J Street Flexes Its Muscle and Others React As New Congresswoman Steps Into the Fray
By Nathan Guttman
Silver Spring, Md. — At a town hall meeting in late June in suburban Maryland, Rep. Donna Edwards’s tight rope walk was on full display.
Edwards had come to White Oak Middle School to speak with the gathered crowd about her recent trip to Israel and Gaza. She wanted to defend herself against criticism that she has been too harsh on Israel, but at the same time, she wanted to leave herself with the option of candidly discussing Israel’s conduct. During a lengthy slideshow, she spoke of the suffering she saw in both Gaza and Sderot, Israel and stressed the need for an open discussion in the United States on resolving the conflict.
“I wish that both the kind of spirited debate and interchange that I think takes place in Israel all the time would actually take place here in the United States,” she said after describing a heated discussion she witnessed in the Knesset during her visit.
Edwards has attempted the difficult task of openly talking about Israel while remaining close to the large Jewish constituency in her district. She has not always succeeded with the more hawkish members of the pro-Israel community. Edwards’s positions, though, have won her support from the left wing of the organized Jewish community, including, most importantly, the dovish pro-Israel lobby J Street. Through its political fundraising arm, JStreetPAC, the group put out an unusual e-mail appeal June 2 and managed to raise $30,000 for Edwards’s next campaign within days.
Edwards told the Forward that she has tried to approach her work on the Middle East as a “process of discussion.”
“I was never under the impression that there is a monolith of the Jewish community,” Edwards said.
Edwards, 51, is the first black woman to represent Maryland in Congress. She was elected in 2008 in a special election, and shortly after that she was re-elected for her first full term. Her district is in the Washington suburbs, and 15% of the voters in the district are Jewish, according to a local pollster.
A few local Jewish leaders have been critical of Edwards ever since she refused to support a House resolution January 9 that backed Israel during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Edwards says that she voted “present” because she opposed Hamas’s rocket fire into Israel but did not support Israel’s bombing of civilian targets.
Jewish criticism of Edwards grew when she held her first town hall meeting on Israel. The February 26 event at Prince George’s Community College included speakers from pro-Palestinian groups and others known for their dovish views, with no representation of any mainstream major Jewish or pro-Israeli group.
One of Edwards’s leading critics has been Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. In an interview, he said, “I’m not saying Donna Edwards is anti-Israel, but I am saying the Jewish community is concerned with the pattern in which the congresswoman adopts the Palestinian narrative and does not look for the Israeli narrative.”
Talking to the Forward, Edwards commented: “I might have done a better job in reaching out and explaining my views,” but she added that her critics also could have done better in reaching out to her.
Shortly after criticism of Edwards surfaced in June, J Street stepped in to assist the embattled congresswoman.
J Street’s executive director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, said that the unusual emergency drive, launched in a political off-year, was meant to send a message to any possible primary challenger who might think that trouble with the Jewish community could spell a chance for unseating Edwards.
Ben-Ami, who said he believes that local hawkish Jewish leaders were behind the criticism, said that his group intends to be “responsive” in case others try “to rattle” members of Congress because of their views on the Middle East.
“We will be there for those who are under attack,” he said.
In a video greeting posted on YouTube on June 14, Edwards thanked J Street and promised to spread the word on Capitol Hill.
“Pro-Israel pro-peace members of Congress like me will have the financial support we need to stand up strongly for the values and principles we share with you,” she said in the video.
But for some Jewish leaders in the region, the embrace of J Street by Edwards is part of the problem, not the solution. Halber said that Edwards’s involvement with J Street “bothers many” in the community. He argues that Edwards ought to be open to all views in the mainstream Jewish community.
“She adopted these views without having a chance to be educated on the issues,” Halber said.
The issue was raised again in a June 23 meeting at Edwards’s congressional office. She invited several local rabbis, as well as a lay leader from the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee and representatives of Jewish peace groups, to discuss her views on Israel. In her opening remarks, Edwards acknowledged, according to participants, that she “has a problem” with the Jewish community. She said she wants to take care of that problem.
Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt of Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Potomac, Md., said that, in the meeting, he tried to make clear “that AIPAC represents the broad consensus of the Jewish community, and J Street doesn’t.”
Weinblatt, who also heads the Rabbinical Assembly’s Israel advocacy arm, said after the meeting that he was convinced of Edwards’s interest in improving relations with the Jewish community.
“I haven’t given up hope,” he said. He added that if there is no significant change in her attitude, “members of the Jewish community could look for someone who is more supportive.”
