[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends,

It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but we enter this weekend more energized
than ever.

We have a fresh, electrifying nominee who’s spoken directly to our
pro-Israel, pro-democracy, pro-peace values. Top Democratic leaders have
repudiated Netanyahu’s divisive partisanship. And the Prime Minister is
reportedly embittered that Vice President Harris has said she “will not be
silent” about the civilian toll in Gaza nor the urgent need for a
ceasefire and hostage release deal.

I want to give a major thank you to J Street supporters – and our amazing
staff – for standing up so loudly and proudly for our values at such a
pivotal moment. For bringing the voices of our community, of our Israeli
allies, and of the families of hostages, to national attention.

Together, we broke fundraising records, shaped the debate, and drove
renewed urgency on the need for a lasting ceasefire and immediate hostage
release deal.

For a recap of the last week, our work and developments you may have
missed, please scan our update below. [ [link removed] ]To support our work, please
consider a contribution of $18, $36 or
$90 or any other amount here >>

Yours in Hope.

– Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street President

J Street Recap

J Street Breaks Fundraising Record with Kamala Harris Endorsement

[2]Vice President Kamala Harris at Biden-Harris campaign event

This Monday, J Street was thrilled to announce our endorsement of Kamala
Harris for President – and together, we very swiftly broke our one-day
political fundraising record.

We were proud to back the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 and again this year.
On Sunday, we lauded President Biden’s selfless, patriotic decision to
step back from the race. Now, our movement is rallying like never before
to donate to the Harris campaign via our political fundraising arm,
JStreetPAC, which helps our supporters get [ [link removed] ]more bang for their
political buck.

As the Vice President says in her [ [link removed] ]energizing opening campaign ad, in
this election we each face a question, “What kind of country do we want to
live in?” While some choose a future of chaos, fear and hate – we choose
freedom. “We believe in the promise of America and we’re ready to fight
for it,” she says. “Because when we fight, we win.”

You can watch the Harris campaign’s blockbuster debut ad, and learn more
about how JStreetPAC can amplify your support for Harris, at the
JStreetPAC website. [ [link removed] ]Watch the ad and learn more here >>

Harris Says She “Will Not Be Silent” Following Netanyahu Meeting

[6]Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu

Vice President Harris has been a powerful advocate for J Street’s values
in the White House. She’s been a steadfast supporter of hostage families
and Israel’s security, while being a leading voice for the protection of
Palestinian civilians and the need to secure an urgent ceasefire.

Following a “frank” and “constructive” meeting with Prime Minister
Netanyahu yesterday, Harris again made her position clear: “Israel has a
right to defend itself, and how it does so matters,” she said, reciting
the names of the American hostages taken on October 7.

“I also expressed with the Prime Minister my serious concern about the
scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many
innocent civilians,” she said, speaking of the horrific images of the
humanitarian catastrophe. “We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the
suffering, and I will not be silent.”

“It is time to get this deal done,” she said. “To everyone who has been
calling for a ceasefire, and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you
and I hear you.” The day before, Harris rightly drew a distinction between
peaceful protesters and those engaged in vandalism, antisemitism and
pro-Hamas propaganda ([ [link removed] ]as did J Street).

J Street continues to press Congress and the Biden Administration to show
stronger leadership toward an urgent ceasefire and hostage release deal.
[ [link removed] ]Support J Street’s White House advocacy with a contribution today >>

Hostage Families Bring Lawmakers to Tears In Powerful Pre-Speech Event

[9]Hostages families meet with Members of Congress at an event prior to
Netanyahu's congressional address

On the day of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech, J Street was proud to
support a major event on Capitol Hill joined by almost 100 Members of the
House and Senate which gave several families of Israeli hostages the
opportunity to address lawmakers directly – bringing a number of Members
to tears.

To a packed room, the families shared personal stories of loved ones taken
hostage and searing criticism of the Netanyahu government’s failure to
secure a deal to release their relatives and end the devastation in Gaza.

“The Hostage Family Forum urged Netanyahu not to come and give this speech
now, at a time when a deal is so close, because by coming here he risks
making himself the issue, turning the humanitarian issue of the hostages
into a political one and shifting the conversation. We are here to ask you
not to let him,” Maya Roman, whose cousin was held hostage, told
lawmakers.

“I am asking you to focus on the people on the ground, our families and
the Palestinian people suffering in Gaza,” Maya added.

The event – covered by [ [link removed] ]CNN, the [ [link removed] ]Washington Post, the [ [link removed] ]LA Times
and others – was hosted by Representatives James Clyburn, Rosa DeLauro,
Jim McGovern, Jamie Raskin and Mark Takano. “Let’s hope that Netanyahu
opens his eyes,” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, thanking the
hostages for their courage in comments [ [link removed] ]reported by the Times of
Israel.

For more, including quotes from lawmakers and hostage families, read and
share our full statement. [ [link removed] ]You can find the statement here >>

Our Response to Netanyahu’s Divisive, Narcissistic and Inflammatory Speech

[15]Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress this week

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress was as self-serving,
divisive and inflammatory as many of us feared. While MAGA Members of
Congress rose to their feet for ovation after ovation, hostage families
wearing “seal the deal” shirts were arrested inside the Capitol.

It was “the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary” invited to
address Congress “by far” tweeted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

While Jewish and Israeli protesters were outside calling for a hostage
release deal, Netanyahu was pushing any kind of ceasefire further from
reach. Rather than calm divisions in our country, he stoked them by
vilifying all protesters as Hamas supporters. Rather than outline a plan
for peace, he seemed to call for endless war on more and more fronts.

“He failed to offer an actual plan for ending the war and bringing real
security and peace to the region,” I told the [ [link removed] ]New York Times. “His
empty calls for ‘total victory’ are simply an illusion, as there is no
military solution to the underlying conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians.”

In a [ [link removed] ]briefing document circulated widely on Capitol Hill, we made
clear to representatives the partisan political nature of Netanyahu’s
speech, and his historically poor support in Israel.

Together, thousands of J Streeters across the country sent a message to
Congress: Netanyahu doesn’t speak for us. [ [link removed] ]Sign the petition here >>

J Streeters Join Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace, Pro-Democracy Rallies Across DC

[19]Members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum protest for a
hostage release deal and ceasefire in Gaza outside the Capitol ahead of
Netanyahu's speech

Prior to Netanyahu’s speech, J Street supporters joined pro-Israel,
pro-peace events across Washington – with our organization supporting a
number of hostage families campaigning for the Prime Minister to seal a
deal that brings their loved ones home and ends the war in Gaza.

We were proud to support rallies held by our pro-Israel, pro-peace,
pro-demcoracy allies, including [ [link removed] ]The Hostages and Missing Families
Forum, [ [link removed] ]T’ruah, [ [link removed] ]UnXeptable, and US branches of Standing Together
and [ [link removed] ]Combatants for Peace.

Our friends at the The Hostages and Missing Families Forum brought
towering photographs showcasing heartwarming reunions from the previous
hostage release deal that brought home over 100 captives, sharing a clear
message: A deal brought them home before, it’ll bring them home again.

“There's only one thing right now that [Netanyahu] needs to care about,”
one campaigner told [ [link removed] ]NBC. “The hostages must come first.”

Following Netanyahu’s address, J Street held a briefing featuring
Congressman Sean Casten, hostage advocate Ifat Kalderon – whose cousin
Ofer is held by Hamas – and J Street Israel Director Nadav Tamir.
[ [link removed] ]Watch and share the briefing 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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