U.S. official blasts Israel envoy's 'unfortunate' J-Street remarks
U.S. anti-Semitism czar: Michael Oren would have learned a lot if he came to J-Street's conference.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel newsRemarks by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, against the liberal Jewish lobby J Street were "most unfortunate" according to Hannah Rosenthal, head of the U.S. administration's Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.
In an interview with Haaretz in Jerusalem, where Rosenthal was the administration's envoy to the Foreign Ministry's Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism, Rosenthal, who once served on J street's board of directors, said she opposes blurring the lines between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel.
"It is not 1939," she said. "We have the state of Israel. We have laws in countries that are holding people accountable."
When Ambassador Michael Oren turned down J Street's request to be keynote speaker at its first annual conference, and chose not to attend, debate over the group, already intense in the American Jewish community, reached as far as Jerusalem.
J Street was established a few years ago as a new pro-Israel lobby to counterbalance the strong, veteran group AIPAC, considered to toe a more right-wing conservative line.
Under the motto is "pro-Israel, pro-peace," J Street began to promote issues like a freeze on settlement construction and a two-state solution.
While the U.S. administration embraced J Street, which lends its unqualified support to U.S. President Barack Obama, the Israeli government turned a cold shoulder to the group. Obama's national security adviser, General James Jones, gave the keynote speech at the conference, while Israel sent a low-level official, claiming that J Street works against Israel's interests.
Rosenthal, who also served on the board of directors of left-wing group Americans for Peace Now, said she believed Oren "would have learned a lot" if he had participated in J Street's conference.
"I came away realizing what a generational divide there is and I don't know how it is in Israel. Young people want to be part of the discussion, they feel they have fresh ideas and they feel that we have to end the stalemate," she said.
Rosenthal strongly believes that new and different voices need to be heard regarding Israel in the American Jewish community.
"We need to have as many people coming together to try and put an end to this crisis, the matzav [situation] can not continue - it's unacceptable and that's why I always paid my membership to AIPAC, but I have always paid my membership to Americans for Peace Now - because they all need to be supported and they all need to be at the table."
"We may disagree on different paths to get there - but we need to at least admit that peace is the goal and security is the goal," she said.
Rosenthal, 58, who held senior positions in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration, said she met Obama in Chicago when he was still a senator.
She said criticism of her appointment in the Obama administration, from the leaders of some American Jewish organizations, was "from a very few people who blog a lot."
Although she did not say outright what she thought Israel should do regarding the peace process, when pressed, she said: "I lived in Israel in 1973 in the bomb shelters. I don't want my kids or my grandchildren to have to ever come visit their homeland and to live in a bomb shelter - that is what I mean when I say the matzav ... Sometimes I wonder what it does to the psyche of people and children to know that they have to know where the nearest bomb shelter is - that's not okay. As a peace loving person and as a Jew who wants my kids to feel comfortable here - I think that's what I mean that the matzav cannot continue."
Rosenthal's position, founded during former president George W. Bush's term, was upgraded by Obama when he symbolically moved her office to the same floor in the building housing the State Department where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has her office.
"We have seen huge increases in anti-Semitism. Research shows that 46 percent of the population in Spain has negative views of Jews - in Spain. Two days ago it was reported that anti-Semitic incidents in France more than doubled last year. Ninety-five percent of the Jordanians and Egyptians have negative views of Jews. How can we hope to get to this goal with this climate," Rosenthal said.
When asked to comment on the view of some in the Israeli government that the Goldstone report was anti-Semitic, Rosenthal said: "I do believe that some of the criticism against Israel is anti-Semitism but not all of it is. And I think that healthy democracies - and Israel is one - has to do self reflection and the world looks at the light unto the nations and says I agree to this policy or I don't agree - that is not anti-Semitism. But having the UN single out Israel for 170 resolutions over the last five years - when everybody knows that Sudan is committing genocide and they have only five resolutions. When Israel is the only agenda item on the human rights council - I think it's legitimate to look at this singling out, holding Israel to a different standard than the rest of the world. I think that crosses the line to anti-Semitism."
