In a bold statement on its blog today, J Street's Jeremy Ben-Ami has refused to buckle under the pressure being applied by the Forward newspaper and Reform Rabbi Eric Yoffie. Some day this exchange will be taught in religion classes. Ben-Ami has taken a stand. He puts J Street in the category of those Jews who are "extremely disturbed and hurt" by the attacks on civilians in Gaza.
We believe that the actions taken this week â disproportionate to
the threat and escalatory in nature â will be seen, with time, as
counterproductive. They will further isolate Israel and the US
internationally, deepen hatred among the Palestinian and Israel
peoples, foment extremism throughout the Arab world and undercut the
position of more moderate Arab regimes
Further, we have asked from the first day of this operation, for clarity as to Israelâs exit strategy…. [T]o call our views âmorally deficientâ, ânaïveâ and âout of
touchâ with Jewish sentiment is to misread the emerging dynamics of
centrist, pro-Israel Jews.
the threat and escalatory in nature â will be seen, with time, as
counterproductive. They will further isolate Israel and the US
internationally, deepen hatred among the Palestinian and Israel
peoples, foment extremism throughout the Arab world and undercut the
position of more moderate Arab regimes
Further, we have asked from the first day of this operation, for clarity as to Israelâs exit strategy…. [T]o call our views âmorally deficientâ, ânaïveâ and âout of
touchâ with Jewish sentiment is to misread the emerging dynamics of
centrist, pro-Israel Jews.
J Street has called for a cease-fire. These are historic moments. Great matters are at stake, and countless lives. No matter where you stand, you have to cheer the efforts of this centrist organization to open up some space within the Israel lobby to speak about Arab human rights.
