Please tell me why we are giving JStreet so much attention and why are they relevant? I am not being facetious, I seriously have no idea.
LOOK AT THE CLOWNS AT THEIR CONVENTION
http://conference.jstreet.org/schedule SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
Join J Street and Theater J for an exciting pre-conference event at the DCJCC, "Arts and Activism in Troubled Times: Can Culture Effect Change?"
5:00pm - Registration Opens
7:00pm - PLENARY SESSION: Israel and 21st Century American Jewry (Independence Ballroom)
Speakers:
Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director, J Street
Daniel Sokatch, CEO, New Israel Fund
Respondents:
Ronit Avni, Founder and Executive Director, Just Vision
Rabbi Andy Bachman, Rabbi, Congregation Beth Hashem, Brooklyn, NY
Jim Gerstein, Principal, Gerstein Agne Strategic Communications
Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Encounter
9:00pm - Dessert Reception (Independence Foyer)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26
8:00am - Briefing for Hill Team Leaders (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
9:00am to 10:30am - BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW PRESENTS: West Bank Settlements: Obstacles on the Road to Peace - A View From the Ground and From the Diplomatic Arena (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
Akiva Eldar, Chief Political Columnist and Editorial Writer, Ha'aretz
Scott Lasensky, Senior Research Associate, Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention, United States Institute of Peace
Hagit Ofran, Director, Settlement Watch, a project of Peace Now
Moderator: Ori Nir, Spokesman, Americans For Peace Now
2. The Maze: Navigating Foreign and National Security Policy Through the Knesset (Constitution CD)
Ami Ayalon, Former Member of Knesset; Former Head of the Shin Bet
Shlomo Molla, Member of Knesset (Kadima)
Yuli Tamir, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset (Labor); Former Minister of Immigrant Absorption
Moderator: Colette Avital, Former Israeli Consul General in New York; Former Member of Knesset (Labor)
3. The Need for a Regional Comprehensive Approach to the Israeli Palestinian Conflict (Independence HI)
Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, Ambassador of Jordan
Shlomo Ben Ami, Former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Security
Alvaro de Soto, Former Chief Middle East Envoy, United Nations
Moderator: Ambassador Phillip Wilcox, President, Foundation for Middle East Peace; former U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem
4. Examining the Jewish Social Justice/Israel Divide (Independence FG)
Alana Alpert, Rabbinical student, Hebrew College; Former Recipient, 2008 AJWS Dvar Tzedek Torah Commentary: Lisa Goldberg Memorial Writers' Fellowship
Elissa Barrett, Executive Director, Progressive Jewish Alliance
Jacob Feinspan, Executive Director, Jews United for Justice
Moderator: Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Program Director, The Nathan Cummings Foundation
5. THEATER J AND J STREET PRESENT: Culture as a Tool For Change - Theater (McPherson Square)
Ari Roth, Artistic Director, Theater J
Actors from Theater J
10:45am to 12:15pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. The American Left and Israel (Independence HI)
J.J. Goldberg, Editorial Director, The Forward
Michelle Goldberg, Author, Kingdom Coming
Ezra Klein, Staff Reporter, The Washington Post
Moderator: Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor, The Nation
2. Where Has Israeli Peace Activism Gone? (Constitution CD)
Dana Agmon, Director of Major Gifts, OneVoice
Ronit Avni, Founder and Executive Director, Just Vision
Hagit Ofran, Director, Settlement Watch, a project of Peace Now
Moderator: Didi Remez, Senior Partner, BenOr Consulting
3. Israel's Social and Domestic Challenges - Yes, They Also Exist (Independence FG)
Nitzan Horowitz, Member of Knesset (New Movement - Meretz)
Amir Peretz, Member of Knesset (Labor); Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
Meir Sheetrit, Member of Knesset (Kadima); Former Finance Minister; Former Interior Minister
Moderator: Avshalom Vilan, Former Member of Knesset (Meretz)
4. How Jews, Christians and Muslims Can Work Together For Peace (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
Greg Khalil, President and Co-Founder, The Kairos Project
Salam Al-Marayati, Executive Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council
Mark Pelavin, Associate Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Maureen Shea, Former Director, Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations; Former Churches For Middle East Peace Chair
Moderator: Ron Young, Co-Founder, National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace
5. NEW ISRAEL FUND PRESENTS: Setting the Stage for Peace: The Fight for Democratic Values (Franklin Square)
Hagai El-Ad, Executive Director, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)
Akiva Eldar, Chief Political Columnist and Editorial Writer, Ha'aretz
Rachel Liel, Executive Director, New Israel Fund Israel