"But it is not anti-Semitic to look at a certain policy of Israel and say - I disagree with it. Half of the population in Israel isn't anti-Semitic by not agreeing with policies," Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal's father is a Holocaust survivor, the sole survivor of his family.
"I said to my father at this point - 'dad how did you survive?' And he turned to me and said - 'I survived to have you.' This is why I am so driven and have a feeling of urgency for this issue," she said.
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Hannah Rosenthal in Jerusalem last week. |
| Photo by: (Emil Salman) |
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It's not necessary for J Street to ask the Palestinians to recognize Israel's right to exist. The PLO did that many years ago. In August 1993, in a mutual exchange of letters, PM Rabin insisted on changes to the Palestinian Charter. In response, Arafat wrote that the PLO recognized the State of Israel. It also declared it recognized UN resolutions 242 and 338, and that the PLO commits to the ME peace process and to peaceful resolution of conflict thru negotiations. It said the PLO renounces terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility to prevent violations and discipline violators. Arafat wrote "those articles of the Palestinian covenant which are inconsistent with commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid." 9 Sept. 1993. The charter was changed to read: " A. The Palestinian National Charter is hereby amended by canceling the articles that are contrary to the letters exchanged between the PLO and the Government of Israel, 9-10 Sept. 1993"
The US Government does chose lobbying groups as representatives of anything. These groups declare what they represent. US Govt could care less whom they represent. J Street was not created by the Democratic National Committee. You are a zionist liar. J Street was created by the US Jewish community. It has between 4-5 thousand donors. It does not know the religious or ethnic background of all of them, but they are primarily individual Jewish Americans. J Street accepts no funding from foreign governments nor foreign organizations. About 3% of the donors are from Americans with Arabic or Muslim sounding names. In 2008, J Street raised $844,000 (an election year) and thus far in 2009 (as of July) it has raised $111,000. This may help you, so that the next time you wish to discuss J Street you will have some idea what you are talking about.
It has nothing to do with American Jews.
Having lived abroad for almost 20 years, I have never witnessed an entire population so inclined to lie about anything they don't like. You have absolutely no information that Soros or the Saudis fund J Street. You simply made it up and decided to insult the US President to help make your point. You, sir, are a lying, intellectually dishonest Jew. J Street has 4 to 5,000 donors. J Street doesnt know the religions or ethnic background of them all but they are primarily individual Jewish Americans. J Street accepts no funding from foreign governments or foreign organizations. If J Street received funds from Saudi Arabia, it would have to register with the Justice Dep't and the FBI as a foreign agent. J Street raised 844,000 in 2008, an election year, and have raised $111,000 so far (July) in 2009. Some 3% of their donors have Arab or Muslim sounding names. 3% of $111,000 is $3,330.
You didnt comment on the fact that Israel was founded by groups that are considered terrorist organisations. All i'm going to say is this: You go live in the WB with Arabs and i dont care how you see the unfolding of history, when you have an entire generation living humilitation then yes THEY WILL HATE YOU. When you drop bombs on civilians and kill 347 children as they did in Gaza last year, then yes they will incite hatred. Its not moral but its a natural reaction. Sorry but the guise of 'self-defence' which kills that many children there's ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT. If it was Israeli children killed in that number you'll call it Holocaust part II. But if it's Arabs then they are naturally born with terrorism ingrained in their blood right? they're not human beings right? even if you use the bogus claim that terrorist hide among civilians it still doesn't justify it. nothing does!
"The WB is 100% Israeli territory. Jews have every right to reside in Hebron, bet el, gush etzion as arabs reside in tel aviv and haifa." (Lisa) You are talking pure nonsense. 1 - Israel has never claimed sovereignty on the West Bank. 2 - These Arabs "in Tel-Aviv and Haifa" you are mentioning are Israeli citizens as from 1948. 3 - Their presence among us is not being forced by an Arab occupation army. Anyone who takes part in this discussion, and doesn't know these simple facts - is an ignorant fool.
