Friend,
We’ve seen a series of extremely concerning events in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory over the past week – including a deadly terror attack, a violent settler pogrom, dramatic moves to expand settlements, and new plans by Netanyahu to advance the anti-democratic judicial overhaul:
- On Sunday, the Netanyahu government announced it would accelerate the settlement construction process and approve another 4,500 settlement units on Palestinian territory. The Biden administration said it was “deeply troubled” by the decision.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu also said his government will “begin the practical steps” to press forward with his judicial ‘reform’ agenda. Mass pro-democracy protests against the plan continued into their fifth month over the weekend.
- On Monday, there was intensive violence in the West Bank city of Jenin during a major IDF operation. During an exchange of fire between the IDF and Palestinian militants, six Palestinians were killed, including two 14-year-olds. 91 Palestinians were wounded along with seven members of Israeli security forces.
- On Tuesday, near the West Bank settlement of Eli, two Palestinian gunmen launched a terror attack killing four Israelis, including two 17-year-olds.
- Late Tuesday night, dozens of Israeli settlers descended on a West Bank village north of Ramallah, torching businesses, cars and homes while families hid in fear. Israeli security forces were present but failed to stop the violence and have not yet held any perpetrators accountable. Settlers launched several other attacks on Palestinian civilians and property across the West Bank, claiming retribution for the Eli terror attack.
Friend, this is a deeply alarming moment for anyone who cares about Israel’s safe, democratic future and the rights of all people to live freely and raise their families in peace.
Time and time again, in incident after incident, we are seeing callous and violent religious and nationalist extremists push the situation in precisely the wrong direction. Choosing retribution instead of safety. Impunity instead of accountability. Brutality instead of humanity. Escalation instead of peace.
They are pushing us toward a one-state nightmare, spelling disaster for Israeli democracy and catastrophe for the safety and freedom of every Israeli and every Palestinian.
As the situation continues to spiral, much stronger leadership from the Biden Administration is urgently needed.
At J Street, we represent the overwhelming majority of American Jews who know that truly standing up for the safety of Israelis means working to peacefully resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and to end the unjust, deteriorating status quo of endless occupation.
The US must firmly and truthfully confront the forces driving this conflict. We must pursue real accountability to prevent spiraling violence. We cannot take a “hands off” approach – and risk the outbreak of another massive escalation, more violence and suffering, and permanent damage to Israeli democracy.
In Washington, DC and in communities across the country, J Street is continuing to make the stakes clear, to organize for change, and to lobby for strong, credible US action to protect lives and stop this spiral toward more violence, chaos and injustice.
At times like these, we’re more grateful than ever for all of the supporters who make up our growing pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy movement.
Thank you for being with us,
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff, J Street
