Take Action Now: Support George Mitchell as Peace Envoy

by Charles Lenchner · 2009-02-05 12:54:00 UTC
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George Mitchell is doing a fantastic job, as mentioned here previously. J Street has an action page up that lets folks call Congress directly to encourage them to sign on as cosponsors. While J Street primarily mobilizes pro-peace, pro-Israel American Jews, all of us can use this tool as well.

Call now.

Middle East Envoy George Mitchell's credibility and success at the negotiating table may well depend on perceptions of the political support he has in the United States.

That's why Congressman Delahunt (D-MA) has introduced a resolution (H. Res. 130) supporting Mitchell to demonstrate that Congress endorses his efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Arab-Israeli conflict diplomatically and peacefully.

[From the action alert]

At this point, let's listen to Stephen Walt discuss ADL head Abraham Foxman's opposition to Mitchell. Apparently, one of Israel's leading cheerleaders is worried that Mitchell is "too fair."

Foxman says this approach is wrong because our policy hasn't been "even-handed" in the past. But has he noticed that our long-standing policy of one-sided support hasn't been working out so well for the United States, or for Israel? Experienced Middle East diplomats like Aaron David Miller and former Ambassador Dan Kurtzer understand that our mediation efforts will fail if we act like Israel's lawyer, and make it clear that we need envoys who are seen as credible by both sides. To repeat myself: it's time to redefine what being "pro-Israel" means. I think Obama may get this, even if Foxman doesn't.

Count me as optimistic about Obama. He's making the right noises, and we need to show our support.

Charles Lenchner
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