"As long as the iran problem is not solved, the chances for peace with the palestinians are close to nil." (CJK) 42 years after Israel accidentally took control of Gaza and the West Bank, it is still investing all its energy, resources and military might in a land dispute with a stateless people. Anyone claiming that this is because Iran is building a nuclear weapons program, is suffering from mental confusion.
The do gooders will be the end of us, Gd forbid.
Re "Zipory" Whoever you are, you need help. What a ridiculous comment.
I don't see any quoted in the article. Rosnenthal condemms the Goldstone report but J-Street was against Congress' resolution against the Goldstoner report!
"Dear Sir or Madam, Before 1948, the Jews that lived in Palestine were mostly Semitic Jews, not the Russians and Brooklynites that presently inhabit the state of Israel. That.is.the.difference." Dear clown. I didn't realize that those "Semitic Jews" weren't allowed to reclaim and develop their lands into communities. What is the difference which makes it immoral for Jews to build communities on their land? If I own a property in East Jerusalem and want to lease it to a family from Brooklyn, am I not allowed to do so because of your racism?
It's too bad that she doesn't know. It does make it hard for her opinions to be taken seriously, even though I actually agree with most of them.
how it is in Israel; she has no credibility.
Not by AIPAC and even less by J-Street! We don't care at all about Mr.Oren's, or Mrs. Rosenthal's Right or Left preferences! We are Jewish-Americans, just like Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans or Chinese-Americans. That is - Americans. The whole of AIPAC is not more than about one sixtieth of the Jewish population of the US! (100,000 vs six million). As about J-Street, they are maybe a tenth of AIPAC...
I'm interested in knowing what you think Obama should do and what you think the Palestinians should do. Obviously Obama advocating the plight of the Jews is completely disregarded by you if he counters it with something critical of Israel (basically anyone who is critical of Israel is automatically a Nazi). So tell us what in your view should anyone be doing and explain your reasoning. I really genuinely want to know what your point of view is. Thanks
Ms H Rosenthal, you'd do better to leave your sentiments and support of an organization funded by Nazi collaborator Soros and by Saudia Arabia back in the United States with B Hussein Obowma who undoubtedly appointed you cos of your affiliation with an organization that is more anti Israel then any other Jewish organization in the US. B Husssein's anti Israel agenda is obvious to all and it's the quislings Goldstone, Rosenthal and others of their ilk that legitimize him and his nefarious actions. You have no right to blast the Israeli Ambassador Oren. He was 100% correct in not taking part in their conference in order not to be associated with the organization that is funded and supported by the enemies of Israel. You probably think the "J" in J Street stands for Jew but in my opinion Judas or Jihadist is more appropriate.
"Up until 1948, BOTH people lived on that land. When did you sell it all to the Arabs?" Dear Sir or Madam, Before 1948, the Jews that lived in Palestine were mostly Semitic Jews, not the Russians and Brooklynites that presently inhabit the state of Israel. That.is.the.difference.
All actions by Israel during the past decades have been of a defensive nature. The root cause of the conflict is Arab belligerance and intransigence. They cannot accept a non-Muslim infidel presence in their midst. If you offer all of Israel, there will still be reasons why there cannot be peace. If the Arabs hadn't LOST (not STOLEN) the land in 1967, there wouldn't be your excuse of Occupation. The 1967 War (and all other wars) were fought because of Arab refusal to accept the reality of Israeli existing. The residents in refugee camps were kept there on purpose, waiting for Israel to be destroyed. Once the Arabs stop deluding their population and state the truth about the price of peace, there will be peace. Simple as that. If the Arabs continue to mislead their citizens with wild thoughts of Israel's demise, instead of coming clean, there will never be peace. It is all up to the Arabs.
