By Gil Ronen

JERUSALEM, Israel – “JStreetU,” a branch of the controversial J Street lobby that focuses on activity inside university campuses, has announced it is beginning operations in Jerusalem. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren has broadly hinted that J Street endangers Israel’s existence.

In an email message, Drew and Kelly Cohen of Jerusalem announced that JStreetU recently hired them “to put together educational programs reflective of JStreetU’s mission for students studying abroad in Israel, both on the undergraduate and graduate level – including rabbinic programs, education programs, or the myriad other Israel experiences (and especially Pardes) …

We’re very excited about the launch of this program,” the Cohens said, “and the potential to impact the way American Jews use their time while in Israel, as well as to empower them upon their return to the U.S.”

J-Street, which is partly funded by billionaire George Soros, claims to be a pro-Israel lobby but in fact has espoused views that are consistent with those of Israel’s enemies. It supports negotiations with Hamas, a terrorist entity that openly seeks Israel’s destruction.

J-Street recently acknowledged it received funding from billionaire George Soros, after denying so for a long period of time.

Oren has called J Street “a unique problem in that it not only opposes one policy of one Israeli government, it opposes all policies of all Israeli governments. It’s significantly out of the mainstream.”

In a speech before a Jewish American audience last December, Oren said, “This is not a matter of settlements here [or] there. We understand there are differences of opinion. But when it comes to the survival of the Jewish state, there should be no differences of opinion. You are fooling around with the lives of 7 million people. This is no joke.”

Gil Ronen writes for Israel National News, where this first appeared (www.israelnationalnews.com).