J Street has found its issue, and maybe its voice, too. It's calling on the Jewish leadership to come out against the Hebron settlers' "pogroms." Specifically, J Street wonders why Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents has said nothing. We can tell you why he's said nothing--because some of his constituent organizations, including ZOA, are four-square for the Hebron settlers! J Street is full-throated, at last:
So J Street has found a wedge issue: Extremist settlers. Once it builds its constituency around this question, it might really play oedipus and turn on AIPAC (because AIPAC won't know what to do on this one; too many of its members are for Eretz Israel). And one day it will call on congressmen and Obama to denounce the extremist settlers. Good luck to J Street. And look at this space for continuing coverage of the fabric store on 6th Avenue which is funneling very upstanding American Jews' money to the Hebron extremists, for "urgent security needs."
yep, this is good – but there is a certaion tactical skill in timing one's demands, a skill which I suspect is not unknown in Jewish politics: while making these first demands, which deal solely with 'extremists', one has to avoid being trapped into a commitment not subsequently to target 'moderates' also.
The USA's security is not a top priority for Israel. Anybody get that?