By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Congressman and San Diego mayoral hopeful Bob Filner, City Council member Marti Emerald, and various leaders of the business and academic communities have signed their names to a half-page ad in the U-T newspaper urging support for J-Street.
The message on Page B10 of Sunday’s edition, July 15, announced: “We support Israel! We want a peaceful, secure and democratic future for the Jewish homeland. That is why we stand with J Street.”
The group announced an organizing meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 26, at the Old Temple Beth Israel in Heritage Park, Old Town, for creation of a San Diego chapter of J Street, which lobbies the United States to adopt policies that its members believe will lead to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Said the advertisement, whose signers also included businessmen Irwin Jacobs, founder of Qualcomm; Rabbi Michael Satz, and Democratic party leader Murray L. Galinson: “J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans fighting for the future of Israel as the democratic homeland of the Jewish people. We believe that Israel’s Jewish and democratic character depend on a two-state solution, resulting in a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel in peace and security. With J Street, we advocate for strong U.S. leadership to bring about a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We are building support for J Street here in San Diego and we invite you to join us, together with 1200 other San Diego supporters, in becoming part of this conversation and making your voice heard.”
Among other signers listed in the advertisement were Amnon Ben-Yehuda,a veteran of the Palmach; Martin Bunzi of the J-Street National Advisory Council; Pulitzer Prize winning editorial writer Jonathan Freedman, who won the coveted prize while writing for the San Diego Tribune; UCSD professors Amelia Glaser, Tal Golan, Peter Gourevitch; Deborah Hertz; Eran Mukamel, Jeff Rabin and Mel Spiro; USD Prof. Nadav Goldschmied; SDSU Prof. Ronnee Schreiber; Dr. Jonathan Licht; and Lawrence Family JCC Board Member Elisa Lurkis.
The ad said more information is available at sandiego@jstreet.org , and at www.facebook.com/jstreetsandiego