Israeli government fears Jewish group's 'pro-peace' agenda

[Scurrilous]

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"ISRAEL'S right-wing government is worried by the emergence of a new Jewish lobbying group in Washington that opposes its expansion of West Bank settlements and wants to see an equitable peace compromise with the Palestinians rather than Israeli annexation of occupied territory.

The dovish group, J Street, will be holding a three-day gathering of about 1,200 activists it describes as being both "pro-Israel" and "pro-peace" beginning tomorrow in the American capital. The meeting marks a challenge to the dominance of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful lobbying group that supports the policies of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and which critics say wields too much influence over congress and US Middle East policy.

The Netanyahu government's wariness about J Street came to the fore this week when the Israeli ambassador in Washington, Michael Oren, declined an invitation to attend the conference.

An embassy statement said there were "concerns over certain policies of the organisation that may impair the interests of Israel".

However, the Obama administration is supportive of the gathering and the president's national security adviser, Jim Jones, will be keynote speaker.

The conference comes during a critical period in US-Israeli relations, with Israel relying on US acquiescence to continue its expansion of illegal West Bank settlements and on US support for its efforts to contain the fallout of a damning United Nations inquiry alleging its soldiers committed "war crimes" during last winter's Gaza war.

Officials in Jerusalem are declining to comment on the J Street gathering. But Zalman Shoval, a former senior adviser to Mr Netanyahu, said the J Street conference "undermines the activities of AIPAC which have been very beneficial to Israel and the United States."

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[Howardx]

1. "very beneficial to Israel and the United States."

half right anyways...

[Scurrilous]

2. In shadow of Israeli 'boycott,' J Street meets in D.C.

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"The pro-Israel lobby J Street kicked off its first national conference on Sunday with more than 1,500 guests at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Despite controversy and tension surrounding the convention, organizers said the attendance exceeded expectations.

Numerous peace activists, politicians, diplomats, lobbyists, male and female rabbis, political advisers, artists, students and journalists filled the halls. Participants who spilled out from over-crowded panel rooms sat in a circle on the lobby carpet, heatedly discussing the state of left-wing activists in Israel and the United States, religion and the new media.

"We couldn't be more thrilled," said J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami. "The numbers of participants far exceeded our expectations - 148 congressmen supported the event, 250 students and reporters from 17 countries came. This is truly the birth of a movement. It demonstrates the vacuum and the desire to promote peace now, when it's more urgent than ever... Our vision for peace is very clear - two states based on '67."

"Violence might break out, there are extremists on both sides," he continued. "But we can't allow the extremists to prevent a better future for both sides."

A reporter asked Ben-Ami how J Street could be pro-Israel when Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren had boycotted the event. "The Israeli ambassador is making a serious mistake. This is part of the Jewish community and to refuse to engage with us is a serious mistake, as it is to refuse to engage with those seeking to promote peace. I wish he were here even to express his disagreement. We do love Israel, we do support Israel. (But) we have questions regarding its policy," Ben-Ami said."

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Dispatches From J Street: Where Are All the Israeli Officials?

http://blogs.forward.com/bintel-blog/117712/