..by not attending and accepting the speaking engagement at the Jstreet conference. As Israel's major Representative in the USA, he should have paid respect to a strong, growing, and active organization. JStreet not only represents American Jews but all types of Americans who believe in Israel and peace in the middle east. Oren had an obligatioon to attend not for right-wing or left-wing Jews but for this new American interest..its his job.
The Pals have had to bother making concessions to Israel sweetie because Israel has taken everything it wants and more (land, water, airspace, economy...). What do they have left to offer? Have you noticed that what Israel asks for is recognition of what it is and has done.....can you even understand the subtlty here? Do you have a functional intelligence?
There are many Palestinian/Israeli peace groups however you can't expect the Palestinians to have Palestinian only peace organizations.Those who are opressed,brutalized and experience never ending theft of their land have no means of requiring the opressor to give them peace.The theft of land continues regardless of what the Palestinians do.As General Matty Peled told the kenneset in 1967"This was a war for more land".
you've got some problems hiding your islamophobia ?? Don't hide ! we noticed.
Would love to hear your voices!!!
You got your facts lady......
Go Girl, Go
That is absolute false statement. I sure know more Palestinian Peace groups than Israel groups. I never heard of any in fact. J St is trying but Israel doesn't want peace.
My final point is this: The Palestinians were displaced and Israel was not exactly established by peaceful means. The Hagannah/Irgun groups were considered terrorist organizations by the intl' community and have commited the murders of many innocent people. Thats the equivalent of Hamas having a higher power and establishing a state in the same means. You say the WB is 100% Israeli since it was 'won by war'. I dont think i need to elaborate on that for the readers of this post as this is not how the intl community sees it. I think REAL peace-loving means admitting what you have done to people you impoverished and displaced in an unjust manner and all the 'peace offers' are actually pie-crusts offered by the occupier with the bat to the prisoner with no freedom and no rights. Ofcourse Palestinians should also admit their wrongs and not incite violence. Put yourself in Palestinian's shoes (i mean everyday people, not the corrupt and extremist leaderships).
In 1970 Egypt offered peace with the Israelis for the return of land. It said NOTHING about the Palestinians. This offer was rejected in favor of expansion (to keep Sinai). What is known as Kissinger's 'stalemate'. After the Yom Kippur failure for Egypt In 1976 the offer was made again but this time mentioning resolutions 242 and 338. Things had developed by then and Israel negotiated peace with Egypt. Now I know you're talking about the Palestinians but look at how many resolutions were vetoed by the US & Israel but not rejected by the PLO. So Israel might be making statements of peace infront of the camera but look at what they actually DO (build a wall that intersects the WB, impose the occupation on a whole population which no one would ever submit to....among other indications of opposing peace & a Palestinian state). Also the Gaza pullout was simultaneously announed with a 'convergence plan' in the WB (Look at what that meant & how it is inevitably percieved by the Palestinians).
First of all the people/organisations you say are the 1st cause to the conflict is not true. Those organisations do not 'support' Hamas...etc They support the rights of occupied people who have been neglected of human rights. That is a distinction I dont think you will ever understand. For you anything that supports suffering everyday people immediately means they support for the destruction of their own people. Not everything is soo black & white & you can still advocate human rights to people who live in horrible conditions imposed on them while opposing the killing of innocents. Ofcourse suicide bombers should be condemned...etc but you have to recognize that they are human beings at the end of the day & the drive to do what they do (and the incitement) doesn't just derive from thin air. its from the injustice they have been a victim of. You say that THAT intolerance is THE cause for the lack of peace. But is it? thats a very biased statement & an example of that is(continued)
"The WB is 100% Israeli territory" No it's not. And you want palestinians to make concessions ??? what else do you need ? the house is Jerusalem ? oups sorry israelis might already have stolen it... Please lisa stop pretending you're a "peace lover" with such comments. Like many israelis you "love" peace but you're not ready to pay the price for it.
