[ ]J Street[ ]
Friend,

With Trump charging forward with his disgraceful “concept of a plan” for
US-backed ethnic cleansing in Gaza, this week saw a powerful response from
Congress: A letter slamming the proposal signed by over two-thirds of
Democrats and a majority of Jewish members.

A massive thank you to everyone who signed our petition, worked the phones
and pressed a total of 146 members to sign this letter – and to
Representatives Sean Casten and Brad Sherman for leading the effort in
Congress.

For more on our work, find our weekly recap below.

– Jen Abrahamson, Vice President of Communications

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The Latest 👇

📣 J Street Leads Pushback Against Trump’s Gaza Plan: Together, we’ve
rallied thousands of Jewish Americans – including clergy and community
leaders – to speak out against Donald Trump’s abhorrent, unworkable plan
to “take over” Gaza and force out two million Palestinians who call the
land home.

💪 In coordination with our Congressional allies, our movement helped rally
support for one of the most broadly signed J Street-backed congressional
letters ever released.

* “The United States cannot promote forced displacement as a solution to
this conflict,” the letter reads. The proposal is “morally
indefensible” and “risks destabilizing the delicate ceasefire
currently in place, endangering hostages still being held by Hamas,
fueling extremist sentiments, and serving as a recruiting tool for
terrorist organizations.”
* The Impact: While it might be addressed to Donald Trump, the letter
sends a powerful message to regional allies and pro-peace Israelis and
Palestinians that there is major dissent in the United States about
this proposal. [ [link removed] ]Read the letter and find the full list of signers
here >>
* The Message: This is a clear rebuke of Trump’s ‘concept of a plan’ for
Gaza – one which has already destabilized a delicate ceasefire, put
hostages in more danger, and gifted a recruiting tool to terror
groups. The White House should be laser focused on shoring up the
hostage deal, not drawing up plans for Mar-a-Lago outposts in Gaza. We
encourage you to use our statement as a resource when talking to your
circles about Trump’s dangerous vision for Gaza. [ [link removed] ]Find messaging
here >>
* Dig Deeper: While Trump’s proposal has been met with rejection and
disbelief in our community and across the world, we’re deeply
concerned about its impact in Israel – where it’s strengthened the
hand of right-wing extremists and been met with a disturbingly warm
reception across the political spectrum. [ [link removed] ]Read more in our latest
Policy Center analysis >>

⚠️ A Fragile Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread: With Trump’s Gaza comments
shaking the foundations of ceasefire negotiations – and reported
violations of the agreement by both Hamas and the Netanyahu government –
the brittle hostage deal was pushed to the [ [link removed] ]brink of collapse this week.

* Thankfully, Hamas has recommitted to releasing hostages this Saturday
after receiving assurances from intermediaries that more aid will
enter Gaza. International partners have scrambled this past week to
pressure both sides to stick with the deal.
* Despite Trump’s threats that he’s ready to “let all hell break out,”
we’re continuing to make the clear case that a return to war would be
catastrophic for all parties involved.

🔥 The Fight Against Fascism: MAGA isn’t hiding its ‘flood the zone’
strategy, and as J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes in his latest
Substack, it’s on all of us to fight back.

* What We Can Do? Team Democracy: “Pick your battles. Work in community.
Challenge friends to engage with you. Join organizations (like J
Street) where there’s a shared sense of mission and purpose. Press
organizations where you belong that aren’t doing enough.” [ [link removed] ]Read,
share and subscribe here >>

📚 Educational Bookshop: This week brought the disturbing news that Israeli
police raided the Palestinian-owned Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem
and arrested its owners, Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna. The bookstore has been a
regular highlight of J Street's delegations to the region.

* J Street Israel Director Nadav Tamir in The Times of Israel: "Now is
the time to visit the Educational Bookshop and send a message to the
police that the public in Israel will not allow them to stifle freedom
of opinion, will not allow them to burn books, and will not allow
democracy to die." [ [link removed] ]Read his piece here >>
* Weekend Read: In an urgent response in The Jewish Chronicle, former
head of the Shin Bet Ami Ayalon writes that Trump’s “immoral” plan
risks igniting the region by bringing down the ceasefire, sidelining
constructive allies and dismissing the most fundamental rights and
aspirations of the Palestinian people. [ [link removed] ]Read here >>

🌍 Fighting for USAID: J Street joined over 130 development, human rights
and peace organizations in a letter to Congress opposing efforts to shut
down US foreign assistance, including USAID. The Trump/Musk effort to
dismantle the organization undermines life-saving work that enhances US
security and influence around the world.

* “The relatively small investments from USAID – less than 1% of the
federal budget – pay significant dividends for Americans,” the letter
[ [link removed] ]reads. “Not only does this support prevent the conflicts and health
emergencies of today from becoming the regional crises and pandemics
of tomorrow, but they also protect people’s lives and livelihoods.”

Mark Your Calendar for Shabbat 📅  

Solidarity Shabbats: Take a stand as Trump endangers the communities we
care for most, and join J Street in standing shoulder to shoulder with the
National Council of Jewish Women and HIAS, two organizations doing
incredible work to fight the good fight.  

* Get involved with Repro Shabbat on February 21-22. Host your own
gathering or join a pre-planned event in your community. Find what
suits you and honor the Jewish value of reproductive freedom. [ [link removed] ]Learn
more from NCJW >>
* One week later, join us for Refugee Shabbat on February 28-March 1.
Register to join hundreds of communities around the world in standing
up for refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced people.
[ [link removed] ]Find out how you can participate >>


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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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