Israel

How to talk candidly about…the Israel lobby

Much has been written and broadcast about the nature of the public conversation on Israel. Not much has dealt with a more difficult topic: how to discuss the “Israel lobby” in the U.S. in a manner that:

    is accurate;
    is productive;
    does not provide fuel to the people who are yearning for proof of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, yet does not hesitate to rebuke what must be rebuked.

If anyone thinks it is possible to accomplish all of that at the same time, especially in the Wild Wild Rhetorical West of the blogosphere, I’d love to hear suggestions for how to do it. What are the rhetorical red lines? When does anti-Israel-lobbyism become anti-Semitism?

I’ll have more to say about this when I have a bit more time. In the meantime, those who live in the New York area might be interested in checking out the following panel discussion in New York City, where I plan to address this topic. I will be on the panel with Philip Weiss and Ann Roiphe on June 21st. If you live in the area, check it out.

Ameinu and Meretz USA are pleased to present:

How to Talk Candidly About Israel
A conversation among progressive American Jews

What are the obstacles to discussing the occupation and U.S-Israel relations in the public arena? How can they be overcome?

Featuring

Anne Roiphe
Author and Political Commentator
Contributing Editor, The Jerusalem Report

Philip Weiss
Author, Blogger and Contributor to The Nation on “The Israel Lobby”

Dan Fleshler
Political Analyst, Blogger and Board member,
Ameinu and Americans for Peace Now

June 21, 2007 7:30 P.M.

The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
30 West 68th Street, New York, NY

For more information:
www.ameinu.net and www.meretzusa.org

Comments are closed.