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J Street, a PAC with a corresponding pro-peace, pro-Israel lobby formed by prominent Jewish Americans launched April 15, and, according to executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami, the goal is to take on the pro-Israel giants, particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where they are the most powerful: in Congress.

The group has a projected annual budget of $1.5 million--a fraction of the nearly $50 million AIPAC spends -- and is backed by an advisory council of more than 100 former elected and government officials, prominent political donors, rabbis, organization heads, and academics.

The new group's launch video takes aim at several prominent non-Jewish conservative supporters of Israel, as well as Morton Klein, the president of the Zionist Organization of America, suggesting that their criticisms of the current peace process do not represent the views of many American Jews. According to JTA, AIPAC declined to comment about the J Street launch; insiders said it was watching the new group with interest but was not overly concerned. Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, says he is doubtful that J Street is going to have a significant impact on U.S. policy.

Read more:
www.jstreet.org
U.S. Jews Create New Lobby to Temper Israel Policy
New Group Using Web to Counter AIPAC
New US lobby group aims as pro-Israel alternative to AIPAC
Doves launch J Street initiative

So what do you think of J Street?

In an exclusive interview with Haaretz, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter rejected the barrage of criticism he’s received about his planned meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal scheduled for sometime this week. According to the interview, Carter says he will use the meeting to “promote efforts to release Gilad Shalit and to uncover the fate of soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser.” He also “intends to check Meshal’s willingness to accept the Arab League peace initiative.” U.S. leaders including President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and all three presidential candidates all warned Carter not to go through with the meeting.

Carter, who arrived in Israel this past Sunday, met with Noam Shalit, the father of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as well as Israeli President Shimon Peres, who accused him of causing significant damage to Israel and the peace process in recent years, due in part to his latest book titled, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" which accused Israel of being an apartheid state. Carter’s schedule showed no plants to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak or Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Two of Hamas' Gaza leaders, Mahmoud Zahar and Said Siyam, entered Egypt with a delegation for a meeting with Carter in Cairo. A Carter spokesman refused to comment on the claim, but meeting the officials would be in keeping with Carter's schedule so far: On Tuesday he met a Hamas leader in the West Bank, and on Friday he is scheduled to meet with Meshal in Syria.

Check out these articles for more info and commentary:

Hamas Plans to meet Carter in Egypt
Jimmy Carter: Israel must talk to everyone, Haaretz
Rice criticizes Carter over Hamas plans, AP
Cool welcome for Carter in Jerusalem, Haaretz
Bush, Obama: Carter should not meet with Hamas officials, JTA
Carter's foolish journey, Chicago Tribune editorial
Tea with terrorists, New York Post editorial