As a longtime Cambridge resident, I’m proud to be part of a community that values social justice and which takes to heart the ethic of “thinking globally and acting locally.”
Over the past decade, this philosophy has motivated me as I’ve engaged in work to support the achievement of a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, currently as chairman of the Boston Chapter of J Street. J Street is a national organization that advocates in Washington, in our home districts, and within the local Jewish community for a two-state resolution. I am joined in these efforts by nearly 1,500 Cantabrigians, along with more than 12,000 others from Greater Boston.
I recently attended the fourth J Street National Conference in Washington, D.C., (Sept. 28 to Oct. 1), along with a J Street Boston delegation of more than 140, including 23 from Cambridge. To my delight, the throng of 2,800 attendees included 900 college students, 80 of who reside in Greater Boston, including a Harvard contingent. These young men and women infused the conference proceedings with tremendous energy and vitality. At the conference, it was apparent to me that we, as American Jews, no longer need feel alienated or marginalized from the Jewish community. The home we have found in J Street allows us to express our love for Israel while still being critical of specific policies that we believe to be harmful for its future, and for that of the Jewish people.
We believe that President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry deserve the highest praise for restarting meaningful, intensive direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. With actively engaged U.S. assistance, we hope they arrive at a mutually acceptable solution that will satisfy both parties’ national aspirations.
So why am I feeling optimistic that a two-state solution is likely to be achieved in the next nine months?
The atmosphere at the J Street Conference was electric. Among the many high-level Israeli speakers were Chief Israeli Negotiator and Israeli Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni and seven Knesset (Israeli parliament) members from political parties representing a wide swath of the Israeli political spectrum — including the Orthdox Shas, the center-right Likud, the center-left Labor and the left-wing Meretz — all asserting their support for a two-state resolution, imminently achievable in the short-term.
Despite a looming government shutdown, J Street conference attendees were privileged to hear, in addition, the optimism and encouragement of Vice President Joe Biden, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, American Civil Rights hero Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, and Chief U.S. negotiator Martin Indyk.
The conference was followed by a day of lobbying on Capitol Hill. Despite obstacles posed by the government shutdown, J Street members participated in more than 300 congressional meetings. The Boston delegation met with Massachusetts representatives Kennedy, Tierney and Tsongas and Massachusetts senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. Our senators reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution to the conflict.
J Street’s mission is to provide the political support for the president and members of Congress in taking the necessary steps to bring about a two-state resolution — a secure Jewish and democratic Israel living in peace alongside an economically viable Palestinian state.
In response to Secretary of State Kerry’s challenge to rally a “great constituency for peace” behind the administration’s initiative to achieve a two-state solution, J Street has initiated the 2 Campaign (www.2campaign.org) to do just that. I am thrilled to be numbered in this great constituency and invite you to join me.
Donna Spiegelman is the chairman of J Street Boston and professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.