More on the J Street dinner

I did a video recently about New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand pulling out of a big fundraising event for J Street, the Jewish lobbying outfit that's trying to be the liberal answer to AIPAC

The day the video went up, as many of you probably know, the group snagged Obama national security adviser Jim Jones as the keynote speaker for the dinner, which will happen next week. That's a pretty big get. So the senators from New York would rather not show their faces, but the administration is sending one of its top men.

This morning came the more interesting news (in its way) that Tzipi Livni, while declining an invitation, wrote executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami the politest no letter since Brooke Shields turned down Michael Jackson. Check it out:

Thank you for your invitation to J Street's first national conference. Unfortunately, my schedule does not allow me to take part in this event but, as you know, "Kadima" will be well represented at the conference by senior members of the Party.

I would like to congratulate you on your inaugural national conference. I believe most American Jews support and want to see it thrive as a Jewish and democratic state. Like you, I believe ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by realizing the vision of two nation state living side by side in peace and security is in the best interests of Israel, the United States, the Palestinians and the region as a whole.

In my view, the discussion which the pro-Israel community of what best advances Israel's cause should be inclusive and broad enough to encompass a variety of views, provided it is conducted in a respectful and legitimate manner. Along the way, we may not agree on everything but I do believe that we must ensure that what unites us as Jews who are committed to Israel's future as a secure, Jewish, and democratic State is far greater than what separates us.

And in what is obviously the biggest news of all, a kind friend invited me today, so I'll be going, so I'll be able to report back to you the next morning.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2009/oct/22/j-street-lobby