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[2]Street Talk: J Street's Monthly Newsletter

Friends,

At J Street, we’re dedicated to representing the values and deeply held
concerns of the overwhelming majority of Jewish voters and pro-Israel
Americans.

Together, we’re proud to stand at the forefront of the pro-democracy
movement – and it’s been a big few months:

📝 We’ve helped rally almost 100 Members of Congress to call on President
Biden to support the protest movement and push back firmly against
Netanyahu’s anti-democratic agenda.

🏛️ We’re continuing to lead on congressional advocacy for the Israeli
Democracy Resolution, a powerful statement of support for the
pro-democracy movement and the values underpinning the US-Israel
relationship.

✊ Across America, we’re supporting the Israeli-American protest group
UnXeptable and others to promote rallies and build the pro-democracy
movement at home.

📢 Through advertising and events, we’re promoting pro-democracy Israeli
voices, amplifying our shared message.

🛬 The J Street Education Fund has proudly introduced Israeli pro-democracy
protest leaders to Members of Congress visiting the region on our
congressional delegations.

This month, we’ve also stepped up to engage in an important debate with
AIPAC about our competing visions for pro-Israel leadership.

Following AIPAC’s decision to circulate a fundraising letter accusing J
Street of being one of the “gravest threats” to the US-Israel
relationship, AIPAC itself has received a flood of criticism from all
corners, including from former senior staff and leaders of Israel’s
pro-democracy movement.

This week’s Street Talk newsletter – which you can find below – is
dedicated to providing information and resources you can use to be a part
of this important conversation and part of our pro-democracy campaign.

Thank you, sincerely, for joining us in this important work.

Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff, J Street

Grassroots donors fuel our advocacy. Would you consider setting a monthly
donation to fuel our progress? [ [link removed] ]Hit ‘make it monthly’ to set a contribution to
keep the fire burning >>

AROUND J STREET

J Street Leads Advocacy for Israeli Democracy Resolution in the House

[2]US Congress in session

J Street champions Annie Kuster and Jan Schakowsky introduced a powerful,
single-page House resolution voicing support for Israel’s democracy and
the pro-democracy movement.

Rallying support for the Israeli Democracy Resolution has become a key
focus of our Capitol Hill advocacy team. It will send a powerful message
of support to Israel’s pro-democracy movement and a clear message of
deterrence to Netanyahu’s anti-democratic coalition.

Together, our movement has helped to more than triple the number of
cosponsors, with the resolution now backed by more than 40
representatives.

Pro-Israel, pro-democracy groups across the country are calling on Congress to
support the J Street-backed resolution. [ [link removed] ]Join the call by signing our petition
to Congress today >>

You can view the [ [link removed] ]text of the resolution here and an [ [link removed] ]updated list of
the cosponsors here.

AIPAC Receives Flood of Criticism Following Attacks Against J Street

[6]Trump speaks at AIPAC conference

Over the past few weeks – following their wildly out-of-touch multi-page
mailer attacking J Street – AIPAC has received a flood of criticism.

From Israeli protesters to their own former staff and former supporters,
AIPAC has faced calls to stop embracing anti-democratic candidates and
focus on the real threats to the democratic values which ground the
US-Israel relationship:

* AIPAC’s former chief lobbyist [ [link removed] ]wrote: “AIPAC has plunged into
partisanship with a hard turn to the Right, embracing Evangelical
Christians, hardline conservative Republicans, and election deniers
whose views on everything but Israel were largely anathema to the
mainstream Jewish community.”
* Leaders of Israel’s pro-democracy movement [ [link removed] ]wrote: “[AIPAC] is
effectively turning from a pro-Israel organization to one that
promotes the anti-democratic overhaul and the de facto annexation of
the West Bank.”
* 35-year veteran AIPAC member, Rabbi Marc Israel, [ [link removed] ]wrote that AIPAC
is now undermining its own pro-Israel cause and that J Street is now
leading American Jewish efforts to organize pro-Israel, pro-democracy
support: “This is why I joined J Street and its Rabbinic Cabinet.”
* Former AIPAC staff member Ken Toltz [ [link removed] ]wrote: “After remaining a
committed activist and supporter for decades, and moving to Israel
four years ago, I too have come out publicly against political
strategies and tactics employed by AIPAC. They are antithetical to the
values instilled in me as to how American Jews should support Israel
politically in Washington.”

As J Street’s own leadership wrote in [ [link removed] ]The Forward: “The US-Israel
relationship, and the country’s democratic future, do face grave and
existential threats – and those threats happen to be coming from the very
dark corners that AIPAC’s current strategy empowers.”

J Street is proud to be representing the concerns and values of the
overwhelming majority of Jewish and pro-Israrel Americans. Proud to be
pushing back against the MAGA movement at home and the Netanyahu
government’s anti-democratic agenda in Israel.

