Washington – Nearly seven months after the inauguration of Barack Obama, feuding among major U.S. Jews organizations is taking place behind closed doors and could be reaching its worst point in recent memory.
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Left-wing U.S. Jewish organizations have been buoyed by the election of Obama, and according to some Jewish Democrats in Washington, tensions have been worsened by the lessening of right-wing Jews’ access to senior White House officials, in contrast to the near-monopoly they had on access to Bush administration officials for the past eight years.
The feuding may have become more personal this week, after left-wing Israel advocacy group “J Street” published an open letter to Anti-Defamation League Head Abraham Foxman.
The J Street letter came in a response to a full-page ad taken out by the ADL in the New York Times this week, which said, “The problem isn’t settlements, it’s Arab rejection.”
In the J Street letter, the group’s founder Jeremy Ben-Ami refutes Foxman’s claims, saying peace “isn’t advanced by pointing fingers at either side”, and adding that the best route forward is “to get all sides to the table with strong U.S. leadership to figure out how we move together before time runs out on a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”
In comments Foxman made to Haaretz this week, he repeated his contention that settlements are not the main issue central to a peace plan, saying “everybody understands that the American government whatever the administration, has never been happy about settlements, nor with the annexation of Jerusalem, but it’s all a question of how much focus they on the issue, how much public attention they give it.”
Foxman also called on the Obama administration to avoid focusing too much on demanding measures from Israel, saying “first of all, they have to stop the overkill. Every opportunity that they have to bash Israel they do.”
“J Street is really pleased to engage in a substantive discussion with Abe Foxman and the ADL – as friends of Israel – around U.S. policy in the Middle East,” Ben-Ami said in response to media inquiries. “Jewish Americans who care about Israel do differ on how best to advance U.S. and Israeli interests, and it is healthy for us to model how a productive conversation, not a war of words, can be held on this sensitive topic.”
I think J-Street is on the Road Map.
what a chutzpa…. you live in america and you decide what security risk Israelis should take.
you voted for obama….so enjoy.
Is “J Street” the case of a man who is power crazy and wants to make sure that he sets up his own “Cappos” to agree with him? Perhaps they are more Pro-Obama than Pro-Israel or Pro-Jewish. We saw this in the form of “the court Jew” or “The Jewish Representative to Parliament” or for us Iranians, we remember the “The Jewish Representative to the Majlis.” Mr. Barak Hussain Obama is scary.
I’m getting tired of Israeli’s criticising Americans for talking about their security issues. Keep in mind, it is my taxpayer dollars that pay for a good percentage of your military. It is also our voting that puts leaders in office that assist you politically. So either stop taking our money, or stop whining. Beggers can’t be choosers.
Sometimes its impossible to figure out what some of these posts are talking about (with their broken English and incorrect spelling) but I get comfort when I see at least some actually are able to respond. As is the case with #3 (not sure what you’re saying) but at least #4 understood you.(Not that I understand what #4 is saying either)
A woman in a hot-air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.” The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude. “She rolled her eyes and said, “You must be a Republican.” “I am,” replied the man. “How did you know?” “Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct. But I have no idea what to do with your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help to me.” The man smiled and responded, “You must be an Obama Democrat.” “I am,” replied the balloonist. “How did you know?” “Well,” said the man, “you don’t know where you are or where you are going.. You’ve risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it’s my fault.
To #5
That id ridiculous, do we debate the security issues of Egypt (who receives over $2 billion from you taxpayer dollars?) do we debate these issues fro Pakistan, Jordan, or Kenya.. etc. These countries combines receive combined receive more than Israel. No. The US Congress sees Israel as an ally and worthwhile for UNITES STATES security, that is why they support these countries.
The ADL never brought any good for us, it’s a radical group with an extreme way of thinking and performing. It’s best for all yidden they should go back in the closet, and stop causing trouble for the world Jewry with their provocations.
Obama has surrounded himself and affiliated himself with self-hating jews. I trust this terse sentence is clear enough. rite?
Note the stupid argument by Foxman.
ADL is not an angel, either. A few years ago they had the Ford Foundation pres. at the annual meeting. Foxman bragged about getting FF $$.
The administration is “legtimizing” this new group (j) just like the arabs try to use the nitera karta , both groups are “losers” and extreme,with a very small following , but what elese did anyone expect from this administration ? They throw away our good friend like Britain and worry about Castro and Chavez
it is interesting that J street is the only street in the district of columbia that does not exist ( well x y and z streets too)
i think they are foul air (pollution) but can like real pollution cause damage.
J Street wants us to go to the negotiating table.That type of table with those who would kill us was last seen at Munich.From those negotiations,World War 11 started.They don’t want to negotiate.They want surrender!
The small numbers of Obama haters in the yiddeshe communities can rant all they want (whether its his policies on the West Bank settlements or his his health care reform) but guess what: He is president and will be president for another 3 1/2 years. Get used to it. We won, you lost and elections have consequences. If you want a true lunatic for president, maybe you should move from BP and WB to Juneau Alaska and form your own country with Aunt Sarah on some Island in the Bering Sea.