Yesterday, after the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) slammed Congressman Berman for speaking to APN, I took them on over Twitter.

I was deeply frustrated with the RJC's low blow:

1) The RJC's attack on Berman was transparently about petty partisan politics. And peace for Israel is more important than that.

2) The RJC argued that a discussion about the toll of the occupation on Israel is somehow beyond the pale. But for America to be a real friend of Israel, we need to be open and honest about what's at stake. I have a beef with anybody who tries to stifle debate on Israel.
Below is the read-out of the Twitter debate, which at various times was joined in on by J Street, the New Israel Fund, and other activists: (For those of you not familiar with Twitter, each message is limited to 140 characters, and so a great deal of shorthand is used.)


RJC: Powerful Dem encourages anti-#Israel fringe RT @tabletmag Howard Berman Fears 'Immense Toll' of Occupation http://tinyurl.com/ydj8eaw #jcot

Noam: "Is there anybody... foolish enough to label the Foreign Affairs chair anti-Israel?" http://bit.ly/8wge2f Any response @RJCHQ?

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN We stand by our tweet. http://is.gd/71Iyn

Noam: @RJCHQ Would you similarly say Rabin encouraged the "anti-Israel fringe" when he spoke at #PeaceNow demos?

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN Like we said: Not seeing the need to expand on the initial tweet: http://is.gd/71Iyn PS: http://is.gd/71Wd6 #israel #jcot

JStreet: RT @NoamShelef_APN: "Is anybody...foolish enough to label Foreign Affairs chair anti-Israel?" http://bit.ly/8wge2f Any response @RJCHQ?

RJC: @jstreetdotorg You're late to the party. http://is.gd/71Wd6

Noam: @RJCHQ Would you similarly say Abba Eban encouraged the "anti-Israel fringe" when he solicited donations for #PeaceNow?

Noam: @RJCHQ If u don't think Rabin encouraged the "anti-Israel fringe" when he spoke at #PeaceNow demos, how can u stand by your tweet re Berman?

Noam: @RJCHQ Is it because you care more about partisan politics than what's best for Israel?

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN Your gambit is intriguing, but we're pretty present tense oriented over here. Not inclined to parse historical parallels.

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN Also, unlike you, most of our plaudits and brickbats are for American politicians; we don't play favorites wrt #Israel scene

Noam: @RJCHQ The parallel was Besser's: http://bit.ly/8wge2f

Noam: @RJCHQ Would you say Ehud Barak encouraged the "anti-Israel fringe" when he called #PeaceNow an integral part of Israeli society?

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN See previous 2 tweets. Unlike you, we don't presume to tell voters in #Israel how to vote.

Noam: @RJCHQ No need to get huffy. Neither APN nor #PeaceNow tell voters how to vote. And Barak's comment was recent: http://bit.ly/8lLe71  

KungFuJew18: Apparently @RJCHQ believes that two-state solution is for the "anti-#Israel fringe," meaning Americans for Peace Now. WTF?

RJC: @kungfujew18 No. You are twisting our words. Knowingly?

KungFuJew18: @RJCHQ I read the tweet -- "Powerful Dem encourages anti-#Israel fringe" by complimenting APN.

New Israel Fund: Not that we get involved in politics, but did @RJCHQ just call Americans for Peace Now an anti-Israel fringe? Who are they kidding?

RJC: @NewIsraelFund No. You can read our tweets yourself if you are confused. #LashonHara

New Israel Fund: @RJCHQ We read what you sent: Dem encourages anti-Israel fringe + link to article about Berman and APN. #novicetweeters

Noam: @RJCHQ I'm still curious: Do u stand by your anti-APN, anti-Berman tweet because u care more about partisan games than u care about Israel?

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN Congratulations. You've boiled your question down to a textbook "when did you stop beating your wife".

Noam: @RJCHQ I wasn't looking for a "congratulations." Is an apology too much to ask for? How about a retraction? A reasonable explanation?

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN Our formulation does not state a congruence between anti-#Israel fringe that will draw comfort from Berman remarks and APN.

RJC: @NoamShelef_APN Moreover, our formulation wasnt intended 2imply such a congruence. Criticism was of Berman, for his remarks. And it stands.

Noam: @RJCHQ So anybody concerned by the toll of the occupation is encouraging an anti-Israel fringe? Does that apply here? http://bit.ly/8Yy1Ke

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