J Street is not a "viable alternate voice" for the mainstream Jewish community. Their leaders have no compunction about lying and spreading false information in order to buttress their support from disaffected left-leaning Jews. For example, they claim that settlements have drained Israel's economy, yet we have a strong economy and lower unemployment than most of the world. The only thing drained is J Street's credibility, and now Rosenthal's credibility too. Being the child of a Holocaust survivor obviously doesn't make you any smarter.
rose[ntha coloured spectacles nonsense. until then the only valid experience for jews is that of the last 1800 years. does she think the holocaust was not the culmination of that anti semitism ???
"# 15 Dana, no hypocrite at all, who is currently occuyping.....whose land...???" Up until 1948, BOTH people lived on that land. When did you sell it all to the Arabs?
Again, sorry to remind you, Lisa, but you Israelis/Diasporas are totally isolated in this world, when it comes to your belief that the West Bank is part of Israel. Even your closest allies (U.S./UK/France/Germany) do not agree with you, not even to mention the whole rest of the International community. "Jews have every right to reside in Hebron etc. as Arabs reside in Tel Aviv and Haifa" Well, what might be the little difference here...??? Arabs in Israel are living in a sovereign state, where as a minority, they have to respect and obey to the laws made by the Jewish majority. I have no problem, if the settlers wanna live in a future Palestinian state, but then they have to become citizens of that state and respect its laws in exactly the same way. As I said before, you are unfortunate to come a bit late in history, 200 years ago, nobody would have had a problem with Israels current "master and servant" approach.... Simply bad timing, so to speak..:)
"Sudan is committing it`s crimes in Sudan. Israel is committing it`s crimes in what is left of the non-state entity of Palestine, outside of Israel`s Internationally recognized Sovereign boundaries." You're committing the crime of parroting the same ludicrous stupidity day in and day out. Jews lived "outside of those internationally recognized sovereign borders" for thousands of years before Jordan captured those territories and kicked all the Jews out. Jordan's mistake was that they attacked the Jews again 19 years later. YOUR mistake is that you are too much of a dishonest prick to admit it.
"All Israelis dream and yearn for peace and are willing to compromise for peace" Hilarious !! "TO DATE THE ARABS HAVE NOT MADE A SINGLE CONCESSION!!!!" Get yourself a mirror !
Israel struck first in 1967. "I do not think Nasser wanted war. The two divisions he sent to The Sinai would not have been sufficient to launch an offensive war. He knew it and we knew it." Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's Chief of Staff in 1967, in Le Monde, 2/28/68 Incidentally, international laws prohibit the gaining of territory through warfare, offensive or defensive.
into the modern left wing view of the world.they find the fit is uncomfortable and so tug and pull at their outlook on israel. i would like to explain to them that israel is what it is.they will find no perfection here.we try our best and slowly very slowly and hopefully will become a very little better. but please do not try and fit us into an alien world which you inhabit.that is no world of ours.
is the direct product of assimilated jewry.it has something to do with putting a good face to the population these j street jews live among. it may also be a product of intermarriage.the children of these marriages would not for example feel like thomas friedman the new york times journalist felt in june 1967.he was overwhelmingly anxious over the fate of the jewish state.as were the majority of american jewry at the time. that has been and will be further diluted.
When a right question, like yours, is asked from him he scurries to a dark corner like a cockroach. Alternatively, he will "answer" anything but the actual question ("Palestinian or Arab organization). Of course, there is no "pro-peace organization" anywhere in the Arab world, "occupied", or not. But he, and his ilk have learned quite well that "attack is the best defense". Particularly by not answering the real question at all...
It's hard to believe that so many Americans would be ignorant of the truly mainstream Arab American Institute, an organization that has always been pro-peace. They get along well with both AIPAC and J Street. There are many prominent Arab Americans, including John Abizaid, retired Cent-Com and George Mitchell, US envoy to the Middle East. When did being to the right of Attila the Hun become a requirement for a Jew to be pro-Israel?
ghastly though it may be.i would take michael oren's sober analysis over this lady's excitable words anytime.
