Biden’s national security adviser to address J Street

JTA

WASHINGTON — Tony Blinken, Vice President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, will address this year’s J Street conference.

Blinken will address a session on the U.S. role in resolving the Arab-Israel conflict and join a panel afterward discussing his remarks.

Obama administration officials at previous conferences of the dovish pro-Israel group have included James Jones, the national security adviser at the time of the 2009 conference, and Dennis Ross, the architect of President Obama’s Iran policies, at the 2011 conference.

Keynoters at the conference include Amos Oz, the Israeli novelist and peace activist; Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister; Anat Hoffman, a secular and women’s rights leader in Israel; and Peter Beinart, whose book “The Crisis of Zionism” will be unveiled during the March 24-27 conference.

Right-wing groups and activists since J Street’s inception have lobbied mainstream political figures not to associate with the group.