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Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to Washington.
 (Emil Salman)
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Last update - 10:46 18/10/2009
J Street embraced by Obama administration, but not in Israel
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 your favor for decades," said a senior Israeli official. "Certainly not in favor of an organization that has done nothing for Israel." The official added: "We have no reason to build up or bolster J Street."

Israeli domestic politics are also a likely factor in the decision on whether to participate or not. The vast majority of the politicians from Israel who have confirmed their participation in the J Street conference are from the left, mostly Meretz and Labor.

Meanwhile, J Street's executive director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, sent a letter to ambassador Oren Friday, inviting him to the conference, reiterating the support of the group for Israel and for an immediate resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through peaceful means. Ben-Ami said that at the conference "we will come together as pro-Israel activists to discuss the best path forward for Israel and the United States in troubling circumstances, balancing a desire for security and for peace and a commitment to the values we bring to the table as Jews and as Americans."

He also reminded Oren that in the past "you've spoken publicly of the need for Israeli officials to engage with progressive elements in the American Jewish community that have not traditionally been attracted to pro-Israel lobbying."


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      2.   J Street Worthy of Support 05:02  |  Vladek 18/10/09
      3.   This is exactly why Obama will get nowhere in the middle east 05:07  |  A Nice Fellow 18/10/09
      4.   J-Street more than meets the eye 05:23  |  howiej 18/10/09
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      6.   J Street only pro-peace Jews left? 07:34  |  Avi 18/10/09
      7.   The Israel/American right and J Street 07:51  |  arieh zimmerman 18/10/09
      8.   Lets not forget! 08:23  |  Chappaqua neighbor 18/10/09
      9.   Why should Israelis like Diasporas who tell them the truth ??? 08:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 18/10/09
      10.   J-Street 09:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/09
      11.   a nice fellow (soi-disant) 10:06  |  potobac 18/10/09
      12.   J Street is not pro-Israel in about the same sense... 10:15  |  Colin Wright 18/10/09
      13.   Burnt (nisraf) 10:35  |  Gilad 18/10/09
      14.   Avi 10:36  |  Purple Canary 18/10/09
      15.   J-Street 11:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/09
      16.   potobac 11:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/10/09
      17.   Michael Oren DO NOT GIVE J Street LEGITIMACY 13:14  |  David 18/10/09
      18.   Was JStreet Created by Obama? 13:21  |  James 18/10/09
      19.   For a "peaful man" surely its very strange. 13:36  |  Abecassis 18/10/09
      20.   Where does JStreet`s funding come from? 13:47  |  Jackie 18/10/09
      21.   Jstreet statement is true 13:49  |  JT 18/10/09
      22.   Who finance J-Street 14:30  |  Gary 18/10/09
      23.   #14 Why not get off your arse and find out, Jackie? 14:47  |  Johnboy 18/10/09
      24.   My take 14:53  |  Yariv 18/10/09
      25.   Re: Purple Canary - stop lying! 15:32  |  Apa 18/10/09
      26.   #18 Apa it was only 66% ---read below from Schlomo ben ami 15:58  |  Labhras 18/10/09
      27.   #18 Apa it was only 66% ---read below from Schlomo ben ami 15:59  |  Labhras 18/10/09
      28.   #15 Abecassis 16:46  |  BDS 18/10/09
      29.   J Street - the "pressure Israel for its own good" crowd 17:48  |  Raymond in DC 18/10/09
      30.   #14" Was JStreet Created by Obama?" 18:21  |  Sanjeeda 18/10/09
      31.   c j kohn 12 18:40  |  potobac 18/10/09
      32.   J Street and Obama in Sync with AMERICAN Values 19:00  |  John Q. Public 18/10/09
      33.   J Street is not a friend of Israel 20:42  |  Nechama 18/10/09
      34.   J Street funding #20 Jackie 20:58  |  Ron 20/10/09
      35.   J Street 23:44  |  Jerry 20/10/09
      36.   link to funding report 10:42  |  B 21/10/09
      37.   J Street contributors 15:16  |  Nechama 21/10/09
      38.   Yariv, there is nothing naive about J Street 15:22  |  Nechama 21/10/09
      39.   J Street 17:11  |  Geoff 21/10/09
      40.   What Is At Work Here? 18:13  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/10/09
      41.   Jstreet is no friend of Israel 04:10  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 23/10/09
      42.   J street is a danger to us all. 07:11  |  flower 25/10/09
      43.   J Street 19:52  |  Jill Oserowsky 27/10/09
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