bobbyw24
10-18-2009, 06:46 AM
By Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Diplomacy, J Street
The Obama administration appears to be welcoming the efforts of the left-leaning Jewish lobby in Washington, J Street.
While Israel's ambassador to the U.S. will probably not be attending the group's October 25 conference, senior U.S. administration officials who have confirmed their participation include James Jones, national security adviser in the Obama administration.
J Street was set up more than two years ago to offer an antidote to the large and powerful America Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC enjoys substantial support in both the Democratic and Republican parties and is identified with a more "rightist" line on the peace process. J Street defines itself as being "for Israel and for the peace process."
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Senior members of J Street have had close ties to senior figures in the Obama campaign, and since he was elected, they have been consulted by the administration. When President Obama met with the heads of Jewish organizations in the U.S., representatives of J Street were also invited.
Participation in the J Street conference is a very sensitive political issue in Washington - and also at the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.
Ambassador Michael Oren has still not acknowledged an invitation to address the conference. Senior Israeli officials say Oren has not been given any instruction and was told the decision to participate or not was his to make. Oren apparently is inclined not to participate and to send a lower-ranking diplomat in his stead.
Arguments against the ambassador's participation were put forward, primarily the belief J Street is not a pro-Israel lobby, despite its claims.
In Israel, there is concern that AIPAC will interpret participation as an act against it. "You don't turn your back on someone who has acted in y
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1121716.html
Tags: Diplomacy, J Street
The Obama administration appears to be welcoming the efforts of the left-leaning Jewish lobby in Washington, J Street.
While Israel's ambassador to the U.S. will probably not be attending the group's October 25 conference, senior U.S. administration officials who have confirmed their participation include James Jones, national security adviser in the Obama administration.
J Street was set up more than two years ago to offer an antidote to the large and powerful America Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC enjoys substantial support in both the Democratic and Republican parties and is identified with a more "rightist" line on the peace process. J Street defines itself as being "for Israel and for the peace process."
Advertisement
Senior members of J Street have had close ties to senior figures in the Obama campaign, and since he was elected, they have been consulted by the administration. When President Obama met with the heads of Jewish organizations in the U.S., representatives of J Street were also invited.
Participation in the J Street conference is a very sensitive political issue in Washington - and also at the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.
Ambassador Michael Oren has still not acknowledged an invitation to address the conference. Senior Israeli officials say Oren has not been given any instruction and was told the decision to participate or not was his to make. Oren apparently is inclined not to participate and to send a lower-ranking diplomat in his stead.
Arguments against the ambassador's participation were put forward, primarily the belief J Street is not a pro-Israel lobby, despite its claims.
In Israel, there is concern that AIPAC will interpret participation as an act against it. "You don't turn your back on someone who has acted in y
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1121716.html