[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends,

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video, in
English, stating he has “no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or
displacing its civilian population.”

This is a welcome, overdue and significant statement.

It comes after months of members of Netanyahu’s government – including
from his own party – calling to “burn” and “flatten” Gaza, even to pursue
a “Gaza Nakba 2023.” Just days ago, two right-wing ministers called for
Israeli settlements in Gaza, with reports emerging that Netanyahu himself
told colleagues he was pursuing plans for the mass emigration of
Palestinian civilians.

But as security experts from America and Israel have made clear, it’s in
nobody’s interest for the settlement-movement to pursue its goals of
displacement, annexation and continued occupation in Gaza: It’s a recipe
for endless conflict and tragedy, and undermines support for the goals of
defeating Hamas, freeing hostages and pursuing a long-term peace.

Last night’s statement also came after a day of intense, on-the-ground
diplomacy from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and amid international
outcry over the prospect of mass transfers.

Prior to the visit, J Street called on the Biden Administration to press
Netanyahu to make precisely this commitment. As Secretary Blinken said:
“Palestinian civilians must be allowed to return home as soon as
conditions allow, and they must not be pressed to leave Gaza.”

The United States must now maintain this focus. As we said Monday:
Following appalling statements from ministers, the Netanyahu government
must be pushed to make this commitment both in word and in deed.

Friends: If you agree, please add your name to our petition below.

[ [link removed] ]Petition: No Mass Displacement from Gaza
[ [link removed] ]Add your name ✍️

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s undertaking not to pursue mass transfers and
endless occupation is welcome – but we know these words must be matched
with action.  

As military operations continue in Gaza, 85% of the territory’s 2.3
million residents have been forced to flee their homes. An unfathomably
large number – approximately 500,000 people – now have no homes to return
to, with entire neighborhoods destroyed. Last week, the UN humanitarian
chief warned that Gaza had become “uninhabitable,” with two US Senators
warning that convoys of humanitarian aid were being unduly restricted as a
result of political decisions by the Netanyahu government.

There is clearly more that must be done. 

As we note that the Israeli military plans to shift from a large-scale
ground and air campaign toward a more targeted, focused operation, we
continue to urge the Biden Administration to use all US leverage to ensure
this swiftly results in meaningful change on the ground: Safety for
civilians, progress toward hostage releases, plans for families to return
home, and an immediate, significant surge in food, water, shelter,
medicine and other lifesaving aid.

With a prime minister backed by the settlement movement and continuing to
rely on extremist ministers for his political survival, US pressure will
be vital to ensure his words are followed through upon.

Just as Palestinian leaders and advocates must accept the right of
millions of Israelis to live in peace and safety in Israel, so too must
Israeli leaders accept the right of millions of Palestinians to live in
peace and safety in Palestinian territory.

[ [link removed] ]Please read, sign and share our petition if you agree.

Yours sincerely, 

Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff, J Street


[ [link removed] ]DONATE
[ [link removed] ]Threads [ [link removed] ]Facebook [ [link removed] ]Instagram [ [link removed] ]Twitter
© 2024 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.



You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]