Soccer Dad

An invitation to decline

J-Street in an effort to increase its relevance, has been lining up well known speakers for its upcoming convention.

Such efforts to delegitimize the organization appear to have failed, with 160 congressional lawmakers endorsing its conference. The slate of scheduled speakers includes several former top Israeli officials.

In addition, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, who leads the country's largest synagogue movement, the Union for Reform Judaism, is co-chairing the main event -- a town hall meeting on Israel's relationship with American Jews. U.S. Reps. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), leaders in Congress' unofficial Jewish caucus and close to President Obama, are taking part in a panel that examines how one to expand the definition of "pro-Israel" on the Hill.

Most notable, perhaps, is the participation of Yoffie, who tussled earlier this year with J Street over its equivocation over naming Hamas as the villain in Israel's Gaza war. He told JTA that J Street's views deserve a hearing in the wider Jewish community, and praised the group for doing more than many more established groups to promote the Israeli position of a two-state solution.

(Wexler, by the way, is resigning his seat - via memeorandum. So Maryland will have one less Democratic congressman.)

But there's one big fish that J-Street has yet to land - Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren. J-Street's executive director, Jeremy Ben Ami wrote an open letter to Amb. Oren in the Jerusalem Post.

MR. AMBASSADOR, what J Street shares in common with you far outweighs that on which we disagree. J Street, on behalf of the many Jewish Americans who share our views, urges you to join us as we discuss, debate and - in the best tradition of the Jewish people - argue over how best to ensure the health, safety and vibrancy of the Jewish people and of Israel for generations to come.

Your attendance - even to clarify some of our areas of disagreement - will be respectfully welcomed, and we promise you an open hearing as we hope and expect you will welcome us at the embassy one day to present our views and opinions in that same spirit.

Despite Ben Ami's friendly tone, this is an invitation that the ambassador ought to decline. When Israel was fighting Hamas earlier this year, J-Street was opposed the war. If one of the sessions at the J-Street conference will be how to expand the definition of "pro-Israel," the organization must be well aware that it's current stance, by any reasonable standard, is anti-Israel. As such Ambassador Oren ought to stay away rather than grant J-Street recognition by his appearance.

(I'd add that in addition to being anti-Israel, isn't strongly Jewish in its makeup either.)

In case one remains unconvinced of where J-Street stands, recall its founding. It was founded by - among others - George Soros (who is no longer associated with the group). who decried the excessive influence of the "Israel Lobby" on American politics.

Michael Oren is far smarter and more persuasive than I am. Perhaps he will go to the conference and rebuke his hosts. That would be an interesting approach.

Otherwise Oren ought not to go. J-Street's advocacy for peace immediately when peace is not at hand is a recipe for disaster. Official recognition of the organization by the Israeli government will only strengthen its hand.

Crossposted on Yourish.