By: Editorial Board

On several occasions in this space we have sounded the alarm about the emergence of the J Street lobbying group. As we noted, J Street’s modus operandi is very different from other groups interested in Israel and the Middle East - and dangerously so.

It bears repeating that J Street is the first self-described pro-Israel group to lobby members of Congress urging positions that are contrary to those of the government of Israel.

While there has never been a shortage of Jewish organizations and outlets - The Jewish Press among them, on occasion - ready to go on the record in opposition to specific policies of various Israeli governments, no one ever took those concerns to U.S. elected officials. Such criticisms were always voiced in the non-governmental sphere and directed to public opinion in the U.S. and in Israel.

Moreover, those critics invariably urged Israeli governments to make fewer concessions than they were prepared to offer. J Street, on the other hand, takes its case to the American government urging that Israel make more concessions.

And there are signs J Street is gaining momentum.

Two weeks ago J Street announced it would be increasing the number and amount of its contributions to congressional candidates by at least 50 percent in the coming year. This came after an earlier announcement concerning the organization’s intention to bring members of Congress to Israel (obviously to be tutored on the conflict through J Street’s decidedly leftist prism).

Last week came the news that J Street gave its support to a letter signed by 54 members of Congress urging President Obama to use diplomatic pressure on Israel to force an end to the blockade of Gaza. Among the other groups supporting the letter were the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, The American Task Force on Palestine, the American Near East Refugee Association, the Methodist Church, the Friends Committee on National Legislation and Rabbis for Human Rights. All these groups have a history of being sharply critical of Israel and generally supportive of Palestinian positions.

The text of the letter is instructive as to the problem. In pertinent part it says:

We also sympathize deeply with the people of Southern Israel who have suffered from abhorrent rocket and mortar attacks. We recognize that the Israeli government has imposed restrictions on Gaza out of a legitimate and keenly felt fear of continued terrorist action by Hamas and other militant groups. This concern must be addressed without resulting in the de facto collective punishment of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip. Truly, fulfilling the needs of civilians in Israel and Gaza are mutually reinforcing goals.

This, of course, is a prescription for disaster. It affirms that Israel can do nothing to counter Hamas terrorism. These are the same folks who criticize any Israeli military intervention in Gaza. And now they say Israel can’t impose non-military sanctions. Yet has even one of them been heard to oppose U.S. and UN sanctions on Iran? Does anyone think the leaders of Iran will suffer from those sanctions and not the ordinary Iranian citizen?

The rhetorical wave to the “legitimate” interest in restrictions on Gaza and the crocodile tears shed for the “the people of Southern Israel who have suffered from abhorrent rocket and mortar attacks” should not be allowed to mask what they are really after - the hobbling of Israel in its efforts to counter Palestinian terror, thereby forcing Israel to accommodate Palestinian demands.

It is unfortunate that one of the congressional signatories to the letter is Brooklyn’s own Yvette Clarke. Congresswoman Clarke also had the dubious distinction of being one of the few who voted against the recent proposed resolution urging U.S. disavowal of the Goldstone Report. (Ms. Clarke’s contact information is 718-287-1142 or 202-225-6231; by fax at 718-287-1223 or 202-226-0112; and by e-mail at anitataylor@mail.house.gov.)

One final note. All the congressional signatories to the letter were Democrats. Isn’t it long past time that the Jewish community reconsider its visceral identification with the Democratic Party? Or is Israel really that far down the list of American Jewish concerns?

Copyright 2008 www.JewishPress.com

This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 and is filed under opinion. You can leave a response.