Israel Woos MoveOn.org, Daily Kos
Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 5:32:43 pm PDT
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this resulted in some changes of heart? And wouldn’t it be wonderful if unicorns from space cured the common cold? US left-wing bloggers to visit Sderot.
I hope these people open their minds and look past their deeply held prejudices, but I wouldn’t bet $0.10 on it.
While Israel enjoys relatively balanced coverage in American mainstream media, there are numerous blogs identifying with the liberal left who are unwaveringly critical of Israeli policies, often referring to Israel as an apartheid state which, among other things, is responsible for Washington’s decision to go to war in Iraq.
The unique tour was organized by the Solomon Project, which was founded in 1996 to “educate the American Jewish community about its rich history of civic involvement.” The bloggers, along with leaders from various progressive organizatios, will meet with Israeli bloggers, journalists and Knesset officials. They will also be briefed on the security situation in the region and Israel’s civil society.
The group will be taken to view Sderot and Israel’s ‘narrow waistline’ by helicopter in an effort to convey the true meaning of a return to the borders of June 4th 1967. The guests are also scheduled to visit with the top negotiator for the Palestinian Authority, Saeb Erekat and may also meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert or Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni. ...
“It is important that progressive bloggers and leaders of progressive organizations learn first-hand about the current situation in Israel. We also want to provide them with an eye-opening experience that will help them better understand the complexity of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Among those participating in the tour are Daily Kos editor David Waldman and former Moveon.org lobbyist Tom Matzzie, who currently heads the anti-war ‘Campaign to Defend America.’
If you’d like to sample Waldman’s work, here you go.



