[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends, 

Last night saw a groundbreaking and, in many ways, unprecedented debate in
the Senate over the Netanyahu government’s conduct of the war in Gaza, its
disrespect of American laws and the Biden Administration’s approach.

I wanted to make sure you saw the full response from J Street President
Jeremy Ben-Ami following the vote. As you well know, J Street played a
leading role in advocating for senators to send a pro-Israel, pro-peace,
pro-democracy message with a vote of disapproval.

From Jeremy's statement last night: 

A significant number of US Senators voted today to send a clear message of
disapproval of the Netanyahu government’s conduct of the war in Gaza and
its brazen dismissal of the Biden Administration’s requests and concerns
over many months.

More than a third of the Democrats in the Senate chose to cast a symbolic
but deeply meaningful vote of disapproval of some limited offensive
weapons transfers to Israel. Those Senators spoke today for a large and
growing portion of the American public that would like to see the United
States shift away from ‘blank check’ support for Israel toward a
relationship shaped by our laws, interests and values. A recent poll of
Jewish American voters found that 62 percent support withholding certain
offensive arms to press for a ceasefire and hostage deal.

This vote marks a milestone in the ongoing evolution of the US-Israel
relationship. This debate and vote signify another step toward a
relationship in which the US can hold Israel accountable for its actions
and its use of the weapons we provide in the same way we enforce US laws
for all other recipients of US security assistance. It is also a marker of
growing support in the political arena for using the leverage we do have
to impact the Israeli government’s actions and policies and as an
incentive toward a path we believe leads to Israel’s long-term security
and regional peace.

J Street shares with all the Senators who voted for these resolutions a
deep concern both for the future and security of the State of Israel and
for the future and security of the Palestinian people. Contrary to
opponents’ claims regarding today’s vote, US support for Israel’s security
was never at risk. All of the Senators who voted for a resolution of
disapproval today have supported tens of billions of dollars in security
assistance to Israel throughout their careers. No Senators are calling for
anything approaching an arms embargo, and all of them endorse continued
support for Iron Dome and other defensive systems.

What the large number of supporting votes does indicate is growing concern
over the direction that the far-right government of Israel is leading the
country. It is a manifestation of deep discomfort over the extent of the
human tragedy the Israeli government is inflicting on Gaza and the lack of
any commitment by the Netanyahu government to a feasible post-conflict
plan for governance and security that leads toward a resolution of the
underlying political conflict.

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Thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing 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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