There was a time when support for Israel was bi-partisan. Obama challenged that as much in his way as has Netanyahu and Palestinians have been making the human rights-justice argument to a UN membership that is now largely made up of nation’s opposed to Israel. Whether you follow Beinart’s premonition or an increasing number of polls young people here in American see Israel as a social justice negater and Mondo is more than happy with the political ramifications of that even if it only proffers part of the story…

Ya know Philip, there are many arguments over who should speak, and JVP has done its share of shouting down the voices that it disagrees with. On the spectrum of actors for peace and actors for justice and actors for peace and justice in Israel and Palestine there are endless delineations along the way. I hope to remain open to many voices and try to learn positive lessons from many on the left and the right. I choose for myself the terms of my contribution to peace and justice in Israel/Palestine and the entire world. While I may also not fare so well in relation to the criteria of JVP, I believe that we all have a journey to take to open our hearts and minds to others. I do not believe that the International BDS Campaign represents a path to either peace or justice for Palestinians. I’m not sure in the Mondo-world that I am entitled to either my opinion or to proceed on my own spiritual journey. But proceed I shall…

I guess it’s either seeing the Situation your way Philip or you’re a flack? Actually, I think Rudoren worked pretty hard to be neither Amira Hass or Caroline Glick, but to see and report on what she saw and heard with her own voice to a rather tough audience and as best I could tell took plenty of hits from all sides….

Phillip, you have created a serious and important stage to say your two cents: But I must say that taking a single quote from a variety of Jewish sources to explain their individual allegiance/belief/kinship to Zionism is like determining your future based on reading a fortune cookie after dinner. I couldn’t try to explain who you are, what you’ve learned and all that is built into you kinetically as a result of a thousand years of genetic combinations. I am a bit more complex that any single quote and yet I pride myself on being easily understood as a liberal, an American Jew and a Zionist.

I think its all trash if its staged whether by Palestinians or Israelis. Every once in a while NGO’s try to create the news, (and maybe its actually a lot more than every once in a while). I don’t think it brings peace one step closer. Maybe someone should stage a peace rally instead?

I read Max’s writings but have not read the book. As for the assumption made in this article that points to a “rogue mini-faction,” as the source of the kidnapping and ultimately disconnecting responsibility for the 2014 War in Gaza from Hamas, it sounds awfully familiar as the devise used by Yasser Arafat repeatedly to disconnect him and his Palestinian Authority from acts of terror. The devastation while enormous was also not quite the result of the Israelis rejecting a Hamas led initiative for a humanitarian ceasefire. Hamas turned down an Egyptian led ceasefire in deference to one it was far more interested in favoring forwarded by Qatar, (its ally), and supported at least temporarily by Secretary Kerry and the United States.

Its not about following the President of the United States and the leader of the Democratic Party on his signature foreign policy initiative or following the conservative leader of Israel. Its about determining whether the deal is good enough to actually prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon by cheating, by waiting or simply by buying one. I don’t think it is. But I am a Democrat and want to enhance the deal to make it good enough to provide the security that we all needs. The best path I see is Robert Satloff’ no is the best way to yes in the Atlantic; “A Better Deal with Iran is Possible.”

Phillip you can say anything you want. You can call up Walt and Mearsheimer and have them say anything that you want against AIPAC. But the truth whether you or the President of the United States stretches it is that AIPAC didn’t lobby Congress first. It didn’t convince President Bush or his key staff. It waited for a policy to support: “In September 2002, before Congress had begun considering the administration’s proposal authorizing force with Iraq, Rebecca Needler, a spokeswoman for AIPAC, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, “If the president asks Congress to support action in Iraq, AIPAC would lobby members of Congress to support him.” Atlantic

Susan, Susan Susan. In so many ways your continuing story, your life and your words sum up all that is wrong with the relationship between Palestinians and Israelis. You are a threat on so many levels to things as they are in Jerusalem and the West Bank. You carry a chip that has been/is being hammered into you day after day, week after week and year after year as it is hammered into your people in Susya and on the streets of Jerusalem and so very many other places. And yet you build another playground and write another book and continue to speak a truth that challenges the powers that be and insure that you will have a rough ride no matter where your heart leads you. ShalomSalaamPeace, Larry Snider

Phillip the Jews are moving here in America as well as in Israel to mount a resistance to the international BDS campaign founded and operated since 2005 by 170 Palestinian civic organizations. If the campaign was focused on ending 48 years of occupation I would not be able to write the following. It has three goals and as you know the first is all about ending the occupation, the second in all about creating equality for Arab Israelis, and the third is clearly supporting “the promotion of a Right of Return,” that if realized would eliminate the state of Israel leaving the one Palestinian state desired by Omar Barghoutti, Ali Abunimah and seeming Mondoweiss and its Editor in Chief.