[ritehook]

This story appeared in the online magazine, Salon.

It is a big story, much more so than the weak press it has so far gotten. NY Times had something on it, not too much else.
By Gary Kamiya

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Read more: Gary Kamiya, Opinion


April 29, 2008 | For years, liberal American Jews who have chafed under the taboo against criticizing Israel have dreamed of starting a political organization that would speak for them. Now, with the launch of J Street, that dream has become a reality.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, the group's founder, says that the incident that drove him over the edge took place when he was working as policy director for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign. Dean said the U.S. should take an "evenhanded" approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, Ben-Ami recalled. He was immediately, and predictably, savaged as anti-Israeli and a coddler of terrorists. "All hell broke loose," Ben-Ami said. "And this from a man who's married to a Jewish woman, who's raising kids in the Jewish faith, and is extremely pro-Israel in everything he'd ever said and done. But to use that one word, and then to have that cascade into a torrent, was just amazing to me. And it's certainly been repeated and magnified with the attacks on Obama and some of his aides, some of them crossing any line that any of us should have about civil discourse."

There are few political relationships more fraught than that between American Jews and Israel. As the national emblem of Jewish identity, Israel is seen by many Jews as sacrosanct. Some Jews passionately identify with Israel and its policies and angrily reject any criticism of it, often attacking critics as anti-Semites or self-hating Jews. But even those Jews who privately harbor misgivings about Israel's policies often keep their opinions to themselves because the subject is simply too charged. Anyone, Jewish or not, who dares to say or write anything critical about Israel quickly learns that they have poked a hornet's nest.

What makes the subject especially sensitive -- and keeps many people, including most journalists, from going anywhere near it -- is that, far more than any other issue, it splits the progressive and intellectual community. Speaking more plainly, it divides one's friends and colleagues -- sometimes even one's family. Jews have always played a prominent role in America's progressive and intellectual circles. And if you have a connection to those circles and you criticize Israel, you are almost certain to deeply offend or anger someone whom you respect, like, and have many things in common with. Small wonder that, as former Israeli official Daniel Levy told me, most people, Jews and non-Jews alike, "decide to sit this one out. It's more of a headache than it's worth."

The taboo isn't only enforced by such personal matters, of course. It's also aggressively enforced by powerful Jewish lobbies like AIPAC, mainstream Jewish groups and leaders like Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, who claim to speak on behalf of all Jews. Congress, intimidated by the moral authority (or moral blackmail) and political clout wielded by these organizations and afraid of offending Jewish donors who are a major force in Democratic fundraising, invariably falls into line. The fact that Congress has staked out a position on Israel to the right of the Bush administration's pretty much says it all. The default right-wing position on Israel is holy writ in American politics, and explains why Hillary Clinton can pander to the right-wing pro-Israel lobby by casually threatening to "totally obliterate" Iran -- vaporize 70 million men, women and children who have nothing to do with their leaders' anti-Israeli posturings -- without paying any political price for such irresponsible statements.


Nothing is more urgently needed in our political discourse than for the taboo against speaking forthrightly about Israel to be overthrown. After all, notwithstanding its profound connection to some American Jews and its (partly justified) status as a beloved icon with whom we have a "special relationship," Israel is not the 51st state -- it is a foreign country, and one smack-dab in the center of the Middle East, a region in which we have some considerable national interest. The enforced silence about Israel has prevented us from thinking clearly about the Middle East, and helped enable both the disastrous war we are now fighting in Iraq and a possible future one against Iran.

But because of the highly sensitive nature of the subject, American Jews must lead the way.

Which is why the birth of J Street, whose goal Ben-Ami says is "to redefine what it means to be pro-Israel," is cause for unalloyed celebration. "Over the course of a quarter century of doing American politics, I've seen the way in which the Israel issue plays out," Ben-Ami said in a phone interview from J Street's Washington, D.C., office. "And it greatly disturbs me and it greatly disturbs a very large number of progressive American Jews, who believe very strongly in Israel but feel that the way in which the American Jewish community's voice has been expressed on these issues doesn't reflect our values or opinions. Only the voices of the far right have been heard. They've really hijacked the debate when it comes to Israel."

