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Last update - 00:05 26/10/2009
J Street convenes in Washington, but can it take on AIPAC?
By Sara Miller, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, J Street 

The self-declared pro-peace, pro-Israel lobby J Street kicked off its first conference in Washington on Sunday, with several American political bigwigs and a number of leftist Israeli heavyweights. Absent, however, was the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, who hemmed and hawed before finally admitting last week that he would not be going.

J Street, which sees itself as a dovish alternative to the all-powerful AIPAC, appears to have taken the rebuff by Israel in its stride, and has to make do with the presence of U.S. National Security Adviser Jim Jones, who will deliver the keynote speech on Tuesday.

The main dish on the conference menu is how to reach a two-state solution for the eternally warring Israelis and Palestinians, with a side order of Israeli-American ties. The topics up for panel debates are fairly obvious, dominating as they do the global diplomatic agenda: settlement growth, the Mideast peace process and Iran (the lobby opposes a military strike on Iran).
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Unlike AIPAC, this conference will not be forgiving of Israel, nor will it offer unmitigated support. Tough questions will be asked and every aspect of Israel's policies and relationship with the U.S. come under scrutiny; even a debate about "what it means to be pro-Israel" was promised.

The lobby seems to be surfing on the turning tide of American and American Jewish policy regarding Israel. Its mission statement is more in line with the Mideast policies of Barack Obama, who won the support of an overwhelming number of American Jewish voters last November.

In his introduction to the conference, J Street director Jeremy Ben-Ami writes that the event has special resonance for, among others, "Jewish and other Americans who have found it hard to connect to traditional pro-Israel advocacy."

But solidifying its status as an AIPAC alternative depends on whether American Jews truly are sick of the endless rounds of talking and fighting between Israel and the Palestinians, and the increasingly hard-line stance coming out of Jerusalem.

J Street may have a long way to go until it has the pulling power of AIPAC, whose 2008 conference drew John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Obama (admittedly, that shindig did take place in June - at the height of the presidential campaigns and before Clinton decided to climb down the tree), but it is making many waves in the U.S. and in Israel.

Expect an interesting three days, whether or not the lobby yet has the teeth of its more high-profile rival.
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  1.   To what effect? 17:01  |  David 25/10/09
  2.   At least their R those who love isreal 17:21  |  nevermind 25/10/09
  3.   AIPAC is supported because the American electorate and not just 18:20  |  James 25/10/09
  4.   Finally!! 18:47  |  Boyd 25/10/09
  5.   J Street voice of Impracticality, Appeasement & Surrender 18:49  |  David 25/10/09
  6.   J Street 18:59  |  Brit 25/10/09
  7.   J Street- Pro Peace- So is AIPAC pro war? 20:14  |  Rich 25/10/09
  8.   AIPAC was responsible for Jewish emigrants freedom out of Russia 20:34  |  Roger 25/10/09
  9.   if J-sttreet wants to change the Middle East 20:36  |  Sam 25/10/09
  10.   Focus on counterproductive "peace" talks alienates US Jewry 21:52  |  B 25/10/09
  11.   the snub that says it all 22:54  |  Shelley 25/10/09
  12.   If J Street is pro-Israel then I am SUPERGIRL! 23:38  |  Sandy 25/10/09
  13.   The story line is... 00:37  |  EGB 26/10/09
  14.   Jim Jones worth more than ten Michael Orens 00:51  |  Spokanite 26/10/09
  15.   Yes, #4, AIPAC is "pro-war," 01:04  |  bob 26/10/09
  16.   the contest is here, not in D.C. 01:34  |  arieh zimmerman 26/10/09
  17.   Lets them first decide if they are pro a Hamas or Fatah State 04:09  |  Robin 26/10/09
  18.   J Street disagrees with Obama on Israel`s right to self-defense 05:07  |  Publius 26/10/09
  19.   J Street Knows... 05:18  |  Ed 26/10/09
  20.   Does the whole world goes by the settlers? 08:20  |  Samaria settler 26/10/09
  21.   J Street 12:47  |  Philip 26/10/09
  22.   Pro Hamas or Fatah 14:56  |  Brian Pomerantz 26/10/09
  23.   AIPAC Can`t Lobby for Israel 16:11  |  Stephen 26/10/09
  24.   # 3 James 17:41  |  Elmer 26/10/09
  25.   Israel Is Not Likud; J Street Right, AIPAC Wrong 18:59  |  Dolphin 26/10/09
  26.   J Street 19:18  |  Manny Hotchkiss 26/10/09
  27.   LOL at #`s 7 & 8 21:22  |  Czarkazem13 26/10/09
  28.   Sara Miller`s op-ed highlights why Israel`s reaction has been 21:32  |  Jacob Blues 26/10/09
  29.   do they have a non jewish section? 23:44  |  dani 26/10/09
  30.   # 3 James 01:15  |  Stephen 27/10/09
  31.   A tool for dividing American Jewry , weakening support for Israel 08:52  |  Shalom Freedman 27/10/09
  32.   JUDAS Street 13:57  |  j10 27/10/09
  33.   Who does J Street intend to lobby? 15:54  |  David Olesker 27/10/09
  34.   J. Street 16:30  |  Lee M. 27/10/09
  35.   # 23 Shalom Freedman 15:41  |  Stephen 28/10/09
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