Today, J Street announced the names of dozens of prominent Israelis from the security, military, diplomatic, political and academic fields who have signed a letter of support for J Street. Keep reading below the fold, or click here to download a PDF version of the letter and its signatories.
In light of the announcement that the United States will return an ambassador to Syria, J Street released the following statement:
J Street applauds President Barack Obama’s decision to return a United States ambassador to Syria. Tough, smart diplomatic engagement with countries with which we have disagreements can serve the US national interest.
In the case of Syria, we are hopeful that engagement will also serve the cause of achieving real peace and security for Israel through a Syrian-Israeli agreement and a comprehensive regional peace deal. We welcome strong US leadership to achieve either of these worthy goals.
Lots to share with you this week as news from Israel and Iran pours in:
First up, Bibi Netanyahu’s speech. The Prime Minister made (for him) a huge concession in announcing support for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state. The speech otherwise left much to be desired: No response to the President’s call for a settlement freeze; no mention of the Arab Peace Initiative; a raft of conditions and caveats. Read our formal reaction here.
Earlier this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated the Israeli government’s opposition to a full settlement freeze in a meeting with Secretary of State Clinton. In response, we’re ramping up our “Freeze Means Freeze” campaign - and we’re getting close to 20,000 messages. Send a message to President Obama supporting his “freeze means freeze” approach to Israeli settlements here and help put us over the top.
Read Harold Meyerson’s Washington Post op-ed - in which he gives prominent mention and credit to J Street in talking about shifting public opinion and political winds - here.
Read the transcript of George Mitchell’s press availability here - in which he gives a strong sense that the Administration could outline a new peace effort in the coming month.
Of course, we’re all closely watching the moving images, video, and yes, Twitter feeds from Iran. No matter the outcome of the election drama and leadership struggle, Iran’s nuclear program and its support for terror against Israel will likely continue - and will need to be addressed by strong American engagement. Trita Parsi of the National Iranian-American Council and I co-wrote an op-ed on “How Diplomacy with Iran Can Succeed” here.
I fielded some tough questions from Haaretz readers in a lengthy Question and Answer session. Check it out here.
Finally, you may also enjoy David Makovsky’s piece Monday in the Wall Street Journal - in which he presses for immediate talks on defining Israel’s borders as a way to solve the settlements issue.
Former Deputy Speaker of Knesset, Consul General to lead efforts to build Israeli support for organization as it expands
WASHINGTON — J Street announced today the appointment of Colette Avital, former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and Israeli Consul General to New York, as Senior Advisor to the political arm of the American pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.
“Colette Avital’s lifetime commitment to Israel’s security and future exemplifies the very values on which J Street was founded,” said J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami.
“I’m thrilled to join J Street as it provides strong political support for the American diplomacy so critical to achieving peace for Israel and its neighbors,” said Avital. “J Street’s work in promoting the two-state solution and a broad, regional peace serves the essential interests of both Israel and the United States, and I look forward to working together to achieve these goals.”
In her new capacity, Avital will focus on building Israeli support for J Street and its mission as the organization continues to grow. In particular, Avital will work with many prominent Israelis from the security, political, military, diplomatic and academic fields to demonstrate the strong support in Israel for bold US leadership in achieving a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts.
Avital, who served as Israel’s Consul General in New York City from 1992 to 1997, joined the 15th Knesset on behalf of the Labor Party in November 1999 and was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Knesset in February 2003. Throughout her nearly decade-long tenure in the Knesset, Avital served as Chair of the Ethics and the Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Committees. She also headed the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee into the Location and Restitution of the Assets of Holocaust Victims and served as the International Secretary of the Labor Party.
“We look forward to working with Avital to continue growing the broad support in Israel for strong American leadership in pursuit of the two-state solution and a comprehensive, regional peace,” said Ben-Ami. “We believe such partnership is essential to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic homeland and bring true peace and security to the region.”
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Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director of J Street, issued the following statement after remarks yesterday by Secretary of State Clinton and Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman at the State Department:
Secretary of State Clinton is completely correct to press for a complete halt to settlement construction so that serious negotiations can begin on ending the conflict.
The time and place to build new homes for Israelis who need them is within Israel’s established borders once they are set in a comprehensive peace agreement. Building new homes within Israel’s borders serves the long term peace and security interests of all Israelis.
Send us an email at info [at] J Street [dot] org.
J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement. We seek to change the direction of American policy in the Middle East and to broaden the public and policy debate in the U.S. about the Middle East. We support strong American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts peacefully and diplomatically...
J Street is a 501(c)(4) organization that primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues. Contact J Street at info [at] jstreet [dot] org.
JStreetPAC is a federal political action committee that primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect our values through a variety of activities aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election. Contact JStreetPAC at info [at] jstreetpac [dot] org.
Paid for by J Street, http://jstreet.org/, and JStreetPAC, http://jstreetpac.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
JStreetPAC and J Street are legally independent organizations.