A new voice for Israel

By Jeremy Ben-Ami

Subjects: HISTORY / United States / 21st Century, Jews, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Diplomacy, Influence, HISTORY / Middle East / Israel, United states, ethnic relations, Politics and government, United states, foreign relations, israel, Lobbying, Jews, united states, politics and government, Political activity, Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.), Attitudes toward Israel, Diplomatic relations, Ethnic relations, Israel, foreign relations, united states, Relations extérieures, Foreign relations, Attitudes envers Israël, J Street (Organization), Zionists, Juifs, Jews, united states, Relations interethniques

Description: "Many Americans who care about Israel's future are questioning whether the hard-line, uncritical stances adopted by many traditional pro-Israel advocates really serve the country's best interests over the long-term. Moderate Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder of J Street, the new pro-Israel, pro-peace political movement, punctures many of the myths that have long guided our understanding of the politics of the American Jewish community and have been fundamental to how pro-Israel advocates have pursued their work including: -- that leaders of established Jewish organizations speak for all Jewish Americans when it comes to Israel -- that being pro-Israel means you cannot support creation of a Palestinian state -- that American Jews vote for candidates based largely on their support of Israel -- that talking peace with your enemies demonstrates weakness -- that allying with neoconservatives and evangelical Christians is good for Israel and good for the Jewish community. Ben-Ami, whose grandparents were first-generation Zionists and founders of Tel Aviv, tells the story of his own evolution toward a more moderate viewpoint. He sketches a new direction for both American policy and the conduct of the debate over Israel in the American Jewish community"--Provided by publisher.