J Street

Thanks J Street and Ben Ami for the intelligent and unapologetic words!

Thanks, Jeremy. Very well said, and Foxman really needed to hear it. I wish Dershowitz, Lieberman, Kristol, and Krauthammer were eavesdropping.

This is addressed to Robert Goodman: Are you implying that the people who are critical of Israel are in favor of Jihadism. This borders on nonsense. You know Jihadism is promoted by some of the actions that many Jews criticize Israel of taking - I personally believe that Ariel Sharon who W characterized as a man of peace was one of the greatest recruiters HAMAS has ever had.

The Jewish Federations are umbrella organizations raising money for Jewish communities all over America. They fund Jewish Community Relations Councils which come as close as any organizations to speaking for the Jewish community. But no one speaks for all Jews in America. There is no way to figure out what most Jews in America think about every key issue.

The interview underscores the J Street premise that it is imperative to urge Washington to play a forceful role in one iterpretation of a useful peace process and thereby fails to recognize that Obama has made a drastic political mistake by trying to force Israel on the issues of the towns and settlements.

Thomas Friedman of the NYT, usually ... Read Moreconsidered a "peace now" advocate, has urged a completely new approach. Recently he wrote: "If we are still begging Israel to stop building settlements, which is so manifestly idiotic, and the Palestinians to come to negotiations, which is so manifestly in their interest, and the Saudis to just give Israel a wink, which is so manifestly pathetic, we are in the wrong place. It is time to call a halt to this dysfunctional ‘peace process’, which is only damaging the Obama team’s credibility.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=2
J Street leadership might consider turning to advocacy of an enduring and accountable peace instead of our reliance on a tired old "Two State Solution" murmuring mantra.

You guys are impressively civil and respectful of each other even though your level of disagreement is profound. You will accomplish what a thousand insults (or bombs) will not.

PS: Watch Bill Moyers' interview of Judge Goldsone at http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10232009/watch.html

kol hakavod. make the dream happen!!!!

Terrific opening night. Jeremy totally rocked.

Yes. It is a shame that some Jews mention God. Meanwhile many Arabs constantly tell us God commands them to use violence to accomplish God's aims. But I should not suggest God can take care of his or her self because that shows everything I say can be ignored. How people can convince themselves that kind of thing leads to peace is beyond me.

Arabs are not a small persecuted people clinging to a small piece of land.