Israeli envoy to US calls J Street a ‘cancer within the Jewish community’
Personally, I am not a J Street member. I find them to be too far to the left for me and my beliefs and too willing to discuss Israel-Palestinian issues with bad actors who do not operate in good faith.
However, in this instance, I find that Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter branding J Street as “a cancer within the Jewish community” to be beneath the dignity of his office.
This was the platform at which he directed these sentiments:
“The National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism has been an important coalition for moral clarity against the falsehoods directed towards Jews and Western Civilization in these divided times.”
“The stage will feature diplomatic officials, prominent Trump Administration personnel, members of Congress, and notable Jewish & Christian Leaders. There will also be a surprise guest announced on the day of the conference.”
Honestly, if he had said this directly to J Street when meeting with them then I would have less of an issue with that. That’s a conversation amongst Jews. But calling fellow Jews a cancer and using other language like that in front of non-Jewish allies, tacitly gives permission to these people to speak about American Jews in this manner. With the explosion of antisemitism from all corners, the left, as well as the right, it is inappropriate for any Jews, including and especially representatives of Israel, to provide cover for ways that non-Jews can use language that attacks Jews. It’s totally inappropriate and absolutely unnecessary.
Additionally, another thing he said that is nonsensical was “…when you come and say in such a two-faced manner, ‘We’re pro-Israel, we’re pro democracy’ — there’s a democratically elected government in Israel. You don’t like Netanyahu, make Aliyah, vote in the next election and express yourself. Don’t say you’re ‘pro-democracy’ and decry and defy the position of the democratic government of Israel,” he added.”
This seems to intimate that American Jews have no right to disagree with the position of the current Israeli government. That’s somehow equally offensive to my intelligence. I respect the Prime Minister, but I and other Americans are allowed to disagree. Just as I’m sure American Jews disagree with non-Bibi prime ministers in the past. If Israelis in Tel Aviv are allowed to take to the streets to protest, the idea that American Jews cannot disagree is as laughable as it is offensive.
And again, I’m not even a member of J Street. I’m a Zionist. Full stop. I think attempts to divide Jewish Americans during a time that we should be supporting each other due to increased antisemitism is widely inappropriate and expect better from someone speaking on behalf of the Israeli government in America.
While I don’t often agree with J Street, I agree with their right to disagree and argue with them. There’s a way to criticize without incendiary language and demeaning attitude towards all American Jews.