Israel Matzav

White House backing off J Street

In light of the revelations regarding J Street over the past several days, the Washington Times is reporting that the White House is backing off its connection with J Street.

White House spokesman Thomas Vietor declined to comment when asked on Monday if the White House would continue its past practice of inviting J Street's leaders to take part in conference calls with senior White House officials and to other White House events, and whether senior Obama administration officials would take part in future J Street conferences.

...

Reaction to J Street's funding sources intensified in recent days after The Washington Times reported on Friday that the group received $750,000 from Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros and his family. The Times obtained copies of J Street's federal tax documents that also disclosed how nearly half of J Street's revenue from July 2008 to June 2009 - a total of $811,697 - came from a single donor in Happy Valley, Hong Kong, named Consolacion Esdicul.

J Street's Mr. Ben Ami said that Ms. Esdicul gave the money to J Street in multiple wire transfers at the behest of William Benter, a Pittsburgh-based philanthropist and the CEO of Acusis, a medical-services company.

In an interview Monday, Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican and House minority whip, said: "The White House needs to disassociate itself from J Street, denounce J Street and cut off all ties."

Mr. Cantor, the only Jewish Republican in the House, added that "I am hopeful this revelation will now cause people to begin to ignore what they say. They are not reflecting the mainstream position of the pro-Israel community in America, nor do I think they help benefit the U.S.-Israel relationship."

One can only hope that the White House will cut off its connection with J Street.

I also have to wonder whether there is a connection between the timing of the J Street scandal and Rahm Emanuel's apparent departure from the White House later this week. In the past, I have noted parallels between Emanuel and J Street President Jeremy Ben Ami. If Emanuel is J Street's patron in the White House (and I believe he is), then leaving the White House now could spare him a lot of embarrassment regarding J Street.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:03 AM