Next page: Why are progressive Jews like Barney Frank liberal on everything except Israel?

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Read all letters on this article (129)

[Francis Sollozzo]

take this sort of somewhere else

[Kerfuffle]

Got a real fukkin fixation, don't you ritefuk?

[ritehook]

This is the first page of the story.

Any wishing to read the full piece can google the author's name, or go to Salon.

The big question for J Street is whether they can ever hope to match AIPAC in money, to pay the Washington whores to see things their way.

This story has two aspects. One is that Jewish tradition has tended to be liberal for centuries. Except, in th last half-century or so, on the matter of Israel. Then, we have seen the emergence of militaristic hawks.

Second, Jews are a very intelligent people, who well know their history.

So potent has The Lobby become in America (Pat Buchanan calls Congress, "Israel-Occupied Territory") that even the dullest tack in the box are startng to perceive that the voices that were most vocal in calling for he invasion of Iraq (and now for war on Iran), were those of Jewish nationalists masquering as good Americans (and often useing uselful idiot frontmen like Cheney and Rumsfeld).

Other peoples who at one time welcomed the persecuted Jews into their midst, later turned against them. England expelled them (they were mentioned negatively in the founding document of democracy, the Magna Carta) an Spain also booted them the same year that Columbus set sail to the New World.

With so much say in Congress and so much influence in the media, many American Jews have become nervous, and want to tone it down. Understandably so.

I wish J Street very good luck. They have their work cut out for them, trying to become an effective counterweight to AIPAC.

[ritehook]

To francis and kerfuffle:

The story appeared in Salon. A very respected online publication. Owned, I think, by Microsoft. Take your complaint to Mr Gates. And take a hatchet to his product that you're using.

I've discussed a number of topics on this forum. Interesting that only this one generates such passion. Your nationalism is showing.

Supressors of speech are nothing new in America. I'm not intimidated. (Tho most Americans still are, bound in golden chians - chains now melting a tad with hard economic times.)

Now go make out a big check to AIPAC.

[ritehook]

Jeremy Ben-Ami, the author of the article that has so excited the neocon posters here, has deep roots in Israel.

His ancestors immigrated there in the 19th century. They were among the founders of the modern city of Tel Aviv.

His father raised funds for Irgun, during the war to establish the state.

He himself has a strong attachement to Israel. He just penned another article in the well-known Jewish newspaper, The Daily Forward.

But, according the haters, he should not be allowed to speak. Nor I. Nor any who disagree with their fascistis mind-set.

[ritehook]

Burp.

Just to rattle the chains of the Thought Police.

[2Pac]

fukkin jews

[arie1985]

Originally Posted by 2Pac

fukkin jews

Fuk you, speak for yourself fatass

[ritehook]

Originally Posted by 2Pac

fukkin jews

Disagree.

Rational debate is a positive, something the Lobby does not want. They have bitterly attacked the two rational scholars who last year published a ground-breaking study of the influence of the pro-Israel groups in the U.S. (And btw, both those scholars are, I think, ethnic Jews.)

Hatred isn't necessary. But that, unfortunately, is what history teaches us it well devolve into, if AIPAC etc is not soon, and effectively, challenged.

Already many in the upper ranks of the military, both active and retired, are angry at the Lobby for hijacking the Pentagon for their own aims. Ditto for a number of former CIA and other intelligence specialists. (And just watch the turd hit the fan if Bush pardons American/Jewish superspy for Israel, Jonathan Pollard, next January. One day before retiring to the ranch.)

The movement now begun by Jeremy Ben Ami is long overdue.
American Jews, in the mass, must disassociate themselves from the warhawking Zionist Lobby.

Many intelligent Israelis agree. The Lobby treats America like we were the enemy in World War II, rather than their saviors.

[Kerfuffle]

This is a sports/gambling forum, and sometimes other topics are discussed.

