The document discusses the political spectrum within the Jewish community, highlighting the tensions between AIPAC and J Street, two opposing organizations with distinct views on Israeli and American policies. AIPAC is a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group, while J Street advocates for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The author encourages readers to educate themselves about both organizations and the complexities of Middle Eastern politics, rather than taking sides.

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AIPEC vs J Street
Contrary to what is sometimes perceived as Jewish political unity, Jews cover the
full political spectrum, from hardcore Trump supporters to enthusiastic Bernie
Sanders fans. Jews like to argue, and I get to say that without politically correct
repercussions because I happen to be Jewish and an American/Israeli citizen to
boot. I get to rag on my people as much as I want. The worst accusation Jews
have hurled at me was, “You’re a self-loathing Jew,” whatever that means. The
accusations, mind you, have come from both left and right. I happen to be most
affiliated with being an Independent Centrist (whatever that means). No one is
spared in Jewish-Israeli Politics. Take the time to investigate the political
landscape in Israel and you’ll be astounded by the level of vitriol, makes U.S.
politics look like toddler play, well, not entirely, we’ve gotten quite vehement
lately.

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A good example of the Jewish political divide is found when comparing AIPAC and
J Street, two organizations diametrically opposed and locked in vicious political
trench warfare for quite some time. I’ll try to break it down for the uninformed
reader. It’s a bit wonky but also fun if taken with the proverbial pinch of salt.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC /ˈeɪpæk/ AY-pak) is
a lobbying group that advocates pro-Israel policies to the Congress and Executive
Branch of the United States. AIPAC has about 100,000 members, seventeen
regional offices, and "a vast pool of donors". AIPAC is hands-down one of the
most powerful lobbying groups in the United States. The group does not directly
raise funds for political candidates, but its members are allowed to raise money
for candidates through PACs that AIPAC helps establish and by other means.
Someone say Loophole?
Its critics say that AIPAC acts as an agent of the Israeli government with a
"stranglehold" on the United States Congress with its power and influence. The
group has been accused of being strongly allied with the Likud party of Israel, and
the Republican Party in the US, but an AIPAC spokesman has called this a
"malicious mischaracterization".
J Street is a nonprofit liberal advocacy group based in the United States whose
stated aim is to promote American leadership to end the Arab–Israeli and Israeli–
Palestinian conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. Its political action committee is
"the first and only federal Political Action Committee whose goal is to
demonstrate there is meaningful political and financial support to candidates for

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federal office from large numbers of Americans who believe a new direction in
American policy will advance U.S. interests in the Middle East and promote real
peace and security for Israel and the region." We got Benjamins.
J Street describes itself as "the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans
who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish
people ... advocating policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well
as Jewish and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict". Critics insist that J Street and the policies they support are, in
fact, anti-Israel and an existential threat to its national security.
The Washington Post describes the perceived differences between AIPAC and J
Street: "While both groups call themselves bipartisan, AIPAC has won support
from an overwhelming majority of Republican Jews, while J Street is presenting

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itself as an alternative for Democrats who have grown uncomfortable with both
Netanyahu's policies and the conservatives' flocking to AIPAC."
That’s the outline in a nutshell. AIPAC members see J Street members as liberal
snowflakes, while J Street members view AIPAC as a neocon organization adverse
to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I suppose it’s an almost
identical reflection of the general political battle taking place in the U.S. You
either LOVE Trump or you HATE him. You either LOVE Hillary or HATE her. The
subtleties of measured tones and humanizing one’s opponent are gone, over,
kaput, not that there were ever a large slice of politics—a vicious contact sport
not for the weak of heart or stomach. Take no prisoners is the overriding MO.
My purpose in this article is to introduce readers to the general outline of the
opposing Jewish organizations. I’m not going to take sides, don’t want to be
accused of being a self-loathing Jew by either of these two esteemed
organizations. My advice is go read about both of them; educate yourself about
Middle East policies, about Israel’s mission in the world, about the Palestinians
and their take on the situation. Walk a bit in their shoes, be they liberal or
conservative, democrat or republican, and reach your own conclusion.
I thought of starting the article with this sentence, but maybe it’s better I end
with it: A J Street guy and an AIPAC guy walk into a bar…