Fractured American Jewish Community Is First Victim of Iran Nuclear Deal
In some of the heated deliberations taking place in national Jewish organizations and local Jewish Federations across America, opponents of the deal with Tehran are using Herzog as a trump card to challenge the motives and loyalties of its supporters: How can a good Jew defend Obama’s deal, they ask, when Herzog and the rest of Israel oppose it?
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On the national level, AIPAC has set the tone, with mainstream organizations such as the American Jewish Committee and the Anti Defamation League following suit; J-Street and smaller organizations stand mostly alone in support of the deal. Many Jewish professionals and executives concur with criticism of the Iran deal, but even those who don’t are wary of their conservative donors, whose voices are often louder and financial pressures more direct than those of their liberal counterparts. Some activists feel compelled to speak out, fearing that silence will render them irrelevant on the most dramatic Jewish issue of the day; others are wary of accusations that they were ignoring the collective opinion of Herzog and other Israelis or repeating the sins of their forefathers who stood by as the Holocaust engulfed the Jews of Europe.
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The most riveting showdowns by far are taking place in the 151 Jewish Federations that have traditionally steered clear of divisive political issues, preferring to stick with fundraising for Israel and Jewish education while providing social services to their community. The Federations’ foray into disputed territory has sparked dissent and outrage among Obama supporters and among some of his opponents as well: a few have threatened to reassess their contributions. Many Federation bigwigs are concurrently active in AIPAC: in recent weeks, the powerful Washington-based lobby has made a point of beginning conference calls with activists with a tally of the Federations that have joined the fight and those that are still sitting on the fence. Some Federation officials have complained of direct pressures being exerted by the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem or in its name.
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Jewish officials I have spoken to in recent days are worried, perhaps even scared: they feel helpless despite the earthquake beneath their feet and the irreparable damage that it may cause. Many are frustrated that Netanyahu has chosen to lead the charge without devoting a second thought to how it might weaken the Jewish community. In a few months Netanyahu will try to enlist American Jews to do battle against the boycott movement, one senior Jewish figure told me, but he could be facing a demoralized and disoriented community that has alienated and distanced many of its members while wasting precious resources and limited goodwill on a campaign that was doomed from the outset.
http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/west-of-eden/.premium-1.671839
Bibi's malfeasance is actively harming the United States as well as harming Israel and the Palestinians.
