J STREET ENDORSES UN ACTION AGAINST ISRAEL
DISCOURAGES OBAMA FROM WIELDING VETO
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected Palestinian efforts to force through a UN resolution calling for Israeli retreat from Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem, seeing it as a means of bypassing direct negotiations between the two parties.
Attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel – will endanger Israel.
If passed, the UN resolution “will endanger Israel.”
In comments made earlier today Netanyahu stated that “attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel will only lead to a deterioration in the regional situation and will endanger Israel. Therefore, we will strongly oppose this”. Opposition to the resolution carried across Israeli political lines. Seen as a potential foil to Netanyahu’s reelection efforts, former Justice Minister Tzipi Livni declared “let it be clear: They won’t get what they want, The Palestinian proposal won’t be accepted.”
US officials told reporters accompanying Kerry that Washington has not yet decided whether to veto or back the French-led UN initiative.
While the White House appears uncertain as to what steps they will take to address the UN resolution, the self described “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobbying group J Street issued a press release today discouraging the Obama administration from quashing the resolution by using their Security council veto.
J Street urges the Obama administration to view such a development as an opportunity
Referring to the proposed resolution to impose an Israeli withdrawal, J Street “urges the Obama administration to view such a development as an opportunity and to look for ways to work with international allies to use a Security Council resolution as a springboard for meaningful negotiations, rather than taking a position that it should veto all resolutions on this subject as a matter of course.”
J Street urges President Obama not to miss the opportunity to shape a UN Security Council resolution
J Street urges Pres. Obama to “look for ways… to use a Security Council resolution as a springboard”. Photo: J Street Pres. Jeremy Ben-Ami
Opposing the use of military force to achieve a UN imposed withdrawal, the J Street statement urges the United States to actively assist in the formulation of the internationally imposed diktat. “J Street urges President Obama not to miss the opportunity to shape a UN Security Council resolution that could advance the prospects for a two-state solution.”
J Street has frequently advocated positions in opposition to the Israeli mainstream. Last year the ZOA condemned J Street for supporting the easing of nuclear sanctions on Iran.
With strong representation in the leadership circles of Seattle’s Jewish establishment, J Street associates are believed to have played a role in the foggy response of the Seattle Jewish Federation to Israel related crises, such as last Summer’s Gaza war. The group, together with Seattle’s Jewish Federation sponsored a lecture by Israel boycott advocate Peter Beinart at University of Washington Hillel this past October.
Seattle community leaders including thirteen clergy affiliated with the Washington Council of Rabbis (some serving on the J Street Rabbinical Council) recently condemned efforts by local pro-Israel activists to open up a communal conversation regarding J Street’s agenda and methodology.
