates when she says that all parties should be involved? Was the invitation to a discussion on different viewpoints? Or, do you propose, that the discussion was on getting the two-state solution finalized? Time to come down to earth, read well, and figure out which parties have standing to discuss what. Tzippi Livni is very adapt at using diplomatic/political language to get her opinion across. JStreet ought to listen, not only, but also HEAR, what is being said to it. Engineering a onesided *discussion* with the objective to parade as an *unified U.S. jewish opinion* is just a shadow puppet show (like wajang theatre);

[myopinion2]

04:25 PM on 10/22/2009

Unfortunately this item appears on the same day as an item concerning Livni's opposition to Olmert's peace offer to abbas (which the PA rejected in any event). I'd be more impressed with Livni if she announced expressly and unambiguously a peace plan that she would support and work for.

Ultimately, the US and the EU is going to have to announce a proposed peace plan, and try to coerce (persuade LOL) each side to accept it.

[Fortune1]

09:14 AM on 10/22/2009

Livni is correct when she argues that discussion "should be inclusive and broad enough to encompass a variety of views."

AIPAC is afraid of a free and open debate of U.S. policy in the Middle East, which to date has been dominated by AIPAC. AIPAC is not the only national Jewish organization to target J Street, although they stand the most to lose as “the” Israel lobby. However, we should not be surprised by this AIPAC smear campaign against J Street.

AIPAC defector Gregory Slabodkin revealed details in an August 1992 Village Voice article that AIPAC operates a covert section that monitors and keeps files on politicians, journalists, academics, Arab-American activists, Jewish liberals, and others it labels "anti-Israel".

In an August 1990 internal AIPAC memo made public by Slabodkin, the head of AIPAC’s opposition research boasted: "There is no question that we exert a policy impact, but working behind the scenes and taking care not to leave fingerprints, that impact is not always traceable to us."

It wasn’t so long ago that the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council passed a resolution condemning "McCarthy-like" tactics used by some Jewish organizations. The resolution proposed guidelines for dealing with "the right of dissent" on Israeli policies, and emphasized the importance of open and thoughtful exchange in an atmosphere of "mutual tolerance and civility."

AIPAC and its backers in the organized Jewish community should adhere to that standard.

[LizM]

05:50 AM on 10/22/2009

Tzipi Livni, for one, understands what will be required to realize "Israel's future as a secure, Jewish and democratic State" and what the alternative is if a two-state solution fails to materialize.

I'm not sure you can say that about the current Israeli leadership or about Ambassador Oren.

I'm absolutely positive that Congressional Opposition chief John Boehner doesn't understand this.