Even within the local organized Jewish community, though, some leaders think that Edwards has evoked an overreaction. Arthur Abramson, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said that referring to Edwards as a “problem” is a mistake. “She is not an enemy,” he said. “She is a friend, and friends sometimes give advice we are not happy to hear.”
Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com
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It looks like Rep Edwards will be following the same path as Cynthia McKinney. Initially elected as a sign of hope, McKinney became obsessed with Israel as a way of ensuring that her name remained in the headlines. When she lost an election to another congresswoman, her father, Billy McKinney stated that the reason was "Jews-J E W S" as he spelled it out for those of us who are spelling impaired. I guess he couldnt spell Zionist. Meanwhile. Ms McKinney brought no economic benefit to the 4th District of Georgia and became an anti-Israel caricature. If J street isnt careful, their darling Edwards will end her career on the steps of the Capital, again assaulting a capital police officer with a pocketbook or can of hair spray. Kicking Israel is a good way to remain in the headlines, the problem is like cocaine, when you become addicted to it, your job performance suffers
rep. edwards does not, dares not, or is not allowed to see or talk about most astounding facts: entire remnants of palestine [ab. 10% of ex-palestine] represents no military peril to the as-of-yet- nonexistent state of israel and the fact that 'jews' are still stealing more lands from palestinians.
land robbers, past, present, and future ones such a babylon, persia, ottoman, UK, chinese, russian, US, israel, et al care mostly about obtaining land and all that is in or on it; which may or may not include its respective inhabitants.
so, what 'jews' are doing for the last 100 yrs, differs only in minor aspects from what US had been doing for two centuries and is doing now. and the birds of a feather flock together. tnx
Weinblatt is wrong. AIPAC doesn't represent the Jewish community.
The Jewish community doesn't support the killing of Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish's daughter.
J Street also represents a part of the Jewish community -- the better part.
It is telling that the new photo (misleadingly) headlining this story was provided to the Forward by "OFFICE OF REP. DONNA EDWARDS".
I support J Street and would not be insulted even if right wing pundits called it a pro-Hamas, pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby.While I laud the effots of J Street, I feel it does not go far enough. We must unite to bring the Jews home from occupied Palestine, to their real homes, whether it be Minsk, Warsaw, New York, Cairo, or San Francisco. The sooner we leve, the sooner their will be peace. I for one am tired of being in the headlines all the time
'J Street' is supported by some nice left- wing liberal Jews. But its passionate supporters are anti- Semitic haters of Israel and the Jewish people. And in fact the political role of Soros- JStreet is clear. It is to present the President and the Congress a group of Jews who strongly support promoting the cause of the Palestinian Arabs and thus in effect, if not necessarily in intention, diminishing, and increasing the existensial danger to the state of Israel. So there are two components to JStreet, the fools and the anti- Semites. Without the existensial dangers and difficulties facing Israel this organization adds to the burden and difficulty.
I attended a forum in Silver Spring spononsored by Donna Edwards at the White Oak Middle School. The presentation by her started with about fifty minutes of slides that can only be considered to be Arab propaganda, followed by fifty minutes of elaboration. In answer to questions from the floor, she stated that she was not sure whether she would support any annual aid to Israel, said that she voted present only when a motion was passed overwhelmingly supporting Israel's right to respond to the Hamas rocket attacks and voted against a bill supporting financially our troops in Afghanistan. She is a throwback to Cynthia McKinney and I rue the day that I was gerrymandered into her district.
So, all it takes is a tour of Sderot, pictures with the spent rockets, some crocodile tears and phony expressions of sympathy for "both peoples." That's the ticket for condemning Israel for its "cruel occupation" and essentially getting what it deserves. And this is more than enough for "peace activists" like J Street to embrace such "progressives" like Donna Edwards. It's pathetic.
delaying an agreement or peace [over 60 yrs] with the palestinians means s'mthing, but what?
it seems to me that only US or US/isr/europe knows why the peace was not yet obtained even tho it cld be obtained in a few days or even hrs. to or not to expel all pals from all of palestine, that is why, i educe, peace is avoided. and peace may be delayed for another 60yrs. if that is not the problem, then what is. i cannot see any other need or reason to delay peace even another week unless it is to expel or not. but, of course, when-how is also not known. in this connection, noone, as far as i know, had to date noticed an astouding fact: US had never said that there will or will not be an expulsion.
instead of US telling us about expulsion, US is telling israel to cease with expansion of 'settlements' [read, please, land theft]but after 60yrs! And, folks, land along grave, diamonds, food robbers never lie? to me, this appears a charade. All this is a part of delay; since the coming diktat will be rejected jsut like clinton's had been. expect expulsion and rejection of the coming 'generous' offer by US/Israel tnx
Sorry guys if I offend you, but I am a real person. In fact, I am the most prominent rabbi in San Francisco. Progressivism demands jettisoning silly nationalism and tribal relics. Get on the wagon or face the fate of the Armenians
Hey guys (and gals) stop screaming at each other and calling each other names. Just confront the facts!!
