Haaretz is running this on Stav Shaffir:
J Street’s fiery rock star Stav Shaffir has a suggestion: 'Occupy Zionism'
Just like Senator Elizabeth Warren, with whom she met on Tuesday, the red-haired Labor MK preaches social justice and 2-state solutions to her adoring liberal fans.
Because of her passion, because of her sharp tongue, because of her proven record of political activism, because of her David vs. Goliath skirmishes in the Knesset Finance Committee, because of her three-minute “Who is a Zionist” Knesset speech that became a viral sensation, because of her spectacular mane of red hair and because, like Anne of Green Gables, “her temper matches her hair," Stav Shaffir is already a superstar in the Israeli left. After this week’s J Street Conference, one can safely say that she’s a big shot in the American Jewish left as well.
Several leftist MKs managed to make it to the J Street Conference, despite last week’s elections, and all were received graciously and warmly. But only the charismatic Shaffir was covered with the pixie dust of success and enveloped by the allure of celebrity, generating unabashed enthusiasm and excitement, especially among the younger set, whenever she took to the stage
That speech is at
http://www.youtube.com/...
Her “Zionist Dream”, on the other hand, is tailor made for liberal Diaspora audiences: to have an Israel that celebrates diversity, where tolerance is not a weakness, where the poor are treated with compassion, minorities with respect, women and gay people and Reform Jews with equality under the law. And “above all we want an Israel that does not control millions of Palestinians.” It is just the right mix of social advocacy, Tikkun Olam, Zionism and support for Palestinian independence that speaks to the heart of J Street’s beliefs.
She wants to forge a “strategic alliance” with American friends and supporters. “We must connect them by creating a very clear vision where Israel must go,” Shaffir told Haaretz on Tuesday. “We can’t accept a situation in which where has a negative connotation. We must occupy Zionism and reclaim it.”
I can't access YouTube at the moment, but it looks like her speech at the conference is here:
http://www.youtube.com/...
She is undeniably charismatic, and committed to social justice.
She says that her three-minute YouTube sensation was completely unplanned and unscripted. “I was upset by Bennett’s attacks and went up to speak before an empty Knesset, so I was surprised by how far and wide the video was circulated, with over a million views in Israel. People in Israel felt they needed some defense: They are good law abiding Zionist citizens, yet they are being called anti-Zionists in order to delegitimize their views.”
Which is a reference to stuff like this:
J Street is here: http://jstreet.org/