Friends,
At every turn, Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli seems intent on showing utter contempt for pro-democracy American Jews and Israelis.
Facing pro-democracy protesters in New York, Chikli made a gesture which many saw as epitomizing the Netanyahu government’s contempt for those who oppose its agenda.
He said he was encouraging protesters to smile. You can judge for yourself.
Facing criticism back in Israel, he lashed out directly at J Street and others in the pro-democracy movement – hurling complaints of “fake news,” “photoshop” and funding by George Soros. He claimed J Street’s pro-democracy movement was “hostile” to Israel rather than just strongly opposed to his government’s agenda, prompting immediate pushback from the news anchor and others in the studio: “You are wrong. J Street is an important organization in the diaspora.”
Friends, we didn’t need photoshop to show the Netanyahu government’s contempt for the pro-democracy movement – or how dangerous it is to echo right-wing, antisemitic conspiracy theories about George Soros.
What we do need is grassroots support to keep up the fight to protect democracy and pursue a just, safe and equal future for Israelis and Palestinians. Together, we’re taking on right-wing extremists and standing up for our Jewish, democratic values. Can you chip in $18, $36 or $90 – or any other amount – to fuel that fight?
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Together, we’re making an impact and taking on the Netanyahu government’s anti-democratic agenda on both sides of the Green Line.
Minister Chikli’s Trump-like attacks and accusations of “fake news” show just how threatened he and his fellow right-wingers are by the broad, determined opposition from Israelis and American Jews – and how eager they are to launch attacks to deflect from their own appalling record.
In partnership with allies in Israel and the United States, we’re strengthening the resistance to the anti-democratic judicial ‘reforms,’ restrictions on religious pluralism, and the government’s efforts to supercharge demolitions, settlements and annexation in the West Bank.
Your support is vital to fuel that work.
Please consider a contribution of any amount to help drive us forward. Every contribution strengthens our movement >>
Thank you, sincerely, for being part of this work.
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff, J Street
