New Pro-Israel J Street PAC Goes Live

by: Matt Stoller

Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 17:13


I'm on the advisory board of a new pro-Israel PAC launching today called 'J Street'.  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.  I am pro-Israel, I believe that respect for the Palestinians is the only way to build a sustainable living space for the Israeli populace to live in peace.  The more extreme AIPAC adherents are quite different and have a more eliminationist bent.  Aside from the immoral human rights violations, the Likudnick strategy is a failure both here in the US and in Israel.  

AIPAC pushes the war with Iraq and it is pushing a war with Iran.  It is long past time there is a different voice for American Jews, and I am proud J Street is here.

UPDATE:  Here's an Op-ed by Jeremy Ben-Ami on the new initiative.

Matt Stoller :: New Pro-Israel J Street PAC Goes Live

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New Pro-Israel J Street PAC Goes Live | 14 comments
I Wish You The Best (0.00 / 0)
The new organization is a fantastic idea, and long overdue.
Speaker Jody Richards is a Democrat n/t (0.00 / 0)

Sorry, this was supposed to be in the thread below n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Washington Geography (0.00 / 0)
And coincidentally, there currently is no J Street in Washington.
Well, it looks like now there is! (0.00 / 0)
But Saddlebags is right.  It's because back in "the day" the capital letters for "I" and "J" were often both written as "I" (not because L'Enfant didn't like John Jay, as some believe).
[ Parent ]
Horrible name (0.00 / 0)
But fantastic group. Long overdue. I signed up as soon as I found out.

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power
See how long it takes... (4.00 / 3)
...for your "pro-Israel" PAC to be branded as "anti-Semitic."

:insert non-existent rolling-eyes emoticon here:

Of course they are! (0.00 / 0)
If you look up anti-semitic in the dictionary, it reads...
In disagreement with John Hagee.


I support John McCain because children are too healthy anyway.
[ Parent ]
Build a movement. (4.00 / 2)
It doesn't happen overnight. Something like this is long long overdue.
Absolutely Right (0.00 / 0)
It takes time to build these things, but this one must be built. I hope this group does not get discouraged if the initial reaction is tepid. Hang in there. Of all the virtues, persistence is the most underrated.
[ Parent ]
I met an Israeli rabbi once (4.00 / 3)
who said something I never forgot. He said, "I love my people but they are capable of terrible things, and sometimes I have to fight them."

As a Southerner, I understood completely, and decided that from then on I would take that philosophy as my own. And you know what? It works.

Congratulations on the new project.

Montani semper liberi

That's wonderful (4.00 / 1)
Something that all Americans, Israelis, and honestly all people will hopefully one day internalize.

I support John McCain because children are too healthy anyway.
[ Parent ]
Finally! (4.00 / 2)
As a progressive Jew, I've often found it hard to be both pro-Israel and pro-peace -- especially since I'm active in the anti-Iraq war movement. I've found myself on the defensive on too many issues from both the right and the left and I'm desperately seeking a way to be both progressive and pro-Israel.  So, thank you, and I'll be following Jstreet closely.
A great and noble cause! (4.00 / 2)
Good for J Street, and to Matt Stoller for taking on the advisory role. I wish J Street all the best, and I'll make a point to get on their mailing list.

They're going to need the support of many other progressive groups to maximize their effectiveness.

Just as AIPAC has scores of publications and policy groups that serve as an echo chamber for them -- such as WINEP, AEI, the DLC, etc. -- J Street will be greatly served by other progressive groups giving voice and credence to their points of view.  

New Pro-Israel J Street PAC Goes Live | 14 comments
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