Leftist Jewish lobby for peace

There is international belief that American Middle East policy is controlled by Zionist Jews, and Aipac (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), in particular, assumes this task. According to J.J. Goldenburg, author of Jewish Power: Inside the American Jewish Establishment, since US President Barack Obama's June 13 meeting with leaders of the American Jewish community, some Jews have been saying that Obama is being manipulated by two aides considered Jewish ‘renegades', Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, whose objectives include taming the American Jewish community through encouraging two organisations: Americans for Peace and J-Street, both accused of criticising Israel.

Well-known academicians John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt in their book The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy, emphasised that the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv damages American national security and that pro-Israel lobbies, particularly Aipac share in making Israel's security a key US policy.

With changing world conditions, especially a new US administration different from its predecessors, Aipac has changed tactics. Here, Alof Ben comments in Haaretz, "Aipac did not try to defend the expansion of colonies or openly stand beside [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. This merchandise cannot be sold in Washington these days."

J-Street, which patterns its name after Washington streets — although there is no actual street bearing this name — intends to say that it represents the ‘lost voice' in American Middle East policy. J-Street has defined itself as ‘the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement', founded to ‘support strong American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts peacefully and diplomatically'. It works to exert pro-peace influence in Congress, hence its support for candidates who support peace.

Despite Aipac's continued dominance, an institutional development has taken place with the appearance of J-Street, according to the American media. It has moved to secure solidarity with major groups who have played a leading role in peace issues over the past 15 years. It has also attracted a list of prominent consultants, resulting in positive response from American Jews.

‘Although less than one year has lapsed since the foundation of the new Jewish lobby,' comments The New York Times, "J-Street has been able to bring its membership to 100,000… Its leaders describe it as the actual representative of the majority of American Jews despite its difference with Israeli policies… the objective of J-Street is to shed light on the idea of supporting both Israel and peace, a position that is in line with Obama's policy."

Whereas Aipac represents the Israeli right, J-Street's viewpoint on the Arab-Israeli struggle is an elaboration of the Israeli left. Severely attacked for criticising Israeli policies, J-Street has nevertheless become a front runner among the Jewish lobby.

"The group… founded by liberal Jews… on the hope of raising $50,000 (Dh183,500) for candidates running for Congress," according to The Washington Post, "has been able to support tens of Democrats and Republicans in 2008 with about $600,000… it has become a leader among pro-Israel organisations. Organisers say 33 candidates out of 41 supported by J-Street won their elections."

The paper quoted Executive Manager of J-Street, Jeremy Ben Amy saying, "It has exceeded all our expectations. We didn't know what kind of success we might achieve… J-Street can be appreciated for being able to attract 100 supporters in the House of Representatives for the appointment of George Mitchell as Middle East envoy, while Aipac took a neutral stance."

Although the effect of this new lobby has not reached Aipac's level of influence, it has become a strong competitor and scored important points. During the last Israeli aggression against Gaza, J-Street was able to garner 30,000 signatures on a petition distributed on the Internet condemning the aggression as an unequal encounter, and emphasise "there is no military solution for an essentially political conflict".

Two-state solution

Online Campaign Director of J-Street, Isaac Luria wrote, "Firing missiles on Israeli families, or dispatching suicide attackers to Israel is totally unacceptable; it is also unacceptable to punish 1.5 million Gazans for what extremists have done." This prompted Aipac to distribute an opposing statement.

Whereas the latter was able to win a majority of congressmen, J-Street won 69% of American Jews. During Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, J-Street called on the American administration to mediate in imposing a two-state solution, even if it means applying pressure on Israel.

Aipac called for neutrality on the part of Washington, leaving the matter for the two (Israeli and Palestinian) sides in the conflict. Aipac and other Jewish organisations have strongly criticised J-Street for its viewpoints regarding the Arab-Israeli struggle because its declaration of principles supports "the establishment of a viable Palestinian state as a result of a negotiated settlement based on a two-state solution with 1967 borders, and occupied Jerusalem as a shared capital for both states". It also calls for dialogue with Hamas, even through a third party.

Aggrieved over the absence of an Arab lobby in Washington which supports official and popular Arab viewpoints, a lobby active enough to try to change American policy over the struggle in the Middle East, one believes J-Street has succeeded in stressing the idea that rejection of a certain facet of Israeli policy does not mean opposing Israel.

Obama has emphasised this in his policy and in all dialogue with Jewish leaders. It is important to say that the ideas J-Street is raising have provided the US leadership with political and informational weapons at a time when an Arab lobby remains an abstract idea or a far-fetched dream!

Professor As'ad Abdul Rahman is the Chairman of the Palestinian Encyclopaedia.