[Peace-discuss] Israeli massacre in Gaza [and J Street PAC's call to end the violence and the blockade]

[C. G. Estabrook]

But you have to tell the truth, even in political statements.

I suggest J Street means to play Good Cop to AIPAC's Bad Cop.  --CGE


Stuart Levy wrote:
> On Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 10:15:34PM -0600, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
>> Stuart Levy wrote:
>>> ... 
>>> http://action.jstreet.org/t/3251/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=508&tag=gazaemail-txt
>>>  Here's their call:
>>>> ... And there is nothing to be gained from debating which injustice is 
>>>> greater or came first.   What's needed now is immediate action to stop
>>>>  the violence before it spirals out of control...
>> That's surely wrong.  It's obvious to the world "which injustice is greater
>> or came first."  The attempt to equalize the crimes is disingenuous at 
>> best.
> 
> Yes, it is obvious to 'most anyone in the world, outside the US and Israel.
> But remember, making this call is a political statement.  The point is to
> convince US citizens -- including plenty who do see Israel's actions now as
> "understandable" -- and congresspeople, and especially the new
> Administration.
> 
> By declining to assign blame (even where it is due), J Street has crafted a
> statement that's far harder to say No to -- while still calling for an end to
> the siege of Gaza, and a prompt active return to a comprehensive peace
> process leading to a viable two-state solution.  And calls all this a
> fundamental American interest.
> 
> This is a statement that my mother might well sign (I'm sending it along in
> hopes she will).  I don't think she would sign one that simply called on the
> US to suspend military support to Israel, for example.   I'd be happy to see
> that, but it will not happen any time soon.  We are not strong enough. The US
> will be out of Iraq and Afghanistan first.
> 
> As the J Street statement says,
> 
> American politicians are already hearing from those who see only one side.
> 
> I'll bet they are.  In this situation, a broad call, letting our politicians
> know lots of people support something more humane than the terrible status
> quo -- and support listening to the Palestinians and not only to the Israelis
> -- is 'way more valuable than a less moderate call which only a few of us
> would agree to make.
> 
> Whatever the J Street leadership themselves believe, I think they're wise to
> choose this way to mobilize people.
> 
> Stuart