Why J Street Deserves Support

  By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

I came across this organization about a year after it was founded in Washington, D.C. by Jeremy Ben-Ami, whose ancestors were among the fifty-or-so families who founded Tel Aviv.  His credentials were impeccable.  Years ago, I wrote a review of his fine book, “A New Voice For Israel,” which I believe has withstood the test of time, albeit it is out of print.[2]

In it, he concludes about the treatment of Palestinians and others: “Is this how I wanted to be treated when I was a minority in another people’s country?”  Isn’t this the nub of it—as a law school professor of mine used to say—or the central issue today?  Benjamin Netanyahu has avoided jail by responding to the Hamas attacks of October 7th and being as vicious as the attackers.  But this should surprise no one.

Decades ago, he morphed into his ancestors’ Nazi oppressors; and he and the “Settlers” and rabid Zionists have exercised brutality that rivals their opponents.  Indeed, it bears repeating that he was hated by Ariel Sharon and the Rabins; and the “Lioness” Leah Rabin—whom I heard speak at the Washington Press Club—blamed him for her husband’s tragic assassination.  She believed that peace was impossible with Netanyahu at the helm of Israel’s government; and her views were prescient and prophetic.

Anti-Semitism has been rising for more than a decade; and it has been impacting American Jews, Israeli Jews, and those who live elsewhere and have been forced to hide and deny their “Jewishness.”  But the spread of anti-Semitism may have only begun.  And ill-conceived efforts have been undertaken in the United States and other countries, to emasculate free speech, instead of discussing these issues rationally and unemotionally.

In ancient Rome, the practice evolved of killing the messenger, or the bearer of bad news.[3]. Today, those who criticize Netanyahu or his fellow travelers are maligned; and university leaders who do not fall into lockstep are forced to resign or grovel before their critics.  In leading J Street, Ben-Ami has been required to walk an ever-diminishing narrow line, to maintain the organization’s financial and political support.  Hopefully, those who follow him will be equally skilled and adroit.

Why is any of this relevant to those of us who are not Jewish?  Because lots of us know Jews who have been our friends since grade school.  And because Israel may be destroyed by Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs, including EMP weapons); and our friends may worry about their futures and that of their families.[4]  And because such a conflagration might reach our shores.[5]

While J Street is a “devout” Leftist group that supports brain-addled Joe Biden—and seems to abhor the GOP, Independents and our President Donald Trump—nevertheless it is a voice of reason regarding Israel, where such voices are in short supply.  And thus far its leader, Jeremy Ben-Ami, has not wavered on the issue of free speech for all, which is a blessing and critical to perpetuate the ideals that undergird our great country.[6]

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© 2023-2024, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/  He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business.  He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/23/sadly-this-book-is-out-of-print-because-its-wisdom-is-needed-now-in-the-middle-east-and-globally-more-than-ever/ (“Sadly, This Book Is Out Of Print, Because Its Wisdom Is Needed Now In The Middle East And Globally More Than Ever”)

[3]  See, e.g., https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_the_messenger (“Shooting the messenger”)

[4]  See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/31/americas-jews-are-americans/ (“America’s Jews Are Americans”)

[5]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/is-israel-doomed/ (“Is Israel Doomed?”)

[6]  See, e.g., https://shar.es/agop6X (“Will Trump Be Locked Up In Court For Three Months Unable To Campaign”)