Israel Matzav

J Street donee headlining 'one secular state solution' shindig

We've spent a lot of time recently focused on where J Street's money comes from. Now, it's time to focus on where J Street's money goes. Exhibit A: Representative Donna Edwards (D-Md).

There’s no convincing some in the Jewish community that Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) is not anti-Israel, but since her election in 2008, she’s put a lot of effort into proving otherwise, meeting with Jewish leaders and even showing up for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Super Sunday.

So, we were surprised to see an invitation from New Policy PAC for a fundraiser for Edwards on Oct. 16.

The invitation notes that New Policy PAC is a sister organization of NewPolicy.org, a lobby working with members of Congress to enact legislation to end the Gaza siege, freeze Jewish settlements and establish a Palestinian State alongside Israel.

OK, but then this kicker: NewPolicy.org also supports establishing a secular democratic state in all of Israel-Palestine.

And J Street's response?

Asked to respond to the news about Edwards, J Street founder Jeremy Ben Ami e-mailed a statement, which I'll post in full:

"JStreetPAC supports only candidates that are 100 percent committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the existence of Israel as a democracy and as the homeland of the Jewish people.

Rep. Donna Edwards has repeatedly reaffirmed her commitment to both of these principles and her opposition to the concept of a “one-state solution” based on a single, secular state for Israelis and Palestinians.

JStreetPAC disagrees fundamentally on this issue with New Policy PAC, as does Donna Edwards. That is the basis of our organization’s pro-Israel identity and the basis of our support for candidates like Donna Edwards.

That said, we do not believe that the candidates we endorse need to agree with every view of every other individual or organization that endorses them. We expect Representative Edwards to make her views on these issues clear when she speaks at the upcoming New Policy PAC event as she has consistently throughout her career.

There should and must be room for debate and discussion on issues related to Israel and the Middle East, and we encourage broad and open debate in the political and communal arena. There can, however, be no debate – at least among those whom JStreetPAC supports – about the right of the Jewish people to a national home of their own in Israel, living side by side in peace and security with the national home of the Palestinian people."

Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Edwards isn't going to defend the two-state solution (except maybe as a phase) in front of the New Policy PAC.

Yes, of course, Donna Edwards is one of the Hamas 54. Here are some statistics about her Congressional district (Maryland 04). As far as I can tell, although it does include White Oak, which is close by, it does not include the heavily Jewish suburbs of Silver Spring and Rockville (anyone from there want to confirm?):


In any event, once again the 'pro-Israel, pro-peace' lobby is supporting (including financially) a Democrat whose pro-Israel credentials are highly suspect.

How long will the charade continue?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:04 AM