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Letters to the Editor
The Washington Free Beacon
To the Editor:
Adam Kredo’s article, “ADL Pursuit of Meeting with Anti-Israel Activists Proves Fruitless,” (April 26) distorts ADL’s role in responding to a protest last week and misrepresents our offer of dialogue with the left-wing Jewish activist group, IfNotNow, when they held a protest in the lobby of the building where ADL’s offices are located.
Kredo’s portrayal of “entreaties for a meeting” completely misrepresents ADL’s open-ended offer to meet. When ADL became aware of the protest, we reached out to the activists to offer them a meeting to hear their viewpoints civilly, views we knew to be critical of ADL. Yet, IfNotNow deliberately blocked access to the lobby of the building in order to provoke arrest, not to prompt discussion.
IfNotNow charged that ADL had a choice between joining its protest or being “complicit in the occupation.” This is a false choice that ignores ADL’s consistent and continuous advocacy on behalf of a two-state solution. But so is the charge that ADL’s offer to talk represents any question whatsoever of “ADL's commitment to its own values,” as Kredo suggests.
What is true is that IfNotNow’s categorical dismissal of ADL’s offer to meet is telling. Its unwillingness showed the group is less interested in meaningful discussion of the many issues involved in achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace, but prefers theatrical stunts and unrealistic ultimatums.
ADL gave the group the benefit of the doubt when we stated that we share a common vision of a Jewish and democratic state of Israel living in peace and security with its neighbors. As we wrote in a statement to IfNotNow, ADL is cognizant that we may harbor significant differences over how to achieve that outcome. But it is up to IfNotNow to convey whether it rejects this vision.
Let’s be clear -- these differences are meaningful. ADL does not and has never supported a view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which sees only Israelis as responsible for resolving it. That is not the nature of a bilateral negotiation in which both parties must make compromises.
Nor does ADL in any way shape or form condone the campaigns of delegitimization against Israel. In fact, we work strenuously and every day to fight BDS initiatives and we have consistently over decades denounced the brutality and heinous tactics of Palestinian terrorism.
ADL may have recently chosen a new CEO to lead this historic institution, but our strong commitment to Jewish values and our timeless mission to “stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure fair treatment and justice for all” remain the inspiration for our work just as it was in 1913 when ADL was founded.
So, the suggestion that ADL is “courting” groups like IfNotNow is wrong. But that does not mean we are afraid to engage with those whom we may harbor fundamental disagreements.
The Jewish tradition is one that always has celebrated and encouraged fierce intellectual dissent. In that spirit, ADL is proud that we are willing to discuss and defend our positions and policies even with those whom we strongly disagree. That is the basis of a civil discourse and a healthy democracy.
Sincerely,
Marvin D. Nathan
National Chair
Anti-Defamation League