Soccer Dad

The damned lies of j-street

J-Street is a new group that calls itself "...political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement."

Matt Stoller of Open Left writes:

It's a significant moment for progressive Jews who have previously not had our voices represented in the foreign policy realm, drowned out by right-wingers intent on the most hawkish policies out there.

This is not a lie.

It is not a statistic.

It is a damned lie.

Remember after Israel forced thousands of Israelis from their homes and made Gaza Judenrein? This was supposed to be the first test of Palestinian self government.

Israel reasonably wanted to keep control over the Rafah border, but Secretary of State Rice prevailed upon Israel to leave its security in the hands of European observers.

And who voiced their support of this policy? Why it was the very progressive forces who claim that they've been silenced all these years.

Don't take my word for it. Let's roll the way-back machine.

Here's an APN action alert from November 2005:

The arrangements you helped broker in the November 15th accord are enabling Palestinians, for the first time, to control entry and exit from Gaza, via Rafah. They will also lead to the upgrading and expansion of other crossing points between Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, and the expediting of the export of this season's agricultural goods from Gaza. In addition, the accord paves the way for the passage of people and goods between Gaza and the West Bank, and should lead to a reduction in the obstacles to movement within the West Bank. The agreement will permit the Palestinians to begin, for the first time, to construct a seaport, and recognizes the importance of continued discussion regarding the re-opening of a Palestinian airport. The components of this breakthrough will dramatically increase investment in Gaza by the private sector as well as financial assistance from donor countries.

All of these developments will take place in the context of providing for Israeli security. This includes, among other things, the presence of the European Union as third-party monitors at Rafah, the provision of high-tech security equipment and appropriate training for personnel working at border crossings, coordination between Israel and the Palestinians with respect to travel of certain individuals, and explicit recognition in the agreement that "security is a prime and continuing concern for Israel and that appropriate arrangements to ensure security will be adopted." The agreement also stipulates that security services from Israel, the PA, the U.S., and Egypt will continue to coordinate on security issues and will participate in the security working group.

I've highlighted some of the more egregious examples of failed expectations, but the short story is that Israel's ceding of control of Rafah has brought neither prosperity to the Palestinians nor security to the Israelis. It has strengthened Hamas. Hamas now has 20000 men under arms and is regularly increasing the quantity and lethality of the materiel it possesses. (Now like minded folk are advocating talking to Hamas!) The prescription Americans for Peace Now - represented on J-Street by its CEO, Hillary super delegate, Debra Delee - advocated has failed miserably. Is APN expressing its regrets? Or condemning Hamas?

No, it's still claiming that the main obstacle to peace is Israel's failure to cede enough territory and the Administration's failure to press Israel to cede more. (This applies not only to APN but to the other constituent groups and individual who populate J-Street.)

Does it matter that when the administration did press Israel and Israel acceded to the pressure that it led to more violence and less security for Israel? No. They still advocate more of the same. So not only do they advocate policies that failed in 1996 (when Israel withdrew from cities in 1995, it led to an increase in terror in 1996), in 2000 (when Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon it strengthened Hezbollah) and in 2005 (Israel's withdrawal from Gaza strengthened Hamas), these progressive organization advocate policies that increase violence and hurt Israel. Yet they have the chutzpah to claim that they are pro-peace and pro-Israel. They are neither.

These same people couldn't wait to get rid of PM Netanyahu, yet when Netanyahu was Prime Minister, Israel saw a lessening of terrorism and Palestinians were more prosperous.

The morally bankrupt groups claim that it is skeptics of the peace process who threaten Israel and who are ideological rather than realistic. But the progress (if you can call it that) of the past 15 years has shown a much different story. I'm not the only one who sees that J-Street is anti-Israel. (via memeorandum)

I should also point out that these progressive groups get plenty of attention. They are regularly featured in the Forward. James D. Besser who reports on politics for nearly every single American Jewish weekly, is sympathetic and give them plenty of coverage. What's remarkable is how much attention they get despite the fact that their views are a distinct minority, not just among Jews but among Americans generally.

J-Street is full of crap. And it's time that someone called them on it.

I wrote previously about J Street.

Crossposted on Yourish.

Israel, j street.

Posted by SoccerDad at April 16, 2008 02:28 AM | TrackBack