Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest synagogue movement in the county, is calling on Israel to enact a construction freeze in parts of Jerusalem.

He issued the call during remarks to rabbis and members of URJ’s board of trustees on Thursday:

The Union for Reform Judaism, like most American Jewish organizations, supports a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty. This means that we believe housing units constructed in Jerusalem by Israel are not settlements and they are not illegal. But a great many things that are legal are not prudent or wise – and building in Arab sections of Jerusalem in the current political climate is one of those things. 

This decision to build in eastern Jerusalem is one that is not supported by any Israeli ally, including the United States and Canada. I see no reason why Israel should renounce her claim to all of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital, or her right to build anywhere within Jerusalem’s borders. But there are many reasons why Israel should consider a temporary moratorium on all such building. Such a step would strengthen relations with the United States at a moment when those relations have been frayed; it would be greeted enthusiastically by other strong and loyal allies, such as Canada, that were angered by Israel’s recent action; it would demonstrate a firm commitment on Israel’s part to the American-sponsored peace negotiations; and it would, potentially, breathe life into those negotiations and turn the attention back to where it is most needed — moving forward to a lasting, meaningful peace. Nothing should divert us from this goal.

Wow, this one certainly brought all the proponents of “butch” Judaism and Zionism out in full force. I notice that the knee-jerk response in many of the most vituperative comments is to immediately delegitimize Rabbi (yes, Rabbi) Yoffie and Reform Judaism in general. Reminds me of the haters’ attempts to delegitimize Israel, and about as effective.
So, because Rabbi Yoffie doesn’t live in Israel, serve in the IDF and pay (Israeli) taxes, he has no right to comment on the actions of Israeli politicians? The Israeli government says and does things every day that profoundly affect the lives and safety of Jews everywhere. Rabbi Yoffie (and indeed every other Jew in the Diaspora) absolutely has the right to openly agree or disagree with these acts or statements, whether Israel or Israelis like it or not. The days of the Diaspora simply being a cash cow for the Zionist enterprise are over; it’s about partnership now.
Rabbi Yoffie has no right to speak on behalf of Reform Judaism? I agree with less than half of his public pronouncements, but as the duly appointed head of the URJ, I respect his right to speak on behalf of Reform Judaism in the US. Everyone in Reform Judaism is free to agree or disagree, even to the point of attempting to replace him or leaving the organisation.
Rabbi Yoffie should limit his pronouncements to matters of religion? He is not a pulpit rabbi, who must stay away from politics lest he offend members of his congregation; he is the head of one of the major Jewish religious streams in the US. The boundary between politics and religion is an artificial one; our religious obligations affect the political choices we make. In Israel, ultra-nationalist Orthodox rabbis have been a major driving force behind the Settlement Enterprise, and every religious party has its so-called council of “Torah Sages” (what a sick joke).
Nowhere did Rabbi Yoffie question the right of Jews to live in East Jerusalem; he questioned the wisdom of such steps right now. I see nothing wrong with Israel taking steps to avoid snubbing its single greatest ally, the US. This is simply common sense.
I see little reason for the Diaspora to rally behind a united, undivided Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel when Israel itself is so notoriously bad at setting and observing red lines. We know of at least 2 occasions in the last couple of decades where Israeli leaders have been prepared to compromise on Jerusalem for the sake of peace negotiations. There’s no reason to believe the future will be any different. (Also, if Israel hasn’t been able to “digest” East Jerusalem in the last 40 years, there’s no reason to believe it can do so now.)
Finally, while the settlements may not be the main obstacle to peace between Israel and its neighbours, peace is simply not possible until Israel ends the settlement process.