A Hebrew-language newspaper in Israel claims that the Israeli government has instructed its embassy in Washington to boycott Jewish organisations in America which oppose Israel's official policies, particularly with regard to settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

According to the 17 February edition of the online Enyan Merkazi, the Israeli ambassador in Washington is taking practical steps to implement the boycott order. Michael Oren has briefed the heads of Jewish organisations in the US on his government's boycott directive because of the conflict between their positions and some official policies of the Israeli government.

It was for this reason that the entire staff of Israel's embassy in the US capital was prohibited from participating in an annual conference held by J Street. The relatively new community organisation is gaining in influence and effectiveness in delivering a message which is often in stark contrast to the staunchly "pro-Israel right or wrong" approach of the largest Israel lobby group in the US, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). J Street has expressed opposition to Israel's insistence on Washington using its veto in the UN Security Council to oppose any resolution that may condemn the Zionist state's settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian Territories.