Rhode Islanders attend J Street national conference

Back (left to right):  Dan Kohl (National Board J Street), Zachary Blumenstein (J Street U Brown), Judy Kaye (co-chair), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sam Rubinstein (J Street U Brown), Alan Solomont (National J Street board), Gerry Tyler. Front (left to right) Cantor Elliot Tubman, Doris Donovan, Dana Del Bonis, Liz Hollander(co-chair), Susan Sklar, Bruce Phillips. Not pictured: Sara Rapport. /Photo | Steve Krubiner, National J Street staff

On March 21, nine Rhode Islanders joined more than 3,000 people in Washington, D.C. at the fifth and largest J Street National Conference. J Street is a pro-peace, pro-Israel organization that supports a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict. J Street U Brown and Brown RISD Hillel also sent a delegation of 11 students.

Among the distinguished keynote speakers were former Secretary of State James Baker and current White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. Both stated clearly and without hesitation their support for a two-state solution, as well as their belief in the possibility of successful Iran negotiations.

We Rhode Islanders were impressed by the Israeli Knesset members, seasoned negotiators for the PLO and U.S., and citizens from Gaza and the West Bank talking about the realities of their daily lives and their aspirations for peace. As delegation member Doris Donovan pointed out, “The main theme was that the outlines of a peace plan are clear to everyone, that it is possible to have two states for two peoples, and that if we don’t find the courage to do this soon, Israel will not be able to survive as a Jewish, democratic state.”

Two main initiatives came out of the conference, both of which are likely to impact Jewish institutions in R.I. One is a campaign to promote the use of Israel maps that clearly show the location of the Green Line—the 1949 Armistice line dividing Israel from the Palestinian territories—in synagogues, day schools, and other communal organizations. Several speakers from the Knesset talked about the need to provide accurate information about Israel’s occupation of the territories to both Israeli and diaspora Jews, and they explicitly asked us to support their efforts.

The other initiative focused on how financial gifts to Israel are allocated. Stav Shaffir, the youngest member to serve in the Israeli Knesset, made headlines when she discovered that the government kept a separate, secret budget funneling taxpayer money to settlements beyond the Green Line without public knowledge or debate. Similarly, U.S. donors to Israel want to know where their funds are going. J Street R.I. and J Street U Brown will be following up with the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island to clarify its stance on support for these settlements.

The conference also made a point of respecting other viewpoints on these issues. Judy Kaye, co-founder and co-chair of J Street R.I. said she “was proud to tell other conference attendees that the Jewish community in Rhode Island gives voice to diverse perspectives on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. In fact, three more groups recently launched in this area–two whose views are to the right of J Street and one whose positions are to the left. This attests to the robustness of the discourse in our small state.”

On the last day of the conference we participated in Advocacy Day, visiting with Representative David Cicilline, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and the legislative assistant for Senator Jack Reed. (Representative James Langevin, who has met with us in the past, was not able to schedule an appointment.) We urged their support for a two-state solution and for limiting the growth of settlements, as well as for continuing the nuclear weapons negotiations with Iran.

Many of us were disturbed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s weak commitment to the formation of a Palestinian state, expressed at the end of Israel’s recent political campaign. But by the end of the conference, we were re-energized to work for a peaceful solution that would secure Israel’s future.

Liz Hollander is co-chair of J Street R.I. , serves on the JCRC and the Israel Task Force of the JCRC. She is also an active member of Temple Beth-El in Providence and Hevreh of the Southern Berkshires.