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J Street Sends Satirical Party Invite

Palin, Avigdor Lieberman, other ‘friends’ listed as honorary hosts

by
Marc Tracy
December 04, 2009
Join them to toast J Street!(J Street)
Join them to toast J Street!(J Street)

In only a couple years, J Street, the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” political organization, has made waves—and a few enemies, particularly among conservatives—by challenging the assumption that American Jews’ views on Israel are best represented by center-right AIPAC. We knew them to be strong-willed, even brazen. But we didn’t know they could be funny, too! One Tablet Magazine reporter received an invitation today to the group’s Hanukkah Gala Happy Hour (the Facebook invite is here). “Sarah Palin and Avigdor Lieberman cordially invite you … ,” it begins, mentioning two of the group’s most prominent detractors. And below the obviously Photoshopped, Sgt. Pepper’s-esque portrait, it announces that Palin and Lieberman, as well as other J Street opponents like Pastor John Hagee, Michael Goldfarb, Mike Huckabee, and Levi Johnston, are serving on the Honorary Host Committee—or have been invited to do so, anyway. (Actually, they haven’t. J Street spokesperson Amy Spitalnick did tell us that Goldfarb, the Weekly Standard writer and McCain campaign operative, told her he was amused by the whole thing.)

So is the location—the Russia House in downtown Washington, D.C.—a joke, too? Is the party even happening? “We booked Russia House, and then realized there was so much we could do with that,” Spitalnick said. The party, in other words, is a go. Join J Street, friends of J Street, and Michael Goldfarb (maybe) in two Tuesdays for free booze. great times, and good conversation. We’ll even hazard the guess that the topic of Israel might come up.

Previously: The Pulse-Taker

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.