Moderator: Larry Garber, Former CEO, New Israel Fund
6. THEATER J AND J STREET PRESENT: Culture as a Tool for Change - Popular Media (McPherson Square)
John Marks, President and Founder, Search for Common Ground
12:30pm to 1:30pm - LUNCH
1:45pm to 3:15pm - PLENARY SESSION: Jewish Community Town Hall (Independence Ballroom)
Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director, J Street
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President, The Union for Reform Judaism
Moderator: Jane Eisner, Editor, The Forward
3:30pm to 4:45pm - BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. Iran: Is Diplomacy Working? (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
Hillary Mann Leverett, CEO, STRATEGA
Trita Parsi, Founder and President, National Iranian American Council
Brian Finlay, Senior Associate, The Henry L. Stimson Center
Moderator: Toni G. Verstandig, Director of Middle East Programs, The Aspen Institute
2. Human Rights in Israel (Independence FG)
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Executive Director, Rabbis for Human Rights
Oded Na'aman, Breaking the Silence
Uri Zaki, USA Representative, B'tselem
Professor David Kretzmer, Emeritus Professor of International Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Co-Chair, Executive Board, B'Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
Moderator: Aaron Back, Director, Ford Israel Fund
3. How We Stop Talking to Ourselves: Innovative Ways to Broaden the Conversation (Constitution CD)
Ronit Avni, Founder and Executive Director, Just Vision
Malka Fenyvesi, Director of Interfaith Programming/NewGround Co-Director, Progressive Jewish Alliance
Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, Co-founder and Co-Executive Director, Encounter
Moderator: Shawn Landres, Co-Founder and CEO, Jumpstart
4. Israel on Campus (Franklin Square)
Ralph Hexter, President, Hampshire College
Aimee Mayer, Member, J Street U Student Board of Directors; President, University of Maryland J Street U
David Shneer, Associate Professor of History; Director, Program in Jewish Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder
Dr. Bernard Steinberg, President and Executive Director, Harvard Hillel
Moderator: Chaya Rubin, Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Yeshiva University
5. Palestinian Economic Development: Path to Peace or Diversion? (Independence HI)
C. Ross Anthony, Ph.D., Senior Economist, RAND Corporation
Bassim Khoury, Minister of National Economy, Palestinian Authority
Ron Pundak, Director General, Peres Center for Peace
Douglas Suisman, Principal Architect, Suisman Urban Design
Moderator: Bernard Avishai, Business Consultant; Author
6. THEATER J AND J STREET PRESENT: Culture as a Tool for Change - Storytelling - A Land Twice Promised (McPherson Square)
Noa Baum, Storyteller
5:00pm to 6:15pm - PLENARY SESSION: View From the Hill: Congress and the US-Israel Relationship (Independence Ballroom)
Representative Charles Boustany (LA-07)
Representative Bob Filner (CA-51)
Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
Moderator: Bob Franken, Former CNN Correspondent
8:00pm - Rocking the Status Quo Party (Independence Ballroom)
Featuring Music by Soulico
Open to all participants
8:00pm - Reception in Celebration of Brit Tzedek v' Shalom (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
Open to all participants
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27
8:00am to 9:00am - Briefing for Hill Team Leaders (Independence Ballroom)
9:00am to 10:15am - BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. An Israeli-Palestinian Peace Deal in 24 Months: How to Get it Done (Constitution CD)
Gadi Batilansky, Director General, Geneva Initiative-Israel; Former Spokesperson for Prime Minister Ehud Barak
Daniel Levy, Senior Fellow and Director, Middle East Task Force, New America Foundation; Former Israeli Negotiator
Dr. Ron Pundak, Director General, The Peres Center for Peace
Moderator: MJ Rosenberg, Senior Fellow on Foreign Policy, Media Matters Action Network
2. What Does It Mean To Be Pro-Israel? (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
Jonathan Chait, Senior Editor, The New Republic
Matt Yglesias, Blogger, ThinkProgress.com
Moderator: J.J. Goldberg, Editorial Director, The Forward
3. BRIT TZEDEK V'SHALOM PRESENTS: Organizing on the Ground - A Political Force for the Pro-Israel/Pro-Peace movement (Independence FG)
Carinne Luck, Organizer, Former Director of Grassroots and Chapter Development, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Former J Street Chief of Staff
Laurie Moskowitz, Founding Partner and Director, FieldWorks
Ari Wallach; Partner, StudioBenZion; Co-founder, The Great Schlep.com, JCER and JewsVote.org
Moderator: Diane Balser, Former Executive Director, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
4. RABBIS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF NORTH AMERICA PRESENTS: A Text Study: What's Jewish about J Street? (Franklin Square)
Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Co-Founder, Yedidya Center for Jewish Spiritual Direction