We don’t have right-wing mega-donors, but we do have thousands of supporters
across the country chipping in to fuel our shared mission. Would you consider
setting up a monthly donation? [ [link removed] ]Hit ‘make it monthly’ to set a contribution
to fuel our advocacy >>

J Street Speaks with Israeli Pro-Democracy Protest Spokesperson Josh Drill

[13]Josh Drill speaks at pro-democracy rally

In our latest “Our Israel” profile of inspiring Israeli leaders, we spoke
to Josh Drill, international spokesperson for Israel’s pro-democracy
movement. He had strong words for establishment “pro-Israel” groups in the
United States.

“If you’re not opposing what Netanyahu’s doing, then you’re on his side,”
he told J Street in an interview from Tel Aviv. Organizations like AIPAC
and Stand With Us – which offer uncritical support for the Israeli
government and turn a blind eye to threats to Israel’s democratic
character – are “detrimental to Israel's democracy,” he said.

Born in New Jersey, Drill made aliyah after graduating high school and
enlisted in the IDF. Over the years, Drill’s love for his Jewish homeland
has evolved but never wavered. Today, he’s a fierce critic of the
occupation and a leading voice for Israel’s pro-democracy movement.

“In this critical and historic time, stand on the correct side of
history,” he told J Street.

[ [link removed] ]Read J Street’s full profile of Josh Drill >>

Resource: Introducing J Street

[ [link removed] ]J Street reintroduction video

In recent months, J Street has seen a surge of interest in our pro-Israel,
pro-peace, pro-democacy movement.

We aspire to be an inclusive and welcoming political home for the
overwhelming majority of Jewish, Democratic and pro-Israel Americans who
are committed to supporting a just, safe and democratic future for all
Israelis and Palestinians.

For those who are new to our movement, or who are looking for a resource
to introduce new members to our movement, we’ve put together a brief
welcome video explaining who we are and what we stand for.

[ [link removed] ]Watch and share our introduction video here >>

A Deeper Dive: Netanyahu’s Dangerously Unreasonable Amendment

[17]Protesters outside the Knesset

The J Street Policy Center – J Street’s home for top-level policy and
analysis – is dedicated to helping our community and members of Congress
understand the impact of American, Israeli and international policies.

J Street Policy Director Dr. Debra Shushan's latest analysis focuses on
the first legislated plank of Netanyahu’s judicial "reforms" – the removal
of “reasonableness” as an issue which Israeli courts can review.

The change “amends Israel’s basic law on the judiciary by taking away a
key tool used by the Supreme Court to review the government’s
administrative decisions and determine whether discretion was exercised in
an extremely unreasonable way,” Dr. Shushan writes.

The reasonableness standard has previously stood in the way of attempts to
fire the Attorney General, appoint corrupt officials, block judicial
appointments and discriminate against Palestinians and Arab-Israelis.

[ [link removed] ]Read and share Dr. Shushan’s full analysis >>

LIGHTING THE WAY: OUR 2024 CONVENTION

[19]J Street Conference session

Since J Street’s first conference almost 15 years ago, we’ve understood
the power of bringing together the pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
community. This coming year, we’re reimagining what J Street’s annual
gathering can be.

A main stage with stellar speakers. A broader range of meet-ups and side
events. More opportunities to socialize and learn from each other. More
partners, more special guests, and more chances to meet our champions.
Arts and culture. More exploration of what DC has to offer: The sights,
the people, the food.

We’re also calling it something new – not a conference, but a convention.

Mark your calendars and grab your early-bird tickets for our relaunched National
Convention on April 6 – 9 2024. Use promo code “STREETTALK” for a 10% discount
on your tickets.
[ [link removed] ]REGISTER NOW

Must Watch

* [ [link removed] ]Jeremy Ben-Ami Discusses Israeli Democracy, the Occupation, and AIPAC
with MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan

* [ [link removed] ]J Street Israel's Yuval Peretz Warns the Knesset About Damage to the
US-Israel Relationship

* [ [link removed] ]Nadav Tamir, J Street Israel Director and Former Diplomat, Speaks on
Open Letter to US Congress

Must Read

* [ [link removed] ]I Was Involved with AIPAC for 35 Years. Their Latest Move Convinced
me to Join J Street, The Forward

* [ [link removed] ]AIPAC Is, Again, Siding With the Enemies of Democracy. This Time in
Israel, Haaretz

* [ [link removed] ]AIPAC’s Attacks on J Street Show How Out of Touch They Are, The
Forward

* [ [link removed] ]What's Pro-Israel Activism's Future Amid Netanyahu's War on
Democracy?, The Jerusalem Post


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© 2023 J Street | [ [link removed] ]www.jstreet.org | [email protected]

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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