There are over 200 countries in the world to talk about.

There's about 200,000,000 different topics to talk about.

Why do you keep bringing up this topic as if everything in the world would be right if only the world operated the way the ritefuher wanted it. And why the fuk do you keep doing it at a sports/gambling forum?

The mideast aid the U.S. grants is split roughly 60%/ 40% between Israel and Egypt.

When the fuk are you going to talk about the Egyptian lobby, if the mideast is so fukking important to you? If you must talk about it fairly, then start 4 threads about Egyptian aid for every 6 you start about Israel, then we'll know you're a fair and balanced...whatever the hell you are.

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/poli...oreign-aid.htm

[jjgold]

Israel Is The Cause Of All Wars Period

911 Happened Because Of Usa Support Of Israel

The Iraq Disaster Is Because Of Israel

We Need To Stop Supporting Them And Who Cares Of Muslims Take Them Over

[ritehook]

Originally Posted by Kerfuffle

This is a sports/gambling forum, and sometimes other topics are discussed.

There are over 200 countries in the world to talk about.

There's about 200,000,000 different topics to talk about.

Why do you keep bringing up this topic as if everything in the world would be right if only the world operated the way the ritefuher wanted it. And why the fuk do you keep doing it at a sports/gambling forum?

The mideast aid the U.S. grants is split roughly 60%/ 40% between Israel and Egypt.

When the fuk are you going to talk about the Egyptian lobby, if the mideast is so fukking important to you? If you must talk about it fairly, then start 4 threads about Egyptian aid for every 6 you start about Israel, then we'll know you're a fair and balanced...whatever the hell you are.

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/poli...oreign-aid.htm

I've posted on sports, handicapping (did one for both the bowls and March Madness), horses, etc. I once worked in sports promotion.

First of all, like many others who post on political topics, I usually will take a current news story to comment on. Natch, this one did not appear on CNN, CBS, FOX, MSNBC etc, but it did get a notice in the NY Times and several newsweeklies.

IE, it was news. To me, as the story is not, as the reporter for Salon noted, much talked about. That does not make it less important. And, the Mideast is, right now, a particulrly hot issue. (Tho most of my polit posts have recently been on the presidential primaries and election. You are just sensitive and radar-attuned to this particular topic.)

I don't believe in slinging insults, and you'll rarely find me doing so. If ever. Tho I will reply to attacks.

Egypt, it is true, is the second largest recipient of American aid - two billion bucks a year, I think, most of which likely goes into the pocket of corrupt officials there.

But --- why is Egypt the second biggest recipient of US foreign aid? I believe I know the answer.

If any of the other five boardies who are reading this dense, serious thread (as NBA games are on) know, post now. First one to answer correctly gets a cruise to the beautiful Gaza Strip and a suite at the Hamas Hilton there. And a free lap dance at the Bombs Away Gents Club, from the lovely lady known as The Gaza Stripper.

[ritehook]

Originally Posted by jjgold

Israel Is The Cause Of All Wars Period

911 Happened Because Of Usa Support Of Israel

The Iraq Disaster Is Because Of Israel

We Need To Stop Supporting Them And Who Cares Of Muslims Take Them Over

JJ is an American Jew, and while he expresses his views more - uh - colorfully than most would, his opinions on this topic are not all that unusual in the US Jewish communityl

Many here resent the heavy-handedness of The Lobby. Long-term, they feel, it's not good for Jews. Their attitude is, who in hell are these ultra-nationalists, these "Israeli Uber Alles" folk to speak for them.

Many groups, American Council for Judaism, Tikkum, a few think tanks, some ultra-orthodox groups, oppose Israel's bold claims. Others are totally repelled at the Lobby and the neocons (mainly Jewish, tho their are goy frontmen, like the childminded GW Bush) making pacts with koo koo groups in the Bible Belt, like the Rev Hagee's fanatics.

"Come, let us reason together." And we can, with dialog, sort out the best solution to this thorny problem. My own view is that Ben-Ami's group is a very good, tho belated, beginning.