Friend,
It’s been a big month.
The House released a J Street-supported letter of solidarity with Israel’s pro-democracy protesters, the White House released its National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism, and J Street released our first major political endorsements of the 2024 cycle.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition continues to advance an extreme, anti-democratic agenda – passing a budget filled with giveaways to the far-right, the settlement movement and those who want to limit religious pluralism and Palestinian freedom.
The pro-democracy movement in Israel continues to push back, with tens of thousands of Israelis marching on the streets this weekend for the 22nd week in a row.
With our Jewish, democratic values on the line in Israel and here at home, J Street’s work as a pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy voice is more important than ever. We have so much gratitude for our supporters – including the thousands of folks who have contacted their members of Congress and the White House in recent weeks with calls, emails and petitions.
Read more in our Street Talk newsletter below.
Logan Bayroff
VP of Communications, J Street
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AROUND J STREET
48 House Members Send Message of Support to Israeli Protesters
48 Members of Congress released a powerful J Street-supported letter commending Israeli protesters and opposing Netanyahu’s plans to “corrode Israel’s democratic character” and “eviscerate the independence of the Israeli judiciary.”
“We proudly stand with you, the Israeli non-violent, pro-democracy movement, as you fight to preserve Israel’s democratic character,” the letter reads. Thousands of J Street supporters called and emailed representatives encouraging them to sign on.
Importantly, the letter recognizes that those pushing for the judicial legislation are seeking a freer hand to pursue other anti-democratic policies, including demolitions, settlements and annexation. Weakening the Supreme Court will “render it unable to constrain further entrenchment of the occupation of the West Bank,” the letter notes. The letter received coverage in The Hill, Haaretz, The Times of Israel and other outlets.
To sustain our advocacy as we press Congress and the White House to be clear-eyed about how Netanyahu’s agenda threatens Israel’s democratic future and Palestinian rights and freedoms, please consider setting a monthly donation to support J Street’s work.
Hit 'Make it Monthly' to set a sustaining monthly donation >>
JStreetPAC Kicks Off 2024 Cycle with Major Endorsements
J Street’s political fundraising arm kicked off the 2024 cycle with two major endorsements: Re-endorsing Joe Biden for President and backing Colin Allred in his campaign to defeat Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
“We’re thrilled to be supporting President Biden’s campaign once again and to be day-one backers of Colin Allred’s campaign,” said National Political Director Tali DeGroot. “We’re all-in on the fight to defeat MAGA extremism. We need leaders like Colin Allred and President Biden in Washington fighting for our values, our priorities and backing diplomacy-first American leadership.”
Congressman Allred shot to prominence in 2018, unseating a 20-year conservative. He’s visited Israel and the West Bank as part of J Street's Len Hill Education Program and has championed freedom, democracy and diplomacy-first leadership in the House.
“With his statewide profile, proven campaign skills and the changing demographics of Texas voters, Allred is well positioned to take on Senator Cruz next year, and we’re excited to be a part of that,” DeGroot said.
The full force of donations via JStreetPAC are passed through to campaigns, with lower processing fees than sites like ActBlue. By pooling donations, supporters send a powerful message to Washington about our shared values and priorities.
Learn how JStreetPAC can amplify your giving >>
J Street Applauds President Biden’s National Antisemitism Strategy
J Street welcomed President Biden’s National Strategy for Combating Antisemitism. The strategy is comprehensive, inclusive and focused on action to dismantle the machinery of division and hate that endangers so many Jewish Americans and others. We were pleased to be one of the many groups providing input and advice during the strategy's development.
The well-rounded strategy outlines over 100 actions, including annual assessments of antisemitic extremism by the FBI and National Counter-Terrorism Center, a Jewish history and antisemitism educational campaign for students, and a detailed report on the role of social media in fostering antisemitic hate crimes and harassment.
Importantly, the strategy refrains from adopting a singular definition of antisemitism, judiciously referencing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and The Nexus Document as useful tools to comprehend and combat antisemitism. Some in the Jewish community, and within the Israeli government, had pressed for political debate over Israel to be a central focus of the strategy.
At J Street, we know that criticism of Israel can come from many motivations, and accountability is crucial in cases of antisemitism. However, misdirecting the fight against antisemitism to focus predominantly on criticism of Israel is wrongheaded. Dangerous, radicalizing right-wing voices continue to use antisemitism to conjure conspiracy theories, spread resentment and build their followings – we must recognize the reality of this driving force behind the surge in antisemitism if we are to effectively push back.
Read the National Strategy for Combating Antisemitism >>
Acknowledging the Palestinian Experience of ‘Nakba’, Advancing Mutual Respect
For Israel’s supporters around the world, the 75th anniversary of Israeli independence has been cause for pride and celebration. At the same time, we know that for Palestinians, Israel’s founding marks a period of displacement, pain and injustice.
Nakba Day, commemorated in May, recalls the violence and displacement that led an estimated 700,000 Palestinians to flee their homes in 1948. In a reflection on what it means for supporters of Israel to respect Palestinian commemoration of the Nakba, J Street’s president Jeremy Ben-Ami wrote, “To resolve this tragic conflict, both peoples will need to understand the narrative of the other, their history of pain and their connection to the same land.”
“All Palestinians will, I hope, one day acknowledge the Jewish people’s meaningful and deep connection to the land of Israel,” he wrote, “and all Jews will, I hope, one day acknowledge the Palestinian connection to the land and understand why they regard 1948 as a catastrophe.”
J Street strongly condemned a Nakba Day speech by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas which included outlandish and offensive claims designed to provoke Jews and Israelis. We also rejected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to try to block a Nakba commemoration event on Capitol Hill – which ultimately took place thanks to the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders.
“Jewish leaders and organizations should pause before celebrating when politicians like Kevin McCarthy silence pro-Palestinian voices,” Jeremy wrote. “Too many politicians on the American right today are representing and appealing to a populist base whose politics are grounded in white nationalism and antisemitism. These are people manifestly opposed to the interests of the Jewish community in America.”
Read and share the full post >>
Israel Update: Netanyahu Presses Forward with Anti-Democratic Agenda
This weekend, tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters are marching for the 22nd straight week against the government’s ongoing anti-democratic “reforms.” Last week, they had a clear message for those of us abroad, unfurling a massive Netanyahu banner in English: “Don’t let him destroy Israel.”
Earlier in May, Netanyahu passed a two-year budget last week packed with far-right giveaways. It significantly boosts settlement funding and creates a new ‘Jewish National Identity Authority’ to be run by Avi Maoz, an extremist Member of Knesset who has said liberal, reform and secular Jews bring “darkness” to “real Judaism.”
Netanyahu’s coalition is also proposing a range of anti-democratic legislation, including claiming more land in the West Bank, banning Palestinian flags from college campuses and punitively taxing US and international donations to human rights groups and NGOs. Following outcry, several initiatives have been paused. “International pressure is limiting Netanyahu’s room to maneuver in the Knesset,” noted Haaretz.
With Netanyahu and his far-right allies continuing to press forward, strong US pushback remains critically important. J Street is doing all we can to make sure this is a priority in Washington, pressing Congress and the White House to draw clear red lines and maintain pressure. If we step back now, the far-right is all too ready to press forward.
None of our work would be possible without thousands of supporters from all backgrounds and all across the country chipping in to fight for our shared values and press toward a better future.
Please consider a contribution today to help sustain our work >>
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