Israel Matzav

J Street Advisory Council's star member: Robert Malley

At the end of a long post analyzing J Street's taking positions that preclude its being a pro-Israel organization and members of its 'advisory council' who have questionable pro-Israel credentials, Matthew M. Housman drops this bombshell:

Perhaps most telling for J Street's supposed pro-Israel credentials is the inclusion of Robert Malley on its Advisory Council. There is simply no way to construe Malley as pro-Israel or even politically neutral. The son of anti-Israel ideologue Simon Malley, the younger Malley apparently did not fall far from the tree. As a writer, he has produced articles misrepresenting fact and history regarding Israel, including a New York Times op-ed entitled, "Fictions about the Failure of Camp David," in which he blamed Israel exclusively for the failure of Clinton's attempt to coerce a deal at Camp David [the only one present to do so. CiJ]. Malley expunged or minimized Arafat's responsibility for the Camp David fiasco and the preplanned intifada that followed. He co-wrote this article with frequent collaborator and former Arafat advisor Hussein Agha, and his revisionist account contrasts sharply with the recollections of Dennis Ross and Bill Clinton [Malley and Agha co-wrote an op-ed in the New York Times this past week the arguably advocates a 'one-state solution,' although Malley denies that's what he had in mind. CiJ].

Moreover, Malley is associated with the International Crisis Group funded by George Soros, and was alleged to have served as Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, although both Malley and the President denied that he served in any official capacity. Nevertheless, he reportedly met with representatives of the Syrian and Egyptian governments and allegedly with members of Hamas (although that too was denied) despite Hamas' inclusion on the U.S. terror watch list. He is also well known as an apologist for Hamas and Hezbollah, with whom he advocates dialogue despite their continued pledges to eradicate Israel; and has been criticized for actively seeking to weaken America's relationship with Israel.

Given Malley's apparent animus toward Israel, and his espousal of revisionist views, it is difficult to reconcile his inclusion on the Advisory Council with J Street's claimed affinity for Israel. Although Mr. Ben-Ami is certainly correct in his belief that support for Israel does not require agreement with all actions of the Israeli government, pro-Israel advocacy cannot be reconciled with the public words and deeds of individuals like Robert Malley.

No, they can't.

Unfortunately, court Jews like J Street are just what President Obama needs, and given the fawning media that refuses to criticize the President, it is all but inevitable that J Street will continue to receive positive media coverage in the US. We, on the other hand, should look to criticize their every move. There is no enemy more pernicious than the enemy (who claims to be) within.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:00 PM