J Street has released the following statment from J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami, criticizing the Knesset's recent approval of a commission of inquiry into Israeli non-governmental organizations focused on issues of human rights and civil society:
J Street strongly objects to the Knesset's approval of a commission of inquiry into Israeli human rights and civil society organizations. The proposed commission reeks of McCarthyism and is an affront to fundamental democratic and Jewish values.
As American Jews and supporters of Israel, we believe that Israel must strive to embody the values on which it was founded: democracy, justice, and equality. Unfortunately, yesterday's political action contradicts those very values, which are in the country's Declaration of Independence and Law of Human Dignity.
We urge the Knesset to stop trying to silence organizations based on ideology and to focus instead on reversing policies that are undermining Israel's long-term security as a Jewish, democratic homeland. As Yedioth columnist Boaz Okon writes, "Instead of dealing substantively with the criticism leveled at Israel's actions in the territories and with regard to minorities and foreigners... an attempt is being made to intimidate those who swim against the current."
Israel is not delegitimized and its democracy not weakened by important organizations like B'Tselem, Yesh Din and Breaking the Silence, among many others, that are working every day against long odds to combat increasing strands of racism, authoritarianism and McCarthyism emerging throughout Israel's politics and society.
We will continue to stand with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders and activists who are exercising their legitimate democratic rights and working for a strong, democratic Israel at peace with its neighbors. We applaud the members of Knesset and Israeli leaders, including, among others, Knesset speaker Reuben Rivlin, Welfare & Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog, Ministers Benny Begin and Miki Eitan, and MKs Shlomo Molla and Meir Sheetrit, who have spoken out against this harmful motion.
The more Israel tries to silence those who warn of its slide into the abyss, the faster it goes into the abyss.
The decision taken by the Knesset plenum yesterday, to create a parliamentary investigative committee for "the phenomenon of de-legitimization of the IDF in the world on the part of Israeli organization", has nothing whatsoever to do with an investigation. Israel has investigative procedures: if there's a suspicion of a crime, either the police or the GSS investigate it, and transfer the information they gather to the prosecution, which then decides if an indictment is in order; then the courts have their say - admittedly, all too often sounding suspiciously like the prosecution.
What the Knesset did yesterday was de-legitimizing of a political camp; an accusation of treason by one camp of another, masquerading as an investigation.
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.
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