Liberal Jewish event hit by U.S. critics

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A liberal Jewish group's Washington conference on Israel and Mideast peace has taken hits from U.S. and Israeli conservatives, organizers say.

The group, called J Street, is conducting its first conference this week, but has been snubbed by Israel's U.S. ambassador. Its plans for a poetry slam were attacked by conservative activists and bloggers who said two poets' works showed too much sympathy toward Palestinians, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Analysts say J Street is a reaction to feelings that existing U.S. Jewish groups, such as the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee, lean too far to the right compared with the views of American Jews.

J Street organizers told the newspaper at least 10 members of Congress withdrew from the conference under pressure from conservative critics.

"I am extremely disappointed that this is the reaction of the government of Israel to an organization that is looking to expand the base of support in this country for Israel and is deeply concerned about its future," J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami told the Post.

Still reportedly participating with J Street, which calls itself a "pro-Israel, pro-peace" group, are about 150 Democratic members of Congress, as well as many current and former Israeli politicians and U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones.