[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends,

Yesterday, Senator Chuck Schumer – Senate Majority Leader and the
highest-ranking Jewish elected official in US history – delivered one of
the most momentous, heartfelt pro-Israel speeches the Senate has ever
seen.

It was a historic turning point for our movement – described by reporters
as a “stunning development” and a “gloves off” moment.

The Senator – a bellwether for the Jewish community, who has refrained
from sharp criticism of the Israeli government – reckoned directly with
the “significant course corrections” Israel must make going forward, as
well as the failures of leadership on the Palestinian side. Across the
board, we must stand up to extremists and those seeking to further only
their own political survival at the expense of their own people’s future,
he said.

Senator Schumer included both the settlement movement and Prime Minister
Netanyahu on a list of “obstacles to peace” – criticizing the government’s
“dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing standards for
assistance.”

Significantly, he said that if Netanyahu remains in power, the US should
“play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage
to change the present course.”

The Majority Leader rightly blasted “morally repugnant” efforts to rebrand
Hamas as “freedom fighters” – noting the group’s appalling tactics and
their violent repression of Palestinian opponents and civilians – calling
for clear condemnation from all those who care about Palestinian welfare.

Friends – I suspect we may look back on this moment as the day our
pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy platform cemented itself at the heart
of the Democratic party.

While MAGA Republicans and right-wing groups have already started a faux
outrage pile-on against Senator Schumer in an effort to shut down further
debate, J Street believes our elected officials have the right and the
responsibility to stand up for American interests, our shared values and
Israel’s own long-term interests.

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As Senator Schumer said, his words reflected the thoughts of “so many
mainstream Jewish Americans, a silent majority,” whose nuanced views on
Israel/Palestine have often been drowned out by more extreme voices.

As well as powerfully articulating the horror we feel in the aftermath of
the October 7 Hamas attack – and the fears awakened for many who recall
the threats Israel has faced before – the Majority Leader spoke of the
profound anguish we share over the situation in Gaza, and the dark,
anti-democratic path Netanyahu’s government continues to lead us down.

“What horrifies so many Jews especially is our sense that Israel is
falling short of upholding these distinctly Jewish values that we hold so
dear,” Senator Schumer said.

“Palestinian civilians do not deserve to suffer for the sins of Hamas, and
Israel has a moral obligation to do better,” he said. “The United States
has an obligation to do better.”

Speaking out of clear love for Israel, Senator Schumer outlined a vision
for a better path:

* He issued a forceful call for a two-state solution – “the only
realistic and sustainable solution” – calling the settlement
movement’s pursuit of permanent, undemocratic control of Palestinian
land a form of “insanity” which would lead to “constant war.”
* He spoke directly to the Israeli people seeking new leadership,
sharply criticizing Netanyahu for weakening Israel's political and
moral fabric: “We should let the chips fall where they may, but the
important thing is that Israelis are given a choice.”
* He called for “courageous leadership” and for regional powers to work
with America toward Palestinian statehood – to “deploy their clout,
their money and their diplomacy to support a new demilitarized
Palestinian state that rejects terror and violence.”

This speech was pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy leadership at its
best.

It reflected the will, values and nuanced perspective of the overwhelming
majority of Jewish Americans – a perspective J Street itself was created
to give voice to.

We will continue that important work as we navigate this crisis together:
Transforming principles into policy, working toward the Israel envisioned
in its Declaration of Independence, and pressing for a way out of this
horror and toward a better future.

I thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support in that work.

Jeremy Ben-Ami
President and Founder, J Street

PS. Your support makes our work possible. Our advocacy and organizing
teams have been working tirelessly for months as we continue to respond to
the unrelenting catastrophe for Israelis and Palestinians alike. [ [link removed] ]If you
have the capacity, would you consider a donation of $18, $36 or
$90 – or any other amount – to sustain and strengthen our
voice in the halls of power and across the country? Donate here >>


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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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