[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends,

This week’s “Flag March” was an obscene spectacle.

Almost every year, on “Jerusalem Day,” far-right Israeli
ethno-nationalists march through the Muslim quarter of the city. For too
many of them, it’s a show of force designed to harass, taunt and
intimidate Palestinian residents. Many come from the settlements just for
the occasion.

This year, men once again chanted “Death to Arabs” and “a second Nakba is
coming” as they banged the shutters of Palestinian shops and homes forced
to close for the occasion. Boys and teenagers chanted “may your village
burn.” Crowds hurled bottles at journalists and Palestinian residents.

This year, they were joined by more than half a dozen members of the
Netanyahu government -- including ‘Jewish Power’ leader and National
Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

[1]Flag March

Friends -- As a former Israeli diplomat and soldier who has
proudly represented my homeland, this march defiles everything I would
hope the Israeli flag to stand for.

This is not upholding Israel’s founding values of equality, justice and
peace. This is not the image of a healthy, thriving and pluralistic
democracy. This is incitement, harassment, division and state-sponsored
bullying.

Those who truly care about a peaceful, just and democratic future for
Israel cannot afford to ignore the growing threat that right-wing,
pro-settlement, anti-democratic forces pose to both Israel’s founding
ideals and the values at the heart of the US-Israel relationship.

At J Street, we take that responsibility seriously. [ [link removed] ]If you share those
concerns and our vision for a better future, I hope you’ll consider a
contribution to support our work.

We know it’s not just marches, it’s policy too: Policies that take an axe
to the strength and independence of the Israeli judiciary. Policies that
limit religious pluralism and police Jewish identity. Policies that tear
down schools and homes and clinics on Palestinian land to make way for yet
more settlements and outposts.

Together, we’re pressing American leaders to draw clear red lines against
the Netanyahu government’s anti-democratic agenda, and to take meaningful
action in pursuit of peace, freedom and equality for both peoples.

We’re asking our leaders to stand with the Israelis and Palestinians who
joined together to counter-protest the flag march this week. With the
Israelis who have been out on the streets week in, week out, to protest in
defense of democratic freedoms.

A true commitment to the US-Israel relationship and to Israel’s security
must involve standing up for the democratic values at the core of that
relationship -- and that includes pursuing a lasting peace that can
finally end this needless cycle of injustice, violence and conflict.

[ [link removed] ]If that work matters to you, please consider a contribution of any
amount to fuel our work toward a better future.

Yours,

Nadav Tamir
Executive Director, J Street Israel


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J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
Americans who want Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the
Jewish people. Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we
advocate policies that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish
and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



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