How cynical! So its OK for Sudan or any other country to kill 300,000 of their own citizens while Israel has offered peace to the Palestinians several times and always received a refusal instead. I suppose for you, Israel leaving Gaza completely is also a 'crime'!
The J Street yids is so tightly tucked into in the back pocket of Obama that they are unable to think outside the invisable lines he has drawn for them. I have no idea who J Street are representing, really, but what I do believe is that the White House is pulling their strings. RIP Jewish unity.
All Israelis dream and yearn for peace and are willing to compromise for peace. However there is no way we can make peace with people who are interested or commited to peace. The only way to show that you are committed to peace is by willing to make concessions for it. TO DATE THE ARABS HAVE NOT MADE A SINGLE CONCESSION!!!! Those residing in Israel that yearn for peace must decide the final borders. Only 3% of Israelis supported Meretz and the 67 borders!! Most Israelis know that Israel has the right to defend itself and will not go bk to 67 borders. J street should be ashamed of itself supporting Israel's enemies!!!
The WB is 100% Israeli territory- It was won in a war that Israel went into defending it's very existence. Israelis danced in the streets with the partition plan in 47 and the arabs declared war. The arabs started the 67 war and would have killed all Jews if they had won just like they lined up th jews in gush etzion in May of 1948. There never ever was a Palestinian state! In 2000 Israel offered arafat over 90% of the WB and he went ahead and started a war against Israel in every cafe, bus etc.. Jews have every rightto reside in Hebron, bet el, gush etzion as arabs reside in tel aviv and haifa. The final borders must be negotiated on, but until then Israelis can reside in Yosh.
....whose land...??? Israel the Arabs, or the other way around...??? Though I would certainly welcome a peace camp on the Palestinian side, it is definitely not their obligation, as long as Israeli troops are stationed on their land. Once Israel has withdrawn from the land that is not hers (even according to Israels best friends in this world), you will definitely have a point.... ....but not before that has happened.
Israeli and Jewish leftest organizations(like peace now and Jstreet) are confused people that go out of their way to support The PLO and Hamas. They are the #1 cause that peace in the middle east is so difficult to achieve. These pro Hamas activists have sent a solid message to the Arabs that their struggle is just and that they can avert to all means and that they shouldn't compromise. They blame the conflict on occupation and they ignore the real cause of the conflict which is Muslim intolerance and hate that is propagated by the PA and the Hamas! They side with the Arabs and support an unrealistic, unachievable, unjust solution- the 67 borders. Israel can never go bk to the 67 - We can't move 600,000 Israelis and crunch into 10 mile wide mid section The realistic solution is Settlement blks remain Israeli- and Arab areas with land contiguity become a demililiatarized PA.
spain has been antisemitic for many centuries. it had the inquisition, the expulsin of the jews and forced conversions. france had the dreyfus affair and the nazi collaborating vichy regime. europe needs no excuse for being antisemitic. the churches had been teaching for two thousand years that jews committed deicide. yemen is killing and ethnically cleansing the few hundred remaining yemeni jews. we all want peace, but israel cannot sacrifice her security. hamas is a fundamentalist islamic group which considers israel holy muslim land. lastly, as long as the iran problem is not solved, the chances for peace with the palestinians are close to nil.
Well swiss dino, where's the "pro-peace" Palestinian or Arab organization. Saying this is some moral litmus test for Jews and then claming that anyone not supporting them is immoral is sheer hippocricy, but I guess that's no suprise coming from you.
Oren is completely correct. Has JStreet ever publicly asked the Palestinian leadership to issue an unequivocal statement reiterating Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel. The answer is No! (Oops!)
How is it the job of a US government official to decide what US Jewish organizations are representative, legitimate and fair-minded (almost as idiotic as #12 deciding the Swiss have this right!)? J-Street was not created by the US Jewish community, but was created by the Democratic National Committee (including by Ms. Rosenthal) as a "counter" to the mainstream US Jewish organizations that UNANIMOUSLY oppose these leftist Democrat policies. Obama talking with J-Street is like talking to himself. This fake Jewish organization is exactly like the fake "Negro" organizations of the 50's and 60's the Eisenhower administration and the FBI created with Uncle Toms to oppose the NAACP and what became the 1964 Civil Rights Act. J-Street is not part of the Jewish community, its the opposite, the political equivalent of "Jews for Jesus". Some may not agree with us, but talking to fakes fools nobody. Another example of the dishonesty of the cheap Chicago political hack in our White House.
