U.S. official's criticism of Israel ambassador sparks furor

It seems that only Israelis, who belong to the right wing (Likud or Yesha Council) are allowed to criticise Israel and its policies, all others are considered anti-semitic. What an unfortunate abuse of an originally beneficial concept.

It is possible that Ms.R's statement was motavated by her desire to stop the spread of world-wide anti-semitism? Maybe some of what J street proposes is important to the "anti"-anti-semitism movement? Some of us who have had life-changing experiences because of anti-semitism can see the merit of some of J-street's argument.

I suspect that the bloodthirsty G-d of the Old Testament`s alleged promise to the descendents of Abraham has something to do with the Israel occupation of Palesine land.

Can Israel and its supporters not take criticism? Well perhaps that's not the question here. Its seems that Hannah Rosenthal and J-Street cannot take criticism. Too thin skinned perhaps. Perhaps they just don't like anything getting in the way of their message: they are Hebrews, not like those nasty Zionist Jews.

They are not expecting you to blindly believe them, but to consider their arguments, and decide by yourself. Right you are: Being Jewish is no garantee of knowing what is best, not for the Jewish people, as you wrote, but for the Jewish state, which is completely different. And that is also true for Netanyahu and his government.

J street, Goldstone and the other Rosenthal may be Jewish, that does not mean that they know what is best for Israel and for the Jewish people. Larry

So, you reveal the truth in your own words--you support Israel only if it is not Likud. You are in in fact advocating surrendering Israels sovereignty to its avowed enemies--the Arabs. Sounds like you are a both a fool and a traitor. Don't you know that Israel is still in a state of war since the moment it declared its statehood? why are you silent on that. why aren't you attacking the countries that are blasting Israel from all directions? Its because you and J-street are unmitigated COWARDS. You only attack your own kind under the protection of the mantle of the host of its enemies. If you had a milligram of courage you and J-street would focus your efforts only on the enemies of Israel.

I reckon the obama people are up to their old tricks again......ya'll need ta know what them their obama's think of ya'll...they ain;t ya'll friends....i reckon so

The 'Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism', according to its own website, 'advocates U.S. policy on anti-Semitism both in the United States and internationally, develops and implements policies and projects to support efforts to combat anti-Semitism.' So, such is its brief, and it is therefore the brief of its head, Ms Rosenthal. Now, would someone please tell me how her criticism of Israel's ambassador to the US, over his lack of support for a particular US lobby, fits within her brief? It doesn't, of course - Ms Rosenthal greatly exceeded her authority. Criticism at an ambassadorial level ought come from the US Sec'y of State, Ms Clinton, or from the President himself. And any criticism ought to be over matters of bilateral or international interest - and again, Ms Rosenthal misses the target. And despite the profuse apology from 'senior US government officials', one must wonder if this was another anti-Israel trial balloon lofted from the top floor of the White House. MV

"israel's policy is to ignore j-street." "hannah rosenthal should concentrate on her mission which is to combat antisemitism, not to create more of it." (CJK) Has an US official the right to criticise an Israeli ambassador's conduct? That is open to discussion. What is totally senseless is to claim that criticizing the current Israeli leadership's policy creates "more antisemitism". The Israeli opposition is doing it all the time. Was Netanyahu, when opposed to Sharon's policy, creating more antisemitism? Is the Yesha Council today creating more of it? You have obviously no idea of what antisemitism is all about.

I support Michael Oren for not attending the J-Street conference. I don't know anyone in the United States that supports J-Street. Mainstream American Jews support AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee and ZOA (Zionist Organization of America). J-Street's views and opinions are against the policies of the State of Israel. J-Street reminds me of people that are against the Torah and the G-d of Israel. Israel needs to boycott J-Street.

"u.s. official has no right to criticise israel`s ambassador" - Cipora You are right! We should just throw out the Israeli Ambassador as persona non gratia and withdraw our own until Israel replaces the Netanyahu gangsters with a government which is not rabidly hostile to the United States.

Does anyone over there realize how immature and obnoxious this kind of crap is?

Ideas, opinions, and positions of different kinds and from different points of view make us stronger, not weaker. J street has started a dialogue that must be continued, not stifled. A rigid, right wing Bush-like position will do nothing for Israel's cause. We are are fighting an existential battle, and we must bring together all those who want to win it for Israel, and allow ideas to be expressed freely, so as to choose the best solutions. Clearly, the Netanyahu government does not have the correct solutions, and fanatic views are no longer tolerated. The sooner we all realize that, the better Israel's position will become.

This is a very unimportant story. The Israeli right was out to destroy the Obama administration since before it was in power. Netanyahu deliberately sent an offensive person to be Israel's Ambassador. That people in our government are offended is not surprising as that was the intent of the Netanyahu government. It should be clear by now to any but the most deranged that Obama is not going to do anything to offend the democrat party's 'Jewish Block' and his is harmless to Israel.

