By GREER FAY CASHMAN
While first in line among the Israeli invitees to JStreet's first national conference currently taking place in Washington, President Shimon Peres politely declined the invitation, wishing the conference well and being mindful of JStreet's aim to achieve peace and reconciliation in the Middle East. Peres added that it was his hope that peace would soon come to Israel and the rest of the region.
According to his spokesperson, Peres did not send a special greeting to the conference, nor did he send a videotaped message.
Among the Israelis who did take the JStreet to Washington were former government ministers Meir Sheetrit, Shlomo Ben Ami, Haim Ramon, Yuli Tamir, and Amir Peretz, along with other present and past MKs Shlomo Molla, Nitzan Horowitz, Ami Ayalon, Colette Avital, and Avshalom Vilan, as well as representatives of several Israeli organizations and institutions. They were joined by Bassam Khoury, Palestinian Authority National Economy Minister.
There were no Israeli representatives from the right side of the political spectrum.
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