EI's Janessa Gans with Congressman Wally Herger (CA)

A couple weeks ago, I attended the first national conference of J Street, the new moderate voice–pro-Israel, pro-peace, on the Israel debate that has exploded on to the scene, to the elation of some and the chagrin of others, (namely, AIPAC.)  They had two plus full days of notable speakers, including Jim Jones, National Security Adviser, and a whole host of Israeli and Palestinian speakers.  The third day over 700 of us lobbied on the hill on behalf of strong American leadership to exert pressure on Israelis and Palestinians, (acknowledging that they will not do so on their own), to forge a solution–a final solution, that is–sooner rather than later.  I got to meet with the Congressman Wally Herger, (R-CA) of my hometown, Redding.  After my mom (another huge fan of J Street!) and I thanked him for nominating my brother to the Naval Academy so many years ago, tried to impress upon him that he has constituents heavily invested and involved in the Middle East, and the importance of a voice like J Street.  He wanted to know the differences between J Street and AIPAC, acknowledging that AIPAC “comes in here all the time”.  Would that J Street could be as big a player!

Interestingly, Tom Friedman today came out with an op-ed that suggests to do the exact opposite of what we were lobbying the Hill to do.  Friedman maintains that the U.S. wants the peace process to continue more than they do, and we should back off and go home.

I met a fascinating guy, Byron DeLear, who happened to be from St. Louis, had attended the Principia Upper School, and with whom I shared some acquaintances.  (I taught the past couple years at Principia College…)  His wife, Rebecca Tobias, works for United Religions Initiatives, a groundbreaking, interfaith institution. Byron writes a column for examiner.com, and has put together the best wrap-up of the conference of any I’ve read.  Check it out here!