Rabbi Edward Feld, Rabbi-in-Residence, The Rabbinical School, Jewish Theological Seminary; Former Education Director, Rabbis for Human Rights of North America
Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Spiritual leader, Congregation Nevei Kodesh, Boulder, Colorado
5. THEATER J AND J STREET PRESENT: Culture as a Tool for Change - Short Films presented by The Other Israel Film Festival (Independence HI)
6.5 Minutes in Tel Aviv (Director: Mirey Brantz)
Roads (Director: Lior Geller)
Shnaim (Director: Shimon Richik)
Presenter: Isaac Zablocki; Executive Director, Other Israel Film Festival
10:30am to 11:45am - BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1. BRIT TZEDEK RABBINIC CABINET PRESENTS: Dancing on the Head of a Pin: The Role of Rabbis in the Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace Movement (McPherson Square)
Rabbi David J. Cooper, Kehilla Community Congregation, Piedmont, CA
Rabbi Joshua Levine-Grater, Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, Pasadena, CA
Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco, CA
Rabbi Toba Spitzer, Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, Newton, MA
Moderator: Rabbi John Friedman, Judea Reform Congregation, Durham, North Carolina
2. Palestinian Perspectives: Looking Forward (Constitution CDE)
Ziad Asali, President and Founder, American Task Force on Palestine
Nadia Bilbassy, Correspondent, Middle East Broadcasting Center
Bassim Khoury, Minister of National Economy, Palestinian Authority
Moderator: Amjad Atallah, Co-Director, Middle East Task Force, New America Foundation
3. What Next? Analysis and Advice for the President from Washington Insiders (Lafayette Park/Farragut Square)
Jon Alterman, Director and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Lara Friedman, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Americans for Peace Now
Robert Malley, Director, Middle East/North Africa Program, International Crisis Group
Moderator: Morton H. Halperin, Member, J Street Board of Directors
4. Shifting the Conversation: Jewish Community Dynamics and Israel (Independence FG)
Shula Bahat, Director, American Friends of Beit Hatfutzot; Former Associate Executive Director, American Jewish Committee
Rabbi Peter Knobel, Beth Emet the Free Synagogue; Former President, Central Conference of American Rabbis
Daniel Sokatch, CEO, New Israel Fund; Former Executive Director, Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, The Peninsula, Marin and Sanoma Counties
Moderator: Hannah Rosenthal, Corporate Vice President, Wisconsin Physicians Service; Former Director, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
5. Messaging "Pro-Israel, Pro Peace" (Franklin Square)
Matt Dorf, Managing Partner, Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications
Jim Gerstein, Principal, Gerstein Agne Strategic Communications
Dr. Calvin Goldscheider, Scholar in Residence, Center for Israel Studies, American University
Moderator: Dahlia Scheindlin, Political Consultant and Public Opinion Analyst
6. THEATER J AND J STREET PRESENT: Culture as a Tool for Change - Documentary - Excerpts from Budrus has a Hammer/2010 (working title) (Independence HI)
Julia Bacha, Media Director, Just Vision
Ronit Avni, Executive Director and Founder, Just Vision
12:15pm to 1:00pm - LUNCH
1:00pm to 4:00pm - PLENARY SESSION: Why Two States? Why Now? (Independence Ballroom)
Introduction and Response: Representative Robert Wexler (FL-19)
Keynote Speaker: General James L. Jones, United States National Security Advisor
Israeli Interests:
Bernard Avishai, Business Consultant; Author
Ami Ayalon, Former Member of Knesset (Labor); Former Head of the Shin Bet
Haim Ramon, Former Member of Knesset (Kadima); Former Vice Prime Minister
American Interests:
Ambassador Martin Indyk, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Program, The Brookings Institution; Former Ambassador of the Unites States to Israel
Mel Levine, Former Member of Congress (D-CA)
Moderator:
Richard Wolffe, Author, Renegade: The Making of a President; Former Senior White House Correspondent, Newsweek
6:30pm - J Street Gala Dinner Reception (Independence Foyer)
This is a ticketed event
7:30pm- J Street Gala Dinner (Independence Ballroom)
This is a ticketed event
Keynote Address:
Former Senator Chuck Hagel VERY ANTI ISRAEL ON PAR WITH RON PAUL WITH TIE TO PAKISTAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
8:00am-9:00am - Hill Visit Briefing (Independence Ballroom)
9:15am to 9:45am - Busses to Capitol Hill
10:00am to 2:00pm - Appointments with Member offices
ME JOHN KERRY AND CHUCK HAGEL SAY GIVE THE PAKIS 4OR 5 BILLION TO AID THIER WAR ON AL QAIDA AND TALIBAN ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN PAKI TROOPS IN TRIBAL AREAS HAVE SEEN THEM ARMED WWITH BOLT ACTION RIFLES YET ON THE INDIAN BORDER THEY'RE ARMED WITH MOST MODERN ARMS.THEY DON'T USE THE MONEY TO FIGHT IN TRIBAL AREAS THEY USE IT ON THE BORDER WITH INDIA
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/pakistan-urgently-needs-4-5-bn-says-us-senator_100159290.html