But Perhaps It’s Just the Opposite

J Street’s approach, actions and advocation have been aimed to undermine Israel’s democratically elected government.  A constant guest at the White House, it is not really a pro-Israel organization but more a pro-American and a pro-progressive political ideological agitprop force which, to my mind, is but a subversive force.

Here is the Vice President for Communication of the group in a pro-‘Palestinian’ newspaper:

The job of the Israeli ambassador in Washington is to represent his nation – all of his nation – to the U.S. government and people…Since his arrival in Washington, Dermer has made little effort to reach out to progressive Zionists or that vast majority of Jewish Americans who oppose the settler movement, which has flourished under the Likud party’s leadership. Under his watch, the Israeli embassy has even gone so far as to withhold invitations from prominent Jewish progressives to its annual Hanukkah party – a gathering that, under previous ambassadors, was always a time for the whole community to come together.

 

Okay, let’s ignore the whining.  After all, how many times have Israelis who reside in the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria (and, in the past, in Gaza) visited the White House?  I’ll admit, I know of a few, but very few.  But when the writer terms Israel’s ambassador “foolish, short-sighted, risky and irresponsible”, the question is actually who is being irresponsible here?

In the first place, I could point to a history of not-so-very pro-Israel incidents in Washington in the past (Baker’s “f*ck them” remark over the loan guarantees issue perhaps the most blunt but Eisenhower’s threat in 1957 also tough not to mention Kissinger’s “let them bleed”) that we all got over.

But secondly, maybe the problem isn’t in Israel’s court but in Obama’s? Could it be that a President doesn’t really like Israel as much as other Presidents were committed to the traditional policies of arguing but getting along?  Could it be that J Street, and allies, are more into their own insular world of progressive politics which translates into very bad foreign policies?

The appeasement/engagement character of how this administration is dealing with the Iranian threat, both its nuclear empowerment and its support for terror, is the real problem American Jews – and Christians and all others as well –  should be concerned with for themselves as much as for Israel.

In other words, perhaps J Street is driving the wrong way?  They are progressing in the wrong direction?

The sub-headline in the J Street op-ed refered to a rotteness.  I’ll give the author a pass and presume that was an addition by the local Haaretz English editor.  Nevertheless, the piece is a screed that points to a decay of not only Zionist thinking but of the true moral highground that needs to be in America’s internationall relations and especially with Israel.

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P.S.   And we now have this

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Congressman Lee Zeldin, R-NY-1, today sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking for information regarding media reports that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used to fund efforts to influence upcoming elections in Israel.

“Has President Obama launched a political campaign against Prime Minister Netanyahu and his representatives?” Sen. Cruz asked. “This administration’s relentless harassment of Israel is utterly incomprehensible. The Islamic Republic of Iran is pursuing the deadliest weapons on the planet, and there can be no doubt that their first target will be Israel, followed by the United States. This administration should be focusing its animosity on the very real enemies we face, not on our staunch allies.”

“It is completely unacceptable to use U.S. tax dollars to influence the elections in Israel,” said Rep. Zeldin. “State Department grants should never be given to entities working to overthrow strong allies like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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