J Street celebrates the Juicebox Mafia

I’m in Pittsburgh, PA at Netroots Nation, where last night J Street held a happy hour to both hob-knob with other progressives committed to a just two-state solution, and to honor three bloggers who have stood alongside J Street in its cause: Spencer Ackerman, Matthew Yglesias and Matt Duss.

Together with Ezra Klein and a few other progressive Jewish bloggers and columnists, these gentlemen compose a clique pejoratively deemed “the Juicebox Mafia” by the likes of The New Republic and Commentary magazine.

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NIF New Generations benefit tix go on sale Monday!

Dearest friends,

I have been given the distinguished honor of co-chairing this year’s New Israel Fund New Generations benefit. The event, which will take place at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on September 9, features the Israeli DJ crew Soulico, as well as the Ethio-Israeli hip-hop duo Axum, and will help support New Israel Fund programs in Israel over the next year.

For you, this means two things:

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Avigdor Lieberman: Bad for the Jews

I’ve got a piece up on Jewcy this evening regarding the relative success of Avigdor Lieberman’s far-right party Yisrael Beiteinu and the impact his proposal to disenfranchise Israeli Arabs will have on pro-Israel advocacy efforts.

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Supporting civilian victims of Israeli warfare is okay when Dan Sieradski isn't doing it

The same folks who vilified me and my friends for raising money for both Lebanese and Israeli war victims in 2006 are now promoting a similar effort in Southern Israel to provide relief to Gaza.

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With Israel's Gaza offensive a failure, top Defense officials back a ceasefire

“The Israeli media is swimming in pronouncements from anonymous Israeli defense officials that the Gaza offensive has accomplished all it can in Gaza and yet has not dismantled Hamas’ infrastructure. Hamas has played it safe and is still capable of shooting just as many rockets per day as previously. Senior defense ministers back an immediate ceasefire.”

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Interview with British email hoaxster at Jewcy

“We wanted to show another possible reality, to suggest that another Jewish community is possible. Those who believed it, even for a moment, were being given a gift — a vision of a Jewish leadership which stands up for peace and justice rather than mindless ethnic solidarity.”

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Video: Jewish New Yorkers show their love for Israel with their hate of Palestinians

Max Blumenthal reports from the Israel solidarity rally this past Sunday in New York:

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Boston interfaith coalition calls for end to Mideast violence, vigil 1/13

A Boston-area interfaith coalition comprised of rabbis, pastors, imams and religious community activists has issued a joint statement calling for an end to the war in Gaza and denouncing violence on both sides.

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NYC Middle East Peace Rally recap

Today’s rally was a modest success by general protest standards, and yet it was a great success for something whipped together in 3 days without any institutional support.

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Mishegaas for Jan. 10, 2009

Yes! Yes! Emphatically, yes: “Israel’s leaders need to recognize that if Hamas cannot be beaten militarily, then it must be engaged politically.” [Time]
While recapping the rumble between J Street and Reform movement leader Eric Yoffie, Jim Besser cites anti-J Street sources alleging that the Israeli embassy is out to get J Street. [Jewish Week]
Douchenozzle extraordinaire [...]

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