JESSE SINGAL’S focus on the supposed virtues of J Street has obscured an honest appraisal of major American Jewish organizations and the longstanding work that many continue to do in support of Israel’s quest for a lasting peace (“A changing American Jewish landscape,’’ Op-ed, March 15).
Singal demonizes groups that, in fact, share the goal of a two-state accord, but may have a different analysis of how best to reach it.
At the American Jewish Committee, we have been supportive of such a negotiated outcome long before groups such as J Street surfaced. In our regular visits to the region over decades, we have sought to cultivate partners for peace and mutual understanding at the highest levels.
But seeking peace, while necessary, is not sufficient. When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas boycotts direct talks with Israel, embarrassing President Obama in the process, and when Palestinian society is divided between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, there is a problem that cannot be ignored by simply repeating mantras about the need for peace and more Israeli concessions.
Seeking to delegitimize the views of those who disagree with J Street does an injustice to other Jewish organizations that yearn for true peace.
Indeed, AJC executive director David Harris conveyed those and other messages when he sat alongside Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street’s executive director, on Christiane Amanpour’s show on CNN in November 2009. Other AJC officials have appeared on stage with J Street representatives, which belies Ben-Ami’s assertions, which Singal recounts, that he is ignored.
Robert Leikind
Director
AJC Boston 
