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J Street Runs in the Wrong Direction

I was pretty positive about J Street when it launched 18 months ago. And of course, on balance I prefer J Street to the bellicose AIPAC. The former does not advocate that America launch wars (Iraq) that are not in its interest to fight. But J Street’s premises may be flawed. This “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby […]

I was pretty positive about J Street when it launched 18 months ago. And of course, on balance I prefer J Street to the bellicose AIPAC. The former does not advocate that America launch wars (Iraq) that are not in its interest to fight.

But J Street’s premises may be flawed. This “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby exists for two reasons. 1) To give American Jews, most of them progressive, a sane alternative to AIPAC. 2) To convince Americans, and American policymakers that a two-state settlement is both desirable and–contrary to other pro-Israel groups–that it is achievable if only America really tries.

In a country that happens to control the largest, best equipped, and most hubristic military apparatus in the world, J Street finds itself banging on the table, shouting, “Yes, we absolutely agree with AIPAC that it is vital for America to protect Israel’s interests. And yes, we agree that many Arab state actors are monsters.” Then, in an embarrassed whisper, it adds “We think there are diplomatic solutions that America should begin imposing.” Finally, it concedes in footnotes to be released later, that “No, we don’t think America should really threaten to withhold its money or technology from Israel to accomplish any of this.”

I’m sorry. This won’t work.

The fix for Washington’s obsession with protecting Israel is not a series of panel discussions on what is really in Israel’s best interest. Instead, our political class should focus on what is in America’s best interest.

J Street’s problem is its internationalism.  In J Street’s view, America is supposed to throw its weight around the region toward a two-state solution. Its supposed to stand up to the Israeli right. Once America initiates this process, guides it, subsidizes it, and perhaps defends it – then America will reap some rewards. In other words, J Street absolves Israel and Israelis from responsibility for their own peace process.

My own view is that radical Palestinians may be just as aggrieved at an American-imposed peace process, as by an American-enabled Israeli occupation. If by some miracle the dust ever settles in the Middle East, it would be better for us if our fingerprints were not discovered there.

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