Israel is not going away. It is a vibrant democracy, has the best economy in the Middle East innovating in medicine, electronics and business, it rescued many people that were being persecuted -- from Europe, from Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, etc., it gave its own Arabs citizenship, it has many shades of opinions, from Peace Now to Lieberman's party and all of them agree on one thing -- they want to survive as a Jewish State and hope they can is peace.
And the Palestinians are not going away. Whether or not they came there 50 years ago or 500 years ago, they are there. In many ways they are among the best educated group in the Arab world. (They have been called the Jews of the Arab world because they run and advise on the economies and management of Arab countries.) They have the potential to be a vibrant democracy and economic power.
As Israel proved with Egypt, Jordon, Turkey and other Islamic countries, it can get along with any group if the relationship is based on mutual peace and acceptance -- I will accept you as an Islamic neighbor of you accept me as a Jewish State. It will only happen if Islam looks at its past history with Sufism when Jews and Arabs, together led the world in tolerance, science and morality.
Screaming at each other won't solve anything!!
Harry-- If we had less Kumbayah Jews, and secualr Jews, we would have been treating the muslims of Israel the same way that muslims have been treating Jews for over 1,000 years.
We never should have given them citizenship, and we should have listened to Rabbi Meyer Kahane, obm. Force all enemy muslims OUT of Israel. Defend ALL of ISRAEL---from River to Sea. Well-behaved arsbs can continue to live as PERMANENT RESIDENTS. ALL OF ISRAEL--AND ALL OF JERUSALEM IS OURS.
Stop the slow-motion suicide.
Follow Rabbi Kahane, and transfer the arabs OUT OF ISRAEL.
Kahane Chai!
So, Hymie is showing his true colors.
"Force all enemy muslims OUT of Israel." Where have I heard that before? http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/images/fuchs/fuchs22.jpg
Harry H you are the only sane voice represented here!
itwld have been clearer if had said that US/Israel had been delaying establishment of a 'jewish' state [read, please: cultish state] for 60 yrs,rather than saying "delaying peace for 60 yrs".
And establishment of a state for 'jews' only is much easier than ever; i.e., more arab lands are onside than ever before. rejectionism/deferment is a tabboo topic in ?all privately-owned media as weel as among ?all clero-politico-educational peoplein christian lands.
and of necessary truth, there are causes for deferment; known only to US, isr, and possibly europe. one certainty is that there is no shortage of armaments on the allied side. there does not seem to be any problem on diplo-political level, either.
from this, one can conclude that the brake is on a moral level; since, obviouosly, a 'jewish state can be established only one way: via jordanian, syrian, and lebanon solution. tnx
Alan-I will email the Conference of Presidents to tell them that as a Religious Zionist I support President Obama's Middle East policies. Thanks for the email address.
What I'd like to see from the Forward is an examination of the Soros-J Street connection alleged in all these posts ... I won't hold my breath for any hard-hitting investigation of this leftist bunch, though ...
I am proud J Street will support any politician who supports the end of Israel as a Jewish State. J Street has one purpose to support the right of the Palestinian nation to liberate all of Palestine from the river to the sea. Israel is a racist occupier that must be eliminated.
Let's all disregard Frank and Alan. They are just silly.
AIPAC is a morally & intellectually bankrupt body...rotting from the centre out.
Disabling democracy in the Knesset is a crime against human progress.....the Zionists' main weapon is to ridicule opponents for their 'ignorance' at not recognising the 'religosity' of Greater Israel.....Eastern European religious fanatics have taken over Israeli domestic politics...the Askinaze Western educated European Jews are now neutered in Israel... and then you've got the far out & freaky diaspora Zionists...their deep guilt at not living in Israel is compensated by a deeply hysterical level of discourse e.g. Albert Dadon in Australia
I'm sure Tony is a real rabbi. Just like I'm actually the Rambam. Nice try there, T.
To non-Jew-hating Forward Readers: Look at the pro-J Street and anti-Semtic posts above, and then ask yourselves why the following post was REPEATEDLY DELETED and CENSORED:
This is EXACTLY the kind of anti-Israel reporting by the "Jewish" Forward that non-Jew-hating readers need to be acutely aware of, speak up against, and denounce.
The Forward has in the past shown itself to be supportive of virulently anti-Israel propagandist J Street, which is on display in its "reporting" of this story. J Street is actively engaged in pursuing its extremist "progressive" anti-Israel advocacy, as a fifth column, to undermine America's and American Jewish support for the Jewish State of Israel. The Forward's "reporting" attempts to grant it support and legitimacy.
The Story: Edwards, who obviously is anti-Israel, goes so far as to refuse to support a Congressional resolution supporting Israel in its Gaza operation (which passed by 390-5 in the House and unanimously in the Senate) - by repeating the libelous accusation that Israel intentionally bombed civilian targets. With support from Israel's enemies, like J Street, she libeled Israel, which she describes as "candidly discussing Israel’s conduct". Her Jewish constituents are rightfully alarmed. J Street, recognizing an ally against Israel, rushes to her support with a $30,000 contribution.
So, how does the Forward describe the extreme anti-Israel J Street to American Jews? It fraudulently describes it as a "peace group" and a "dovish pro-Israel lobby." A far-left extremist organization, whose purpose is to aggressively lobby against Israel, is with mind-boggling chutzpah described as "pro-Israel".
To further its theme, the Forward describes Edward's first "Town Hall meeting", as featuring, "pro-Palestinian groups and others known for their dovish views, with no representation of any mainstream major Jewish or pro-Israeli group." So, according to the Forward, "pro-palestinians" are also "dovish".
And how does the Forward describe mainstream and truly pro-Israel lobby groups like AIPAC? "Hawkish."
By describing AIPAC as "Hawkish", the Forward joins in J Street's propaganda: J Street seeks to slander and undermine AIPAC, depicting it as an extreme right-wing and hawkish body, although AIPAC has consistently promoted the policies of all Israeli governments, including the dovish administrations preceding Netanyahu.
So what is this "J Street"? It is a new group initially funded by George Soros, who had achieved notoriety for demonizing successive Israeli governments irrespective of their political leanings. During the Gaza offensive, J Street condemned the action against Hamas as "disproportionate." Refusing to "pick a side" and identify "who was right and who was wrong," it applied moral equivalency to both parties proclaiming that "we recognize that neither Israelis nor Palestinians have a monopoly on right and wrong... While there is nothing 'right' in raining rockets on Israeli families or dispatching suicide bombers, there is nothing 'right' in punishing a million and a half already suffering Gazans for the actions of the extremists amongst them."
J Street also opposes Israel's efforts to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Despite the fact that Israelis of all political opinions are united on this issue, J Street members were e-mailed and urged to actively lobby against a bipartisan congressional resolution calling for tougher sanctions to be applied against Iran.
It has been involved in resurrecting the bogus anti-Semitic charge of "dual loyalties," warning Jews that by continued "blind" support of Israel, they risked alienating the American public and would be condemned for displaying greater loyalty toward Israel than the US. It was almost hysterical in its condemnation of Jews who exercised their rights to protest against the proposed appointment of the fiercely anti-Israel Charles Freeman to head the National Security Agency.
While the Forward seeks to legitimate and whitewash J Street by describing it as within the, "left wing of the organized Jewish community", its extremist anti-Israel advocacy is in direct opposition to the mainstream Jewish community. To tolerate such a group within the framework of the Jewish community provides it with an aura of respectability to which it is not entitled. And when a "Jewish" publication attempts to support this virulently anti-Israel organization, its propaganda should be recognized for what it is, and condemned.
Note: J Street was recently invited by Obama to his White House "meeting" with "Jewish" leaders, while the Zionist Organization of America was purposely shunned. Do my comments above not seem to any (non-Jew-hater) as "a thoughtful discussion of issues of importance to the Jewish Community"? ASK YOURSELVES: WHY IS THE FORWARD NOT WANT YOU TO READ THIS?
Ah, I see that Forward readers who are Donna Edwards supporters are speaking up.
The Forward keeps deleting my comments because they are jerks who hate anyone who defends Israel. The disgusting nazi pig "walt" will no doubt be allowed to keep posting his disguating comments. By the way dumbass your IP number is visible so I hope you're reported to the F.B.I for your terrorist threats against Jews. That won't happen because most Forward staff members agree with your views.
END THE ARAB OCCUPATION OF ISRAEL!
ARAB FAKESTINIANS BACK TO ARABIA NOW!