Friends,

It’s been a whirlwind week. The long-awaited, long-overdue release of more hostages – including four more set to return home tomorrow. The inauguration of Donald Trump. Finally, finally, some desperately needed respite from the horror that families in Gaza have endured for more than 15 months.

We can’t take for granted that the Trump Administration will do the work necessary to ensure this ceasefire holds, especially as the Israeli far-right makes clear that they will do everything in their power to sabotage this deal from within. We must keep the pressure on the administration – and all stakeholders – to see it through to the end.

At J Street, upholding the ceasefire is our top priority. We need every hostage to come home. We must make sure this devastating conflict never restarts. Longer term, we will make the case to the President – who prides himself as the Dealmaker in Chief – that long-term peace, security and integration are possible, but only if he applies full pressure to get the parties to the table.

We will continue to make our voices and values heard and to make advances where we can. See below for a full rundown of what we’re doing to rise to the occasion.

– Jen Abrahamson, Vice President of Communications

What We’re Watching

🚨 Keeping the Ceasefire Alive: Words can’t describe the relief we felt on Sunday. Hostages embracing parents who have fought for their freedom. Palestinians in Gaza breathing a sigh of relief at the calm skies overhead.

The work isn’t over yet… We must keep fighting so that tomorrow – when the second hostage release is set to take place – Israelis, Palestinians and the rest of the world can celebrate that the deal continues to hold.

“Strong, clear-eyed American leadership is vital to ensure this agreement holds and advances to the next stages,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. “We cannot return to the death, destruction and anguish of the past.” Read our press release >>
As J Street pivots to meet the moment under a freshly inaugurated Trump, it remains our utmost priority to ensure that the ceasefire and hostage release agreement holds and is built upon. Read our thoughts on our mission in this new political era >>
We were overjoyed to see the release of Israeli hostages Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher and Romi Gonen. Last spring, we were honored to host Romi Gonen’s mother and sister at our Assembly. We’re so happy they are finally reunited. Read our blog post on the harrowing experience of Romi Gonen and her family >>

Bottom Line: “Only a US president wielding dealmaking and diplomacy – not a blank check for bombs and settlements – can ensure that this new temporary calm is made permanent, and deliver peace, freedom and safety for all,” Jeremy wrote. “Donald Trump can do this and – if he does – we will support those efforts.”

✍️ Trump’s Executive Order Spree: On his first day in the Oval Office, President Trump signed a flurry of executive orders reversing progress on so many issues – including progress toward peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

Removed Sanctions Against Violent Settlers: Hours after violent settlers set Palestinian homes ablaze and attacked Israeli troops in the West Bank, Trump reversed a Biden Administration Executive Order allowing the US to sanction Israeli extremists undermining peace and security in the West Bank.
Paused all Foreign Assistance: Trump suspended all US foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending review. While much US foreign aid has already been appropriated or spent, this effort lays the groundwork for major cuts to peacekeeping, human rights, democracy protection, refugee agencies and the UN. It is expected that aid to Israel will not be reduced.
Sanctioned the International Criminal Court: Reversing another Biden Executive Order, Trump renewed 2020 sanctions that target any member of the ICC probing US troops. While there are no immediate ramifications for ICC officials involved in investigating Prime Minister Netanyahu or former Defense Minister Gallant, Israel has been urging Trump to sanction the ICC. Trump’s move puts on full display the new administration's contempt for international law.
- Read our policy brief on why we oppose sanctioning the ICC >>

⚠️ Eyes on the West Bank: As fighting stopped in Gaza, violent Israeli settlers took to rampaging Palestinian villages. “Extremists in the settlement movement are clearly trying to sabotage the Gaza ceasefire even as it’s bringing Israeli hostages home,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami.

An alternative is desperately needed in the West Bank: The “day after” starts now, and central to that is international cooperation to ensure the Palestinian Authority is set up for success to govern a unified West Bank and Gaza. The PA also shares responsibility and must commit to reform. Moderate governance is the only surefire way to disenfranchise extremists – in the West Bank and beyond.

The Latest from J Street

🔎 Two New Policy Center Explainers: Resignations in IDF Leadership and Strains on the Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire. This week saw rising turmoil in the Netanyahu government with the resignation of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who followed other military leaders who have left their posts, citing responsibility for failing to prevent October 7. It also saw the fragility of key elements of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire with Israel announcing it would delay the withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon beyond the Sunday deadline due to Lebanon’s failure to deploy its own forces in the south.

“The IDF under my command failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,” said Halevi, who resigned as the IDF Chief of Staff earlier this week. While many military top brass have left leadership over October 7, all remain silent on the political front – where Netanyahu faces increasing pressure from the public to shoulder the blame. Read Today’s J Street Policy Center Explainer on Halevi’s resignation >>
“The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire must hold, despite Netanyahu’s recent announcement that Israel will remain in southern Lebanon beyond the 60-day deadline. Given the many violations of the deal on both sides, a prolonged timeline was always a possibility. The objective now should be to ensure that hostilities do not resume.” Read J Street Policy Center's Recommendations for saving the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire here >>

♾️ The Paradoxes of Trump’s Presidency: In his latest Substack, Jeremy unpacks the complexities of the Trump presidency: A man deeply unfit for office, yet perhaps our best hope for a regional peace deal in the Middle East.

“There’s zero chance my opinion of the man taking the oath of office in 2025 will change – a man whose character, words and actions should have disqualified him from ever returning to the White House,” Jeremy wrote. “Yet the opportunity for a comprehensive regional agreement has never been greater.”
Just as President Reagan surprised us and made important progress in nuclear arms control and the US-Soviet relationship, could Donald Trump sign deals that meaningfully advance peace in the Middle East? Read, subscribe and share 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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