Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 29, 2008 Tamuz 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:42 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Jermey Ben-Ami, executive director of J Street The 'previously silent' majority By Jeremy Ben-Ami Tags: J Street, Jewish World  Three months ago, when J Street was launched, The New Republic posed a simple question: "Who does the new Israel lobby represent?" J Street, for those who haven't heard, is a new political voice for pro-Israel Americans in favor of active U.S. leadership to achieve a two-state solution, and assertive diplomacy to end conflicts in the Middle East peacefully. For a long time, it's been a cardinal rule of U.S. politics that American Jews are represented in Washington by a cadre of large political donors whose positions skew fairly far to the right of the American Jewish community as a whole. They have successfully convinced elected officials and candidates for office that they actually speak for the entire community. In the wake of Barack Obama's visit to Israel this week, as part of a broader visit to the Middle East, it's time to take a look at how that dynamic is changing and what emerging new political voices from the American Jewish community may mean for U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East. Advertisement As The New Republic itself acknowledged, American Jews are, by and large, politically liberal. They opposed going to war in Iraq five years ago and are against preemptive military action against Iran today. They don't line up well with the bigoted, backward views that prevail among some of the supposedly strongest pro-Israel voices in politics, like Pastor John Hagee, whose Christians United for Israel (CUFI) held its national convention this week. Hagee, by way of background, blames Hurricane Katrina on the gay community of New Orleans, opposes any territorial concessions by Israel for peace, and actively seeks to bring about the end of the world to hasten Armageddon and his vision of redemption. Though established national and local Jewish organizations have given Hagee a platform - and Senator Joe Lieberman was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at his convention - these are views far beyond the pale for the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community. In Washington, the generally moderate voice of the Jewish mainstream has been overshadowed by community leaders who rattle sabers at Iran but provide little vocal support for Israeli diplomacy. The revolution afoot in 21st-century American politics enables the silent majority of American Jews to do what hasn't been done before - namely to mobilize a broad and less organized base of moderates in a politically meaningful way. Today, for the first time, technology enables a large number of small political donors to challenge - and topple - the status quo. That is an essential lesson from Obama's campaign for the Democratic nomination, with its roots in the success of movements like MoveOn.org and the presidential campaign of Howard Dean (for whom I worked as national policy director). It is this broader revolutionary wave that J Street is looking to ride, as it begins to flex the political muscle of the "previously silent" majority. With over 50,000 people on its e-mail list already, in just the past week it has garnered well over 30,000 signatures on an open letter to Congress regarding Iran - saying no to war and yes to active, aggressive diplomacy. As pressure builds from many other sources, Congress has shown signs of reconsidering its ill-advised haste to pass a resolution likely to add to rather than defuse tensions with Iran. In the 2008 elections, JStreetPAC, the first pro-Israel, pro-peace political action committee (PAC) will endorse 30-40 Congressional candidates and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote their candidacies. The majority of American Jews are finally waking up to the impact of letting a vocal right-wing minority speak for us in national politics. We have had enough of alliances between our community's leaders and the neoconservatives, which helped bring us the most disastrous foreign policy this nation has ever endured - undermining not only American interests around the world but the long-term security interests of Israel and the stability of the Middle East. Polling released last week by J Street (and available at www.jstreet.org/poll) shows that majorities of American Jews favor strong American leadership in promoting diplomatic solutions in the Middle East and are supportive of the compromises needed to achieve peace and security in the region. More importantly, perhaps, American Jews are becoming increasingly concerned that controversial figures like John Hagee are defining what it means to be pro-Israel in America from the platforms they are offered at conventions of major national Jewish organizations and local community events. In J Street's poll, American Jews oppose alliances with Hagee and CUFI by a 4-to-1 margin. Whom does J Street represent? Simply put, the majority of Americans who believe in a secure, democratic and Jewish Israel, who value the special relationship between Israel and the U.S., but who will be silent no more when faced with leaders and policies that disserve America, Israel and the American Jewish community. Jeremy Ben-Ami is the executive director of J Street. Also on Haaretz.com: Jeremy Ben-Ami, by Shmuel Rosner New Jewish-American lobby wants to be alternative to AIPAC, by Shmuel Rosner More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   J-Street Is A Fraud-Pure And Simple 07:30  |  Ben Israel 25/07/08   2.   J-street 00:44  |  Ben America 26/07/08   3.   Who the Hell Knows 13:51  |  Ben-Moghrabi 26/07/08   4.   influence 22:41  |  Shmuelshachor 26/07/08   5.   What happened to the 22 arab state solution? 22:45  |  sam 26/07/08   6.   J.Street 22:50  |  Shmuelshachor 26/07/08   7.   The luxury of being an American Jew 22:51  |  ShrinkDave 26/07/08   8.   shrinkdave 23:17  |  potobac 26/07/08   9.   Jeremy Ben-Ami 23:32  |  rich 26/07/08   10.   An empty suit, bought second hand 00:08  |  Dr. Jack 27/07/08   11.   Two Inconvenient Truths 02:11  |  JonathanInTelAviv 27/07/08   12.   Ben Ami and AIPAC 06:00  |  Elliot 27/07/08   13.   Ben Ami and AIPAC 06:13  |  Elliot 27/07/08   14.   the `previously silent` majority 06:37  |  martin list, m.d. 27/07/08   15.   Mazal tov to JStreet ! 06:52  |  David 27/07/08   16.   propaganda machine 06:53  |  stella 27/07/08   17.   Hillel versus Shamai 07:48  |  Honi 27/07/08   18.   J Street, It doesan`t matter what American Jews want Israel to do 07:59  |  Steve 27/07/08   19.   `eradicated`? 20:33  |  Jerald Lentini 28/07/08   20.   Silent Majority--who is listening?! 14:33  |  Zev Davis 29/07/08

Read & React Source: Olmert ready to relax criteria for releasing prisoners in Shalit swap Responses: 56 Jewish blogger is the watchdog of the Orthodox world Responses: 41 Israeli officials: Syria taking peace talks seriously Responses: 27 Haaretz TV: Hebron settlers set up outpost on IDF base Responses: 52 Editorial: Why aren't we taking on rampaging settlers? Responses: 36 Rosner's Domain Lieberman seen as good veep choice (WTR) What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) More Headlines 21:33 Palestinian boy, 9, killed during protest at West Bank fence 21:06 Olmert: Syria must choose between peace and isolation 18:29 Hamas to Fatah: Only Zionist protection keeping you safe in West Bank 18:30 Palestinian man convicted of recruiting minister's assassins 21:27 IDF launches 2nd probe of officer who ordered bound Palestinian shot 19:28 U.S. leftists confirm plans to sail to Gaza to break siege 21:18 Jewish World / Parents get the Birthright experience 18:00 U.S. to explore upgrades for Israel's defense capabilities 18:37 Iranian official: Hezbollah swap a victory for the Muslim world 14:39 Source: Olmert ready to relax criteria for prisoners in Shalit swap 19:50 Knesset: State must help abductees' families fund release efforts 15:09 Jewish World / I'm so proud of my rabbinical family 14:44 Ariel Sharon's inner circle joins Livni camp ahead of Kadima race 16:56 Violent clash erupts between rightists and Bedouin near Jerusalem 17:01 VIDEO: Hebron settlers set up outpost on grounds of IDF base Previous Editions Select Day 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved