[This post is crossposted from JStreetJive.]

Two Sides of the Same Coin

The centuries old Islamic doctrine of "Al Taqiyya" or sacralized lying in order to further the interests of the ummah or community of believers has been remarkably taken up by the hard left group, J Street. Raymond Ibrahim (The Al Qaeda Reader) recently published an examination of this kind of "Holy Lying" here.

For two years, J Street and Jeremy Ben Ami have been lying to Americans in general and American Jews in particular by branding themselves - ad nauseam - as "Pro Israel." On bags, buttons, letterheads, websites, on television, in newspapers - everywhere - the label "Pro Israel" has become indelibly inked onto the brand.

In spite of the presence of virulent, anti-Israel groups and individuals in their midst and recipients of their George Soros-funded PAC money (like the CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood associated Keith Ellison of Minnesota), the lying has pretty much succeeded, especially among Congressmen who tend to give forth a Pavlovian drool when confronted with a putative Jewish group that chants "Pro Peace" from dawn until dusk.

But the latest taqiyya move by J Street is so blatant and disingenuous that it threatens to vaporize all the lies and all the hype.

J Street has teamed up with Churches for Middle East Peace (CAMERA exposes this other "Peace" group here and here) in bringing a select Congressional delegation to Israel. Select - in the sense that most of the traveling politicians (who footed the bill?) have a distinct record of anti-Israel statements or policies. And if they don't - Ben Ami will make certain that they will in the future.

But the wheels on their bus appear to be falling off this week. The lead Democrat Congressman (they're all Democrats) on the "fact finding" trip to Israel is one William Delahunt, representative for Massachusetts' 10th District for the past 13 years.

Phone: (202) 225-3111

In a uni-party state like Massachusetts (a big crack appeared, of course, with the astounding election of Sen. Scott Brown), dominated by a university culture that is distinctly anti-israel and Pro Obama, his presence on a J Street junket was predictable.

But due to a bizarre confluence of events, Delahunt has found himself in an unwanted spotlight this week. "Snubbed", as he put it, by Danny Ayalon, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister,when he refused to meet with the delegation along with J Street because of the latter's demonstrably hostile policies and statements towards The Jewish State. Delahunt's wounded pride got worse by the simultaneous revelations surrounding his potential malfeasance in the Amy Bishop murder case when he was Norfolk County District Attorney 20 years ago. The latest on this embarrassment is here. His presence on the trip may prove moot in light of rumors that he will not seek re-election. More and more, he seems to be crying "My Assistant ate My Homework."

As for the other villain in the piece, Churches for Middle East Peace, Martin Solomon has an excellent backgrounder below.

Pretty soon, we're going to see a national licensing bureau in charge of requiring groups with "Peace" in their title to live up to their billing. I suspect 99% of groups like CFMEP and J Street will have their licenses revoked.

Let's look at the other members of Jeremy Ben Ami's Congressional group. Mary Jo Kilroy of Ohio has had a long and cordial association with CAIR (The Council on American Islamic Relations) and with its national vice chairman, Ahmad al-Akhras.

Phone (202) 225-2215

It is worth noting that CAIR has seen many of its officers and members indicted and convicted on terrorism related charges. The organization itself was a named an unindicted co-conspirator in the successful prosecution of the terror-supporting Texas charity front, The Holy Land Foundation in 2008. Central Ohians Against Terrorism chronicled Kilroy's connections to CAIR.

Mary Jo Kilroy, incidentally, comes in third in J Street PAC's dollar recipients for 2009: $47,132.00

Phone: (202) 225-3601

Lois Capps, Democrat representative for California's 23rd District is the author of this statement on Israel's Operation Cast Lead:

"...I fear the current military operation in Gaza represents a vastly disproportionate response that will further destabilize the region."

Representative Capps received $4303.00 from J Street's PAC in 2009.

While condemning Hamas' rocket attacks, she nonetheless appears to endorse the infamous Goldstone Report. Indeed, Representative Capps was one of a handful of Congressmen who voted "No" to the resolution condemning the Goldstone Report.

Bob Filner, from California's 51st District, was also among the few who refused to sign onto the resolution - the third member of J Street's delegation to Israel. Rep. Filner also holds the dubious distinction of being one of only two Congressmen to refuse to sign a letter circulated by AIPAC in May of 2009 which urged:

"absolute Palestinian commitment to end violence, terror and incitement" and urges "far greater involvement and participation by the Arab states both in moving toward normal ties with Israel and in supporting moderate Palestinians."

Phone: (202) 225-8045

"Pro Peace" Bob, like Capps, voted "No" in the critical resolution on the Goldstone Report.

Congressman Donald M. Payne, of New Jersey, currently chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, while generally voting on Israel's side, was a signatory to a CAIR crafted letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton which failed to mention the daily threat and actualization of terror against Israel.

Phone: (202) 225-3436

While certainly better than the others in fairness to Israel, the overall apparent qualification for joining the J Street mission to Israel appears to be a hyper-critical record on Israel and the relative exculpation of Palestinian violence.

Danny Ayalon was certainly morally and tactically correct in refusing to lend credibility to J Street and CMEP by meeting with their delegation. Taqiyya, Ben Ami style, is rapidly going out of style.