Yachimovich, Likud MK to speak at J Street conference

Knesset opposition leader Shelly Yachimovich will address a plenary session of J Street’s annual conference in September, a spokesman for the dovish American Jewish organization told The Times of Israel Wednesday. Yachimovich’s appearance marks the first time that an opposition leader will appear in person before the conference, which is viewed by some as a political hot potato.

“We are very excited to have her,” said J Street Director of Communications Jessica Rosenblum.

Although in her previous career as a journalist, Yachimovich gave an early platform to the anti-war group Four Mothers, the Labor Party chairwoman tended until recently to remain quiet on her foreign policy views. She did not respond to requests to comment on her upcoming appearance.

Yachimovich will not be alone in Washington: Eight MKs from six political parties —Labor, Meretz, Yesh Atid, Hatnua and even Likud and Shas — have already confirmed their attendance at the conference.

For J Street, the presence of the opposition leader as well as of MK Tzachi Hanegbi — a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s own party – is an accomplishment and, the organization hopes, a sign of shifting attitudes. It’s a far cry from previous conferences, which MKs were reluctant to attend so as not to be too closely identified with the Washington-based organization, which lobbies heavily for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has pushed for diplomacy and sanctions as a solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.

At the organization’s first conference, held in Washington DC in 2009, then-opposition leader Tzipi Livni declined to attend. Instead, she issued a guarded letter in which she said that “the discussion in the pro-Israel community of what best advances Israel’s cause should be inclusive and broad enough to encompass a variety of views, provided it is conducted in a respectful and legitimate manner.”

Livni was at pains to demonstrate that she was not in ideological lockstep with the organization, adding that “along the way, we may not agree on everything but I do believe that we must ensure that what unites us as Jews who are committed to Israel’s future as a secure, Jewish, and democratic state is far greater than what separates us.”

As late as 2011, most of the few MKs who attended the conference followed suit, distancing themselves from J Street and instead highlighting the need to reach out and be receptive to different opinions within the Jewish community.

Amid reports that the Netanyahu government supported a general boycott of the organization’s activities, the Knesset’s Immigration, Absorption, and Public Diplomacy Committee held a hearing in 2011 in which J Street founder Jeremy Ben-Ami defended his organization against charges of anti-Israel sentiment.

But now, with peace talks set to take place in Jerusalem next week, J Street believes that the growing Israeli willingness to participate in its flagship event is a sign of changing times and attitudes.

“The representation from all of these different parties speaks to J Street’s growing relationships and acceptance in the Knesset and reflects the work that we’ve been doing,” said Rosenblum. “[Secretary of State John] Kerry’s effort has really put the issue of the two-state solution back on the radar as a possibility in Israel and enlivened conversation.”