J Street Having Capitol Hill Impact? NORPAC says ‘yes’
Their opponents claim they’re having absolutely no impact in Congress, but a NORPAC action alert today says differently.
The “they” is J Street, the year-old pro-peace process lobby and political action committee.
Recently J Street, along with Americans for Peace Now (cool new Web site!), started lobbying against a congressional letter by Sen Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Sen. James Risch (R-ID) currently circulating in the Senate.
Backers say the letter (read it here) merely commends President Obama’s pressure on Arab states to normalize relations with Israel and asks for more; the dovish groups say the letter undercuts the President’s policy by ignoring Israel’s obligations.
Today NORPAC, the big New Jersey-based pro-Israel political action committee, sent out an action alert that said “unfortunately, there are quiet a few familiar names missing on the list” of signers – including Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Sen. Robert Menendez, both New Jersey Democrats and pro-Israel stalwarts.
Then there’s this line: “As you all are familiar with other ‘Pro-Israel’ organizations such as J St, APN, and others; their pressure on Congress is being felt and is making these signatures harder for us to get.”
‘nuf said. How long do you suppose it will take J Street to put that in a fundraising letter?
Note to commenters: no, I’m not saying J Street is the equivalent of AIPAC in power. No, I’m not endorsing J Street’s position. Frankly, I tend to think these battles over nonbinding congressional letters and resolutions interest only a small handful of insiders, with almost no impact on policy.
Yes, I’m saying folks who claim the group is having no impact at all are full of hot air.
August 7th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
If you say letters have no impact on policy, then doesn’t it follow that even if J street discourages members to sign the letter, it is having no impact on policy?
August 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
The biggest impact of J-Street is to show the majority of American Jews that it is ok to not necessarily agree with AIPAC supporting the most right wing of Israeli policies such as settlements, Gaza blockade, etc.
As most American Jews are at a minimum uncomfortable with those policies, it suddenly provides an outlet through which their opinions can be heard and that will affect American policy for the better.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
FyI: There was a demonstration against Israeli settlements on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica- it was sponsored by a local Jewish group- the name evades me- but a definitely strong support for a two-state solution.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:48 am
J Street has made fighting with AIPAC its central raison d’etre. AIPAC is far from perfect; but J Street’s devisive attributions of their positions are flat out wrong on several important levels. AIPAC does favor the eventual existence of another Arab State –but side with Israel on the reasonable requirements including having one government, abolition of all references to the death of Israel and having no arms. Why is J Street opposed to these qualifiers? Why doesn’t Ben Ami and Luria reach out instead of inflamming a relatively small difference in goals. I can only think that have fallen in love with their own image. Sure they are having an impact, but some of the earlier joiners have begun to notice their rigidity and one-note policies.