In political blunder, Netanyahu said to have dissed Jewish peace groups

by on May 18, 2009 11
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Netanyahu is said to be meeting with Jewish organizations later today, but I'm told that none of the American Jewish peace groups was invited.
Apparently Netanyahu feels that he does not have to talk to the Jewish left in the U.S., especially since the Israel Policy Forum, one of the groups, ran an ad in the Times last week that dissed the Prime Minister. And in Israel, Netanyahu doesn't think he needs to talk to the opposition; he's got numbers.
Well the U.S. doesn't work like Israel. The American Jewish community right now is split, and if Netanyahu disses liberal Jews, with a meeting spanning AIPAC to the Conference of Presidents, and leaving out IPF, Peace Now, and J Street, it only worsens the split in the Jewish community–and potentially gives Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel cover within the Jewish community to have an aggressive push on the two-state solution. 
It is a blunder on Netanyahu's part, and shows how out of touch he is with the American mood.

About Philip Weiss

Philip Weiss is Founder and Co-Editor of Mondoweiss.net.
Posted in Israel Lobby, Israeli Government, US Politics

{ 11 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. ThorsProvoni says:
    May 18, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    In a webpost entitled Rejecting Hate Speech Deserves Praise, the Israel Policy Forum congratulated Hussein Ibish of the American Task Force for Palestine for attacking my wife Karin Friedemann in a letter to the Khaleej Times which was also posted with a cover article on the ATFP website. After an exchange of emails described here and here, the ATFP removed all of Ibish' criticism of Karin from the ATFP

  2. RowanBerkeley says:
    May 18, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Well, hang in there. You two are damn near unique, and I think if they even came after either of you seriously, there would be quite a widespread movement in your defense. Also, incidentally, M.J.Rosenberg would get a rather severe roasting from various sides.

  3. thedhimmi says:
    May 18, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    I'm sure most on this forum are in political solidarity with Martillo and would go all out to help him in his battle with what he calls "Judonia". I can't figure out why Phil dropped his link. That's not how a ideological brother should be treated.

  4. thedhimmi says:
    May 18, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    "It is a blunder on Netanyahu's part, and shows how out of touch he is with the American mood." Then why are you so upset? The worst thing Netanyahu could have done was give your groups status. They remain powerless and out in the cold.

  5. DICKERSON3870 says:
    May 18, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    RE: "Then why are you so upset? " MY COMMENT: What makes you think Phil is upset? Perhaps you are 'projecting'. I think Phil probably sees it as a gift from Bibi that will just 'keep on giving'!

  6. thedhimmi says:
    May 18, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    OK. Phil just like giving advice to Netanyahu to help him and he's very happy that the fringe left is locked out and powerless.

  7. Jeanine says:
    May 19, 2009 at 9:25 am

    It is a blunder on Netanyahu's part, and shows how out of touch he is with the American mood. LOL! Really? I consider it a huge blunder on the part of *cough* Liberal Jews. Who are an extremely poor excuse for the Jewish people. Hold on Bibi! The REAL Americans are counting down the days until Muslim.. Oh, I mean Obama is out. BTW… The majority of Americans do not think Bibi is out of touch. I don't, neither does my family or my friends. So sell it somewhere else.

  8. Richard Silverstein says:
    May 19, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    I know for a fact that Brit Tzedek was invited to the conference call. In fact, Diane Balser told me that as she was meeting with me DURING the conference call. I think another Brit Tzedek staffer was participating. I wonder how BT slipped under the radar? They must not be annoying the hell out of the pro-Israel right enough.

  9. MRW says:
    May 19, 2009 at 10:50 pm

    "Sell it somewhere else?" This is Phil's blog. You're the one who's trespassing. Further, 70% of Americans think Israel has taken a wrong turn, or haven't you been reading the polls lately? They dont back you up.

  10. MRW says:
    May 19, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    Search for the poll on Phil's homepage: "Poll: Obama's progressive base will support him in getting tough on Israel."

  11. Jeanine says:
    May 19, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    Trespassing? This is a comment section is it not? 70% of Americans? Was this an MSNBC Poll? NYT? Maybe a Liberal Jew Poll? Let us assume this was not a FOX News Poll. I can bet not a Glenn Beck Poll. Here's my Poll: http://www.gallup.com/poll/116308/Americans-Suppo... Love, Jeanine

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