Progressive Jewish groups that are backing aggressive peacemaking efforts in the Middle East have formed a coalition with non-Jewish groups, including both Arab and mainstream Christian religions.

The groups first worked together in toning down the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, and in the process they forged an unofficial coalition of so-called “pro-peace” groups.

Now the groups in that coalition routinely consult on issues ranging from Israel-Palestinian matters to how best to deal with Iran.

Conservative journalists and bloggers aren’t taking the new alliance lying down. In recent weeks, they have criticized the willingness of dovish Jewish groups to work with non-Jewish groups that are critical of Israeli policies and oppose Iran sanctions.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street’s executive director, speaks at an Oct. 25 joint session with the Arab American Institute as James Zogby, AAI’s president, listens. photo/jta/arab american institute

Officials with the groups unabashedly defend their growing ties with their non-Jewish partners, insisting that the non-Jewish groups back a two-state solution and favor other policies that will help Israel by improving chances for peace in the region.

The list of organizations from outside the Jewish community includes narrow-interest groups such as the Arab American Institute, the American Task Force on Palestine and Churches for Middle East Peace. One of the most recent additions has been the National Iranian American Council. Many had an active role, or even helped sponsor, J Street’s inaugural national conference in October.

Participants also attend each other’s strategy meetings and, during intense periods — for instance, in crafting the modifications to the 2006 Palestinian legislation — speak routinely in conference calls.

“It’s informal and it’s based on personal relationships that we’ve developed over the months and years,” said Warren Clark, the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, an umbrella body for mainstream church groups from Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox streams.

For years, liberal activists have protested against establishment Jewish organizations embracing pro-Israel evangelical Christians, citing their conservative views on domestic issues and hawkish foreign policy positions.

Many pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, have made sanctions a top priority, portraying them as a means of leveraging Iran into abandoning its suspected nuclear weapons program.

Several members of the informal dovish coalition oppose such steps, with the National Iranian American Council leading the way.

Conservative critics have focused on alleged links between J Street and the Iranian group, lumping together the two organizations. J Street officials always have stopped short of publicly ruling out sanctions, although the organization recently came out in favor of proposed sanctions legislation being considered in Congress.

Americans for Peace Now, on the other hand, has joined the NIAC in portraying the sanctions as inhumane and likely to reinforce support for the regime.

After President Barack Obama was elected, NIAC called a meeting to strategize among like minds on Iran sanctions. Lara Friedman, an Americans for Peace Now lobbyist, attended the meeting. So did Joel Rubin, then a staffer at J Street, though participants say he took part in a personal capacity.

The proposed language that emerged from that November 2008 meeting was broad to the point of meaninglessness, underlining the difficulties of pleasing all parties in such coalitions.

“Obviously with such a diverse group, it will be difficult to coalesce behind any specific position,” the minutes of the meeting stated. “But we all share a view that advocates a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, opposes military action against Iran, and agrees that sanctions are no substitute for diplomatic engagement.”