It's almost as though they haven't even read the article... Ms Rosenthal parrots the same ignorant mantras about the UN as they do. http://wp.me/pDB7k-lU
Like it or not, but no decent, fair-minded Jew (no matter whether Israeli or Diaspora) will come out against J-Street.... ....for the simple fact, that they are a decent and fair-minded organization. By the way, same applies to Mr. Goldstone....
J_Street is funded by Arab money and has no credibility whatsoever. It might as well be called A- Street
J-Street is trying to step on our toes. Watch out, boychik!
JStreet recently remove the "pro-Israel" from its Motto "Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace" in its University Arm. I don't give a darn if you're Jewish or not. Israel's ambassador has every right to say what he thinks is in the best interest of his country. And for the record, Israelis are pro-peace too. the only difference is a few missles in the face give you slap of reality when trying to understand just what achieving peace with someone out to kill you means. Something you, Mrs., Rosenthal should try to remember.
"Don't want my children to 'visit THEIR HOMELAND (US or IL?) and live in a bombshelter, it's not OK". Halloooooo..., that's what thousands of Israeli children know to be their second home. You want 'peace...you need two 2 tango, not ONE who is 'supposed to give and the OTHER to sit back, make threats, complain, send rockets, kidnappers, suicide killers and do NOTHING positiv and constructive. That's NOT how you change a 'mazav. So STOP this getto mentality to ALWAYS find faults in yourself, but point 'sometimes to the other and tell him to do 'something to. Otherwise this 'mazav will continue and your children will have to be in the shelter when they come to VISIT their homeland.
Another court Jew who seeks to advance her career on the back of the existence of Israel. J street is no friend of Israel. Just look at who is funding it.
Ms. Rosenthal is actually speaking here as a J Street advisor, not as a U.S. official. J Street in its actions is certainly not "pro-Israel:" It refused to support Israel's actions against Hamas, it opposed sanctions against Iran, refused to condemn Goldstone, it supports the Saudi peace plan, and works closely with the pro-Iranian and Arab-American lobbies in Washington. When has it taken a "pro-Israel" position? Good move, Ambassador Oren! It's not always easy to discern the snakes in the swamp of Foggy Bottom.
us left - right - state department officials like marsians regarding the middle east - antisemitism? who can bring these people back to earth?
it's crimes in what is left of the non-state entity of Palestine, outside of Israel's Internationally recognized Sovereign boundaries. Perhaps a read of the UN Charter would clear things up in respect to who and how the UN may pass resolutions and why there are so many against Israel, most of which BTW are reminders of previous resolutions. You don't pay the bill you get a reminder. How can people in these positions be so ignorant?
Dear Ms. Hannah Rosenthal, We have enough left and too much trouble with them Divide Jerusalem free prisoner back to 67 talks to hams ir ammim betselem Akiva, Amira, Gideon, and count We do not need another left J street Please not another one
These are proud brave Jew's who are doing what's best for Israel, and that means not just doing what's best for Jews. Jew's are supposed to be Middle-Easterners aren't they? and J Street wants them to be apart of that community. Occupation and War is definitely not in Israel's best interest because as long as you deny the indigenous people their right to their well...rights, the longer it will take to mend the wounds of past. Ethnic tension will continue longer and many people will die because of the decisions made by the Israeli govt in this present And that's a fact.
J-street supports Goldstone and tries to draw equivalence between Israel and Hamas; therefore, it is antisemitic. Ask this former director of J-Street how much money George Soros gives the organization. Her appointment by Obama is yet another sign that he understands nothing.