10/12/06: The news that a new lobby made up of peace-oriented pro-Israel groups has received an ambivalent greeting from many sectors concerned with the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The groups that are putting this lobby together are all Jewish, and are all pro-Israel. Their stances all make it clear that their first concern is Israel. But they are also all groups who recognize that the occupation must end and that the only viable solution is one that addresses Palestinian concerns in some realistic way. Many of us may disagree with what that means, but these groups, unlike AIPAC and many groups that support AIPAC, recognize the rights of the Palestinians and the need to end the occupation.

This nascent lobby would not be representative of the bulk of the anti-occupation movement on many levels. They would be a more centrist organization, but if they play their cards right, they might get support, at least in some, perhaps even many instances, from more left-leaning, progressive groups. AIPAC, on the other hand, is also not representative of the pro-Israel population in the US, but in their case, they are more radical than the true constituency. There is the real possibility that this new lobby will build significantly on the already existing erosion in AIPAC's credibility and influence due to the recent scandals and the exposure it has gotten in public debate.

The groups have already stated that their purpose is not to compete with AIPAC, but no one is buying that. It's clear that they are coming together to create a lobby that will get their voices heard. This only points up who badly we need a lobby that bases its argument on international law and human rights and whose interest is in the rights of Israelis and Palestinians equally. Until now, the entire spectrum of pro-peace groups has ceded the legislative arena to AIPAC and their ilk. It's been a major weakness and if this new lobby is the first of several that challenge AIPAC, this will be a historic turning point.

See Ha'aretz story