Michael Oren, the Israeli Ambassador to the US, will not attend the first conference of “pro-Israeli pro-peace” group J Street next week, the Israeli Embassy announced today.
Haaretz reports the embassy released this statement:
In response to the question about J Street’s invitation to participate in its conference, the Embassy of Israel has been privately communicating its concerns over certain policies of the organization that may impair the interests of Israel. Accordingly, the embassy will send an observer to the conference and will follow its proceedings with interest.
We told you last week about the public shot taken by the Israeli Embassy at J Street, and about J Street’s open letter extending an invitation to Oren.
J Street has not actually received a response from Oren to the invitation, says spokesperson Amy Spitalnick. “We believe the Government of Israel will be missing an opportunity should it choose not to engage with the over 1,200 pro-Israel activists who will be in attendance at the J Street conference next week,” she said.
National Security Adviser James Jones and former Senator Chuck Hagel are speaking at the conference.
