| ID | 100751 |
| Title Proper | Israel's refusal to endorse the American friends of Israel (1956) |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Aridan, Natan |
| Publication | 2010. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The aim in presenting and analyzing the document below on Israel's refusal to endorse the proposed AFI, the American Friends of Israel, in March 1956, which it considered a threat to existing pro-Israel advocacy activities, is not only a fascinating account of the origins of Israel's ambivalence regarding garnering support for its case on Capitol Hill, but also serves as an interesting parallel to the current controversy relating to Israel's policy toward the recently established radical alternative lobby for Israel, J Street. 2
J Street invited Ambassador Michael Oren to address its first Washington conference; however, after an extended delay Oren declined. 3 The embassy issued a statement saying that it would be "privately communicating its concerns over certain policies of the organization that may impair the interests of Israel". J Street leader Jeremy Ben-Ami did not "understand how it is in the State of Israel's interest to look at J Street as a problem, to write off an organization that represents a large number of American Jews."
It should come as no surprise that Oren balked at attending their recent annual conference. Since its inception, the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has refused to endorse pro-Israel organizations it has deemed either ineffective or unwilling to be "instructed" by Israel's diplomatic representatives. Although AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) 4 was established and financed by American citizens, by sanctioning AIPAC's monopoly Israel has consistently aimed to diminish the competition, thus ensuring that the source, gathering, and dissemination of information would be controlled by Israel.
Israel's foreign relations have been directed by the MFA and its diplomatic representatives who inevitably supplanted the Zionist organizations that had for more than thirty years regarded themselves as the official |
| `In' analytical Note | Israel Studies Vol. 15, No. 3; Fal 2010: p189-201 |
| Journal Source | Israel Studies Vol. 15, No. 3; Fal 2010: p189-201 |
| Key Words | America ; Israel ; America - Relation - Israel ; Israel - Relation - America ; Zionist Organizations ; Zionist |