Reaping the whirlwind which you sowed
Ynet News is reporting that Human Rights Watch is complaining that the Israeli state is waging a propaganda war against its organization in order to discredit its’ recent report on the Israeli Operation Cast Lead.
A senior HRW representative said that Israel is waging a propaganda war against the rights group instead of seriously addressing allegations made against the Jewish State that it committed grave human rights violations in Gaza. The report published Thursday claimed that IDF soldiers opened fire at unarmed Gazan civilians carrying white flags.
Yes, its the same Human Rights Watch group which making funding bids to wealthy Saudis by highlighting their ‘anti-Israel activities’. Anyhoo, let’s roll to the videotape.
In other news, J-Street, an allegedly pro-Israeli American pro-peace advocacy group which has billed itself as an alternative Jewish American voice to the American pro-Zionist ‘Israeli lobby’ has been discovered to be funded by a many non-Jews…hmmm. Jerusalem Post:
The J Street political action committee has received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from dozens of Arab and Muslim Americans, as well as from several individuals connected to organizations doing Palestinian and Iranian issues advocacy, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Additionally, at least two State Department officials connected to Middle East issues have donated to the PAC, which gives money to candidates for US Congress supported by J Street. The organization describes itself as a “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby pushing for more American involvement and diplomacy in resolving the Middle East conflict.
Arab and Muslim donors are extremely rare for other organizations that describe themselves as supporters of Israel as J Street does, Jewish leaders at organizations across the political spectrum told The Jerusalem Post. Because most of these other organizations are not PACs, however, US law does not require them to release their donor lists. J Street’s non-PAC arm also does not release a complete list of contributors.
Gee, I wonder why? While J-Street officials deny any ’significant’ funding from Pro-Arab/Palestinian groups I think this anonymous quote from an official at another Jewish organization supplies a reasonable rationale.
An official from another Jewish organization who also spoke anonymously had a different explanation for the donations, though. “Arab-American organizations or Palestinian American organizations have minuscule impact in Washington” in comparison to major Jewish ones, he maintained. “That’s where the power is. So if you’re looking for impact, for bang for your political buck, you’d give to J Street.”
Perhaps a name change wouldn’t be entirely out of order – something like ‘A’-Street ?
