On eve of AIPAC parley, pro-Israel groups want sides to make nice

[oberliner]

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- By the time this year's AIPAC policy conference starts, its organizers -- indeed, pretty much the entire Washington village inside a village that calls itself "pro-Israel" -- hopes the shouting will be over.

That's because they want to get back to shouting -- about Iran and its nuclear threat, and not last week's contretemps between Israel and the United States over a building start in eastern Jerusalem announced during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

The consensus of the pro-Israel center and right is that the argument is increasingly a distraction and should be set aside. That message was coming through Monday in statements from the unofficial Jewish caucus on Capitol Hill.

"Our countries have weathered temporary diplomatic storms and diversions of every nature and size for more than 60 years," said U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.). "I am confident that nothing has or will occur that will change that, especially given the stakes for both countries."

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who is close to the Zionist Organization of America, was commensurately blunter.

“Israel is a sovereign nation and an ally, not a punching bag," he said. "Enough already.”

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/03/16/1011149/pro-israel-groups-want-sides-to-make-nice-before-aipac-conference

[elfin]

1. I am so done with Israel

It's time for them to wake up and smell the demographic realities. Their fear of the future population shifts are probably driving this latest thorn in a possible Independent Palestine solution.

I am sick of so much money spent propping up this artificial creation by guilt ridden post WWI rulers who ignored the holocaust reality and then created a flawed entity rather than doing it in a more accommodating way to the Palestinians.

I am sick of our international safety being inextricably linked to the actions of this entity.

Yes, I appreciate the energy and creativity, but it is NOT a democracy - it just looks sort of that way in comparison to its neighbors. It is a theocracy with all the attendant difficulties of exclusionary policies.

I wish that all the so called "holy" sites would magically evanesce and disappear without a trace.

Foul mood today -- HATE what is going on over there despite our best people (Clinton, Mitchell) trying to bring a modicum of peace and being jerked around by Israeli Wingers.

[oberliner]

2. What would be your peace proposal?

If you could have you way, how would you like to see things resolved there?

[Name removed]

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