Friends,
Donald Trump – a name synonymous with sensitivity and nuance, and an authority on Judaism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – offered a helpful message to Jewish Americans yesterday:
"Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves," he said. “I actually think they hate Israel.”
Of Chuck Schumer – who last week offered a pained and profoundly Jewish speech on the future of Israel and the “course correction” needed – Trump said: He's “very anti-Israel” now.
The former President’s comments would be painful if they weren’t so laughably absurd. But they also reflect the most nakedly extreme version of the smears levied at any political leader, even Senator Schumer, who speaks commonsense truths about the Israeli right and extreme settlers, or who recognizes the humanity of Palestinians alongside that of Israelis.
The goal is to intimidate opponents into silence and turn the issue into a political minefield. It’s a big part of why the politics on Israel/Palestine are so broken, why J Street was created, and why we have to work so hard to ensure the pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy values held by the overwhelming majority of Jewish Americans are heard loud and clear in Washington.
And, of course, it’s yet another reminder of why we must defeat Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and the absurd brand of pro-Israel antisemitism he’s seeking to propagate.
If that work matters to you, please consider sending your own message to Donald Trump with a donation to J Street of $18, $36 or $90 – or any other amount. Select your donation here or below >>
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Thank you, sincerely, for your consideration.
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Vice President and Chief of Staff, J Street.
PS. Through J Street’s political arm, JStreetPAC, we're doing everything we can to defeat President Trump and the MAGA movement this November, and to elect proud pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy candidates up and down the ballot. Rep Becca Balint, a JStreetPAC endorsee, responded to Trump’s comments by calling him a "truly hateful man who's trying everything in his power to get Americans to hate each other." To learn how you can support Congresswoman Balint and other candidates – and how JStreetPAC can make your political dollar stretch further – click this link.
