New Voice for Israel

<p>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. These myths include: <p/>- that leaders of established Jewish organizations speak for all Jewish Americans when it comes to Israel<br>- that being pro-Israel means you cannot support creation of a Palestinian state <br>- that American Jews vote for candidates based largely on their support of Israel <br>- that talking peace with your enemies demonstrates weakness <br>- that allying with neoconservatives and evangelical Christians is good for Israel and good for the Jewish community. <p/>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.</p>