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Last update - 22:29 20/10/2009
Israel envoy Michael Oren rejects J Street invite
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Michael Oren, Israel News 

The Embassy of Israel in the United States on Tuesday announced that it would send an "observer" to the left-leaning lobby group J Street's first national conference next week, in place of Ambassador Michael Oren.

"In response to the question about J Street's invitation to participate in its conference, the Embassy of Israel has been privately communicating its concerns over certain policies of the organization that may impair the interests of Israel," the embassy said in a statement.

"Accordingly, the embassy will send an observer to the conference and will follow its proceedings with interest."
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J Street responded to the statement by saying it was still awaiting a direct response from Oren on the matter.

"J Street still looks forward to receiving a direct response from Ambassador Oren to our invitation to speak at the conference," spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick.

"We believe the Government of Israel will be missing an opportunity should it choose not to engage with the over 1,200 pro-Israel activists who will be in attendance at the J Street conference next week," she added.

"The invitation to address the conference's participants remains open, and we look forward to working with the Embassy to secure Israel's future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people."

Since his appointment, Oren has repeatedly snubbed the young and energetic "pro-peace and pro-Israel" Washington lobby, J Street, and refused to meet its members.

Oren has eluded questions over the last few weeks regarding whether he planned to attend the October 25 conference in Washington.

In a recent address at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, Oren was asked about his conflict with J Street, but would not say whether he would attend the conference.

He said that the American Jewish community's strength was always in its diverse opinions. He praised the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations as an appropriate framework for representing American Jews. He just did not mention that J Street is not included in that organization.

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      1.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  Yishai Kohen 01/11/09
      2.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  Moshe 01/11/09
      3.   Wrong move 16:40  |  r cummings 01/11/09
      4.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 01/11/09
      5.   Is that a loss....???? 16:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/11/09
      6.   Poor Foreign Ministry 16:40  |  arieh zimmerman 01/11/09
      7.   Oren tees up the golf ball for J street 16:40  |  Dave 01/11/09
      8.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  proud american 01/11/09
      9.   J Street is yet another fake "peace" group 16:40  |  RfaelMoshe 01/11/09
      10.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  David P. 01/11/09
      11.   I support Israel right or wrong, even when it acts immorally!!! 16:40  |  J. Pack 01/11/09
      12.   right wing paranoia 16:40  |  peacemonger 01/11/09
      13.   He Murdered and he inherited 16:40  |  The Last Zionist 01/11/09
      14.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  David 01/11/09
      15.   J Street pro-Israel activists = OXYMORON 16:40  |  Kelly 01/11/09
      16.   J Street 16:40  |  Al 01/11/09
      17.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  jjgross 01/11/09
      18.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  Alan-NYC 01/11/09
      19.   The winds are changing in the US 16:40  |  Moshe 01/11/09
      20.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 16:40  |  jim the mechanic 01/11/09
      21.   Israel sends a cautious reponse to a tepid supporter 16:40  |  Jacob Blues 01/11/09
      22.   JStreet is Credible Lobbying Organization 16:40  |  Stephen 01/11/09
      23.   21 Jacob Blues - And Every Speaker 16:40  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/11/09
      24.   #22 Stephen, .......Who`s Interests? 16:40  |  David P. 01/11/09
      25.   Great job Oren. Do not bother with those appeasers. 16:40  |  4:20 01/11/09
      26.   Stephen "Endorsed by over 100 Congress members" 16:40  |  A TRUE American 01/11/09
      27.   Hence Mark of Lewiston, the presence of the Israeli government 16:40  |  Jacob Blues 01/11/09
      28.   Big mistake Oren 16:40  |  Josh Marks 01/11/09
      29.   Not to many comments from the Peace Now in Israel crowd 16:40  |  Realist 01/11/09
      30.   JStreet Could Be Israel`s Savior. Don`t Try To Demonize It! 16:40  |  Ed 01/11/09
      31.   the times they are a changing.... 16:40  |  bearing witness 01/11/09
      32.   Who funds JStreet 16:40  |  Jackie 01/11/09
      33.   Oren has lost his nerve... what a pity... 16:40  |  Esther 01/11/09
      34.   Rubbish Josh Marks@24 No,not a Mistake but a Sensible Approach! 16:40  |  Benny 01/11/09
      35.   Civil Discourse 16:40  |  David M. Lipman 01/11/09
      36.   cIVIL dISCOURSE 16:40  |  David M. Lipman 01/11/09
      37.   Oren is Likud Ambassador, J Street Better Off Without Him 16:40  |  Dolphin 01/11/09
      38.   les absents ont toujours tort 16:40  |  Shelley 01/11/09
      39.   Know who to invite? ..... 16:40  |  Smadar 01/11/09
      40.   Why is moderator deleting so much? 16:40  |  jim the mechanic 01/11/09
      41.   Acts immorally?? #11 16:40  |  Bob 01/11/09
      42.   J street 16:40  |  Roberto 01/11/09
      43.   Peace On Earth 16:40  |  Shimon Cleopas 01/11/09
      44.   #24 16:40  |  Roger 01/11/09
      45.   #22 16:40  |  Stanley 01/11/09
      46.   Paranoia 16:40  |  Ussishkin 01/11/09
      47.   Oren looks like a diplomat 16:40  |  sh 01/11/09
      48.   Maybe it has to do more with the support of J Street 16:40  |  Lynn 01/11/09
      49.   #28 Jackie....Fenton gets money from Qatar 16:40  |  Lynn 01/11/09
      50.   Actually Ussishkin, it shows J-Street`s lack of importance 16:40  |  Jacob Blues 01/11/09
      51.   Actually Benny, there are more shades than you describe 16:40  |  Jacob Blues 01/11/09
      52.   Oren has lost his nerve.... what a pity.. 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      53.   Thank you Roberto for your approbation! yes 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      54.   I invite J-Street to come learn about the "settlements" 16:40  |  JPS 01/11/09
      55.   Ussishkin`s Paranoia@45 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      56.   JPS@?/WELL PUT,BUT... 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      57.   sh YOUR FACETIOUSNESS IS SHOWING@ 46 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      58.   Michael Oren is correct in rejecting JStreet 16:40  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 01/11/09
      59.   Jackie@31 Who funds JStreet... 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      60.   who are the cowards 16:40  |  michael 01/11/09
      61.   J Street is certainly up against it 16:40  |  r cummings 01/11/09
      62.   michael @60 try ans spell the word Samaria NOT SUMERIA! 16:40  |  James 01/11/09
      63.   #48, Lynn, exactly 16:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/09
      64.   Lynn exactly@ 63 16:40  |  It is me 01/11/09
      65.   James 16:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/11/09
      66.   R.Cummings Up against trillions of petro dollars 16:40  |  PETER SM 01/11/09
      67.   R.Cummings Up against trillions of petro dollars 16:40  |  PETER SM 01/11/09
      68.   A Non-Issue! 08:56  |  Justin Brannan 02/11/09
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