# 43 Michael frm UK. Look who's talkng !? One of the greatest violators of human rights around the world. Past & present a) The Rape of Irak,espicially in the Basrah area.(Second time around.They even had stamps issued,1st time: "Irak Under British Occupation") b)The Falkland islands.Which Argentina clames as their own. (The good old Lady sent her Navy, 20,000 kls. away from the shores of England to subdue it & snatch it from the poorly armed Argentinians) c)Then you have Afghanistan ! What the hell are you doing there ? Once when you thought you were a great Empire,you got your nose prpperly bashed in Afghanistan! Don't you people ever learn the lesson ? That's only a sprinkling of your arrogance & haughtiness. This is only skimming the surface!

Don't mistake this for a tiff between the US and Israel. It is between Israel and some independent minded diaspora Jews in the US. The goyfolk here don't even know about it. It hasn't appeared in the US media.

seems ignorant of how the UN operates. Sudans issues as horrific as they are, are internal. The UN cannot interfere. At best all it can do is pass a resolution to issue a statement of condemnation and help the victims under the UNHRC / UNHCR. The UNSC cannot interfere. Likewise it can only pass a resolution to make a statement of condemnation. Israel has more resolutions against it than Sudan, because Israel is acting outside it's recognized Sovereign territory. Most of the resolutions against Israel are reminders of either prior UNSC resolutions or the law. A person of her station should know how the UN works.

the UNSC's business. The US is a full voting member.

from those who pays it's bills. Then I humbly suggest you go swivel and take AIPAC with you.

Israeli politicians feel free to call Obama an anti-semite, but the moment somebody linked to the US government utters the least criticism of Israel, they must be crushed and must be seen to be crushed. I'm amazed the Americans put up with it.

"Bilateral means , I think, that there are two sides, involving both sides equally (which mean mostly compromises),binding on both parties to agreements. To be one eyed and stubborn is considered as a stupidity in diplomatia." But two one eyed and stubborn can be bilateral, no?

It is hard to fathom the grossly arrogant attitude of present day Zionist and their American supporters. They thank us not for US support in the past, and now write that all they want is our Veto. The rising anti-semitism is not from any deep seated hatred for the Jews of the past, but from the attitudes of Israel's policies. Such people should loudly disavow any further help from the US or anyone else, publically state that AIPAC is an arm of the Israeli government and should be shut down, and then go it alone in the world. Israel is fast losing the great friendship it once had with millions of Americans who care about both countries. Perhaps present day Zionists do not want such friendships, and, if so, quit whining.

Not hardly. A tempest in a tea cup.

Bilateral means , I think, that there are two sides, involving both sides equally (which mean mostly compromises),binding on both parties to agreements. To be one eyed and stubborn is considered as a stupidity in diplomatia.

No problem here at all. ALL represent Jews and Israel. Oren is a Likud apparatchik, currently the ambassador. There is no reason not to support J-Street if you belive inits platform, which the majority of American Jews do, even if the AIPAC crowd and the Likudniks deny it and try to paint J-Street as "treasonous". Sheer nonsense. Or maybe Israel has been reduced to Likud in which case we can all pack it up.

is to represent those Jews both Israeli and decent ones who do not agree with the policies of the Israeli Government regarfddless of Political affiliation. It is called Democracy. If those who disagree with J Street want to silence it instead of engaging with it, then prehaps their arguments are slightly stronger than most Right Wing Israelis care to admit. Which is a good thing as decent Jews want a voice which doesn't agree with the slaughter we saw during Cast Lead.

Your response is very interesting: "The diplomatic relationships -especially as to ambassadors -they are always bilateral!!!" From both sides?

If you go to J Street site you will see that they do not have a place for comments or talkback or contact and their site displays the symbols of Meretz party and Shalom Achshav Party, both parties that are defunct or nearly defunct. These people are not Jews, they call themselves "with Jewish Roots". They want to have their cake and save it. And calling this lobby liberal, is equating true liberalism with the radical left who are espoused to radical islam.

The U.S. Today. Even from a lofty pedestal. one has to step down !

How about a fair trade? You give up our financial and diplomatic support and we'll shut up.

"mind your own busines about israel and stop meddling" and you can take AIPAC and the other Israeli lobby groups home to Israel and stop them interfering in the foreign policies of other countries.

The diplomatic relationships -especially as to ambassadors -they are always bilateral!!!

the ambassador of israel represents his country's policies in the u.s. israel's policy is to ignore j-street. hannah rosenthal should concentrate on her mission which is to combat antisemitism, not to create more of it.

mind your own busines about israel and stop meddling

Time for Netanyahu to start appointing all your advisors. You and the Democrats cannot be trusted to ensure appropriate humility.

It should not be Michael Oren's role to deprecate American pro-Israel organizations for failure to align with Israel's extreme right. Oren deserves all the criticism he gets for ignoring non-Likud-aligned organizations. If Israel's government wants friendship with only a specific part of America most closely aligned with its goals, it is no wonder their track record at diplomacy is so dismal. Maybe we can reduce Israel's aid payments proportional to the fraction of America which is aligned with AIPAC/against J-Street. The day of the neocon is over, and whether they will rise again in America is in grave doubt.

