'Obama Would Put Thru a Peace Deal Tomorrow If Not for the American Jewish Community'--MJ Rosenberg
Today's conference at New York's Central Synagogue on Jews uniting against the war—six years after it matters—was remarkable for two things: the soulsearching over the Israel/Palestine issue, which represents real progress after years of denial that the occupation had anything to do with the Iraq war, and indeed denial that there is an Israel lobby and we're part of it, and secondly for fine speeches by Elizabeth Holtzman and MJ Rosenberg. I'll leave till tomorrow a report on the conferees’ sometimes-honorable efforts to come to their senses about the wicked occupation of Palestine. For tonight, the news: Elizabeth Holtzman, MJ Rosenberg.
Denial, Inc: Boston Jewish Group Takes on Israel's Bad Image With $2.4 Million a Year, Aimed at Media and 'Influencers'
How did I ever get my little pariah fingers on this thing? A report on "Israel Advocacy," by the "Strategic Planning Subcommittee" of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston says that--are you sitting down?--Israel has a giant image problem in the U.S. Americans feel queasy about the Israel they see in the news. Even Jews are feeling ambivalent, per the focus groups. So what do we do about it? End the occupation? Oppose the settlements now? Come out for minority freedoms in Israel? No: Throw money at Israel public relations: $300,000 for campus work, $300,000 to spend on "influencers," $300,000 on media, and $500,000 for "Israel Advocacy." And that's just per year, in the Boston area. $2.4 million a year. Sorry, I gotta ask: Who has this kind of money? (Admittedly, report was in February '08.)
