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Haaretz’s Rosner Rips JStreet a New One

16 years ago
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by ck
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Latest Jstreet Survey called laughable
You know Jstreet right? It’s an organization created recently as an alternative to AIPAC, their raison d’etre being that they better represent core American Jewish values vis-a-vis Israel than the increasingly hawkish AIPAC. They recently released the results of a survey that they claim demonstrate that “American Jews … want peace, readily support American pressure, and believe that Middle East peace is “a core American interest”” – however, after going through the actual results in a recent article, Haaretz US correspondent Shmuel Rosner found that the actual results don’t jibe with JStreet’s conclusions and that the survey itself suffered from some laughable flaws:

The way this poll was conducted is quite bizarre. I called poll-masters that I trust and read for them some of the questions. It made them laugh. Take this one for example, and imagine the email signaling that someone wants to ask you a question: Do you agree to this very, very, very long statement?

“I am ‘pro-Israel,’ and believe that America must consistently support our trusted ally Israel. Part of that support should be helping to promote serious efforts to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace because ending the conflict is vital to Israel’s future and security. I disagree with American politicians who make statements, such as demanding we move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, that sound supportive of Israel and make vocal activists happy, yet really undermine both peace efforts and America’s role as a mediator. I will always work to maintain the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and I support policies that help Israel achieve an enduring peace.”

Chances are that you:

A. Stopped reading somewhere in the middle and just wrote yes.
B. Stopped reading somewhere in the middle, regained consciousness at the end, read the final sentence (“I support policies that help Israel achieve an enduring peace”), then wrote yes. Of course you support Israel, duh!

In short, this seems like a good way to ask a question if you want 71 percent to respond yes. Look at all the very long statements in this poll and see for yourself. With barely one exception, the longer the statement, the better the chances that people say yes.

And of course Jstreet makes no mention of the fact that it’s own survey shows that a majority of American Jews support the indivisibility of Jerusalem. Read Rosner’s article here. It’s kinda fun!

But, ya know, JStreet is young. And not particularly well-funded. That combination means that while you can slap together a pretty Web site, you still don’t get the best and the brightest working for you. I’m sure that in due time, when the vast majority of the American Jewish public wake up and realize that negotiating with Hamas is a good idea and that JStreet actually really does represent their core values, the money will start to flow in torrentially! And smart people will want to work for them. And then we will indeed finally have “peace in our time!” Yay JStreet!

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ck

Founder and Publisher of Jewlicious, David Abitbol lives in Jerusalem with his wife, newborn daughter and toddler son. Blogging as "ck" he's been blocked on twitter by the right and the left, so he's doing something right.

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6 Comments

  • Hmmm. Here is a recent sampling of what Richard Silverstein has said about me:

    On Orthodox Anarchist: “They’re the retards Dan. And don’t let those bastards wear you down. The stories you recount sound awfully low. But given that it’s Abitbol, what can one expect?

    I once had a friend who had been a district attorney & he described a defendant he was prosecuting as “lower than the bone belly of a cur dog.” That about sums up Abitbol.”

    On South Jerusalem: “I also don’t see what there is to admire about Jewlicious. David Abitbol is one of the most annoying, swaggering, self-important, testosterone-infused Jews in the blogosphere & a political hypocrite to boot.” (this post had nothing to do with Jewlicious)

    Hot dang. I think Richard Silverstein has a crush on me! But other than his excellent taste in man meat, there’s really no reason for me or anyone else to take anything this hypocritical bully has to say seriously. He’s proven himself, over and over, to be a bitter, nasty old man and a blight upon the blogosphere.

  • None other than the Richard Silverstein. He’s the guy who makes up imaginary offenses he’s suffered and travels the internet badmouthing people for the imaginary offenses.

  • The other half is that AIPAC isn’t so far right as it’s typically portrayed, which means the difference between them and J-Street is small.

  • As a neutral observer, seems to me the diaspora didn’t come up with the idea of “negotiating with Hamas,” the Olmert government did. All the rhetoric about quarantining Hamas, it’s a terrorist organization etc. etc.– down the toilet. We gentiles are left to wonder what all the fuss was about in the first place.

    Well, guys, best of luck with President Obama on this issue.