[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends,

With the Middle East on the brink of catastrophic escalation, Members of
Congress are considering adding their names to a letter calling for
financial sanctions against two of the most extreme, xenophobic,
warmongering ministers in the Netanyahu government: Itamar Ben-Gvir and
Bezalel Smotrich.

As an Israeli-American, I’m writing to ask you to sign our petition to
Congress in support of this letter – and to follow up with a call to your
representatives and senators.

I ask as an Israeli because these men are attempting to destroy the
country I love. They're a dangerous, disgraceful embarrassment, trampling
on Israel's founding ideals of justice, equality, democracy and peace.
They championed anti-democratic judicial reforms and are pushing to
escalate the conflict to Israel's north.

Openly racist and anti-Palestinian, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are also
actively using their positions to incite violence, dehumanize
Palestinians, supercharge settlement growth, push families from their land
and shield violent settlers from accountability – with deadly consequences
for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

I ask as an American because, as Israel’s most indispensable security
partner, we must ensure those responsible for lawlessness, violence and
violations of our values are held to account – especially when they are
government leaders.

[ [link removed] ]Friends – Can you take a moment to read and sign our petition?

[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress: We Support Sanctions on Israel’s Extremist Ministers
[ [link removed] ]Click to add your name if you agree ✍️

President Biden’s West Bank sanctions are having a significant impact on
targeted actors.

They find themselves starved from financial support and isolated
internationally. Sanctions add a new deterrent to those intent on
fomenting division and violence at the worst possible time.

If you’re not sold on why Smotrich and Ben-Gvir deserve sanctions, let me
give you the latest:

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is leader of the
ultra-nationalist “Jewish Power” party.

* Both Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the leader of the Shin
Bet security service have branded Ben-Gvir a threat to Israel’s
security and its values, saying he is doing “indescribable damage” to
Israel’s reputation, social cohesion and security situation.
* Following his campaign to arm settlers, shield perpetrators from
accountability and shoot first, ask questions later, he has overseen a
significant spike in settler violence and military fire upon
civilians, with hundreds of Palestinians killed in the West Bank over
the past year, including far too many civilians and far too many
children.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – who has outrageously called on Israel
to end hostage release negotiations – also serves as a Minister in the
Defense Ministry and has consolidated responsibility over the Civil
Administration, which oversees the West Bank occupation.

* Smotrich told members of his far-right Religious Zionist party that
it’s his “life mission to thwart a Palestinian state” and has pursued
increased home demolitions and settlement approvals on Palestinian
territory, as well as the largest territorial appropriation in 30
years.
* Last year, following a violent settler rampage through the Palestinian
village of Huwara, he called for the town to be “wiped out” – and said
the State of Israel should do it.

Both men are fanning the flames in an increasingly worsening security
situation on the West Bank, which threatens to boil over at any moment. As
the letter says, “settler violence in the West Bank, incentivized by
external organizations and even by extremist officials in the Netanyahu
government, threatens the long-term strategic security of Israel and the
region.”

As Jewish and pro-Israel Americans, we have a responsibility to stand up
for the vision of Israel we believe in – a vision rooted in Israel’s
founding ideals of democracy, equality, justice and peace.

I believe this includes an obligation to speak clearly and loudly and take
action against those pursuing a vision fundamentally at odds with our
moral code – and trampling on the rights, freedoms and safety of others in
doing so.

Friends – Please join me in adding your name to our petition to
Congress. [ [link removed] ]Together, we have to stand up for what’s right >>

With the Middle East on the brink of catastrophic escalation, we can't
lose sight of those fanning flames within Israel – risking setting the
region further ablaze.

Thank you, sincerely, for your support.

Adina Vogel Ayalon
Vice President and Chief of Staff, J Street


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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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