Your April 9 editorial about J Street was spot-on. The war with Iran is far from the only recent example of J Street opposing Israeli security policy. On Feb. 26, the organization issued a statement backing congressional legislation that, in its own words, “places conditions on Israel’s ability to use American arms.” At a time of active conflict, such conditions could affect Israel’s ability to protect innocent families.
Positions like these help explain J Street’s limited support within the American Jewish community. Its 2014 application to join the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations was decisively rejected, underscoring its place outside the communal mainstream — and why its views should be met with clear and vocal opposition.
Moshe Phillips, national chairman, Americans For A Safe Israel
“What is J Street thinking?” you ask. The answer is, they’re not. Are they “pro-Israel” as they claim? Not that I can ever see, although they always have much to say about Israel (as does the rest of the world).
I was going to note their recent letter to U.S. senators (together with other progressive organizations) urging them to vote with Sen. Bernie Sanders to halt the sale of bulldozers and certain munitions to Israel. Then, just to check directly on their website for the accuracy of their position, one of their primary policy topics and objectives jumps out: “Reassessing the US-Israel Security Relationship,” and calling for “a fundamental reassessment of the US-Israel security relationship.” Of course, J Street routinely highlights its claimed horrors and atrocities committed by Israel and its citizens, with little left for anything “pro” or positive about Israel.
With “pro-Israel” friends like these who needs enemies? Israel already has enough of them.
Alan Fischler, Bethesda