Can the reason for Israel's refusal to acknowledge J Street be that it refuses to follow the Israeli-AIPAC line - Israelis: always good; Palestinians: always evil?

Hannah Rosenthal has always represented the finest of her generation, as a Jew, an American and an activist defender of Israel before a wide array of audiences, some not always friendly to Israel's interests. The criticism from Jewish quarters is uncalled for and the executive in charge of the Conference of Presidents should know better than to put such hysterical words in the mouth of his chairperson.

Michael Oren is the best Ambassador Israel has ever had in the States. Thank God, someone is telling the truth regardless of what the incapable US government is saying. They will lose the Congress come November, and the White House in 2112. Just hold on. The times will change soon.

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After 30 years, I don't even know how an American Administration, or any other interested party, approaches the P/I issue in a "constructive" manner. I would suggest, since it's never yet been done, and nothing else has worked, that we start by withholding all funds from every party until they sit down across from each other and get serious. That means Israel, the PO, Egypt and Jordan. Cold turkey...no greenbacks. Until you all sit down and TALK...and MEAN WHAT YOU SAY. Forget the commentary...do away with public criticism... Just take off the training wheels and make you all ride your own bikes.

What a disgrace! Israeli officials can snub a chunk of the American Jewish community, but if an American official (whose remit has to do with antisemitism, NOT diplomatic relations with Israel) dares to express an opinion then the Israeli government and it's closest lackeys in our community are up in arms! Of course, since the Israeli goverment thinks it represents every Jew everywhere and that it "owns" the issue of antisemitism, then I guess this is not suprising.

Israeli politicians routinely criticize us, and it rarely causes "a furor" over here. Get over yourselves, and mind your own business. An ambassador should exercise diplomacy, not just his own sense of fabricated umbrage. Will $3 billion a year calm your ruffled feathers? Obviously not.

so she can be replaced by another puppet to carry Obama's changed policy message

For Jewish college students who grew up knowing "pro-Israel" Jewish-American culture mainly as a culture of hate, the J Street student affiliate, J Street U, offers a way back to Judaism, where the humanity of all is acknowledged.

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has the guts to challenge the franchise of AIPAC to express opinions on American ME policies. How awful! JStreet doesn't even believe that thousands of American deaths and many more thousands of terrible, limb-loss injuries in Iraq were good investments. JStreet questions the wisdom of believing that brokering peace between Israel and a Palestinian state is less important than bombing Iran. What fools! JStreet even has some consideration for the consequences of American ME policies on the US, not just on Israel. Definitely a bunch of anti-semites! No one should ever listen to anything JStreet has to say. Freedom of speech is not always good.

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you people are a joke

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Perhaps Rosenthal though she was in like company - you know, the left wing "Israel is at fault" crowd present in some quarters of the Administration. Well, she let that presumption get her in trouble. The US has enough trouble earning credibility with Israel, so her remarks were deemed inappropriate and counter-productive.

who's next? It's totally unacceptable the U.S. government's attitude toward people who don't buy the "official" line regarding Israel. Anytime that someone, anyone, criticizes Israel in its behavior, the whole apparatus of the Israel propaganda machine goes into overtime to discredit such individuals. What is really telling is that both Goldstone and Rosenthal are Jewish...Kudos to them for speaking the truth! They should admired. I, for one, do admire them!

Now we're apologising for the aberrant behaviour of the American Jewish leadership and the criminally unaccountable Olmert and Netanyahu governments? The list includes queries about Cast Lead that supporters of Israel world-wide want to see answered - a Commission of Inquiry would go a long way - and the refusal to keep the labelling deal with EU on settlement products. Its always deflected by accusations of anti-Semitism and 'self-hating Jews' and anti-Zionist Jew. The last time I, named for a holocaust survivor, faced such American Jewish antics was outside the hotel where the JStreet inuagural took place. I and other attendees faced placards calling us 'Nazis'. This denial by Israeli leaders leading us into further denial, reminds a S African Israeli friend of the whites before the end of apartheid. That is what exists in the W Bank and if it takes a Pro-Israel Pro-Peace group to end it, I'm with them all the way.

Thank goodness Rosenthal is not afraid to speak out and speak the truth!

I believe that Rahm Emanuel's hand is all over this story and is all over J-Street. He is know for his strong arm tactics that Chicago seems to do so well. I expect Emanuel to resign at some point. I believe the sooner the better as far as Jews are concerned, both American and Israeli. By the way Rahm, please leave your Barmitzvah jokes at home. You made the hair at the back of my neck, as well as many others, rise a little.

Ha'aretz says, "J Street began to promote issues like a freeze on settlement construction and a two-state solution." That's the least of it! The organization goes much further -- refusing to condemn Goldstone, refusing to defend Israeli action in Gaza, refusing to support sanctions against Iran (until recently). Those are not actions of a purported "pro-Israel" organization, and Ha'aretz should try to whitewash them.