Potomac Papers - Jewish Activism in the United States: Is J Street a Passing Phenomenon? Potomac Paper, No. 11, February 2012
Created in the Fall of 2008, the J Street movement seeks to represent those in the U.S. Jewish community who would like Washington to be more active in supporting a lasting peace in the Middle-East.
According to Professor Gilbert Kahn, while J Street shatters the one-voice support of Israeli positions represented by the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) since the 1950's, its chances of success are slim. As long as J Street operates, however, the ideas it defends (settlement freeze, new rounds of negotiations, etc.) will receive more attention, especially on university campuses in America.
The Jewish community represents approximately 2.5% of the population of the United States. It is present in most high-profile professions however, including elected and appointed positions throughout the country and on Capitol Hill.