[ ]J Street [ ]
Friend --

Last week, encouraged by President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu dealt a
severe blow to the shared democratic values at the heart of the US-Israel
relationship when he banned two US Congresswomen -- Rashida Tlaib and
Ilhan Omar -- from visiting Israel and the West Bank.

Shortly after, the US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, issued an
official statement applauding the decision and attacking the two
congresswomen, all under the seal of the US State Department.

At J Street, we want to make something crystal clear: It is unprecedented
and outrageous for an American ambassador to cheer the ban of two duly
elected US representatives from visiting an allied country.

Congress cannot tolerate Ambassador Friedman’s weaponization of his
diplomatic post to advance his own partisan politics and far-right agenda.

[ [link removed]- ]Tell your members of Congress to take action to hold Ambassador
Friedman to account >>

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision -- and the ambassador’s support for it
-- erodes the bipartisan foundation of the US-Israel relationship and the
democratic values we share.

But we’re not surprised -- the ambassador has a long track record of using
his position to promote the priorities of the settlement movement and to
attack his political opponents. Over the past two years, he has:

* Said that Israel has the right to annex parts of the West Bank
* Pressured the State Department to stop using the word “occupation”
* Participated as a guest of honor in events led by the settlement
movement
* Told press to “keep your mouths shut” about Israel’s use of force
against protesters in Gaza
* Told a journalist “there’s no question Republicans support Israel more
than Democrats”

Again and again, Friedman has used his post to promote creeping
annexation, excuse the occupation and launch partisan attacks.

It’s time for Congress to say that enough is enough.

[ [link removed]- ]Urge your members of Congress to support measures that hold Friedman to
account for his outrageous conduct.

Thank you,

Kyle Fradkin,
Assistant Director of Government Affairs

P.S. If you’re outraged by the actions of Friedman, Netanyahu and Trump
and want to be a part of the movement fighting back for democratic values
in the US and in Israel, please join us at J Street's National Conference,
October 26-29 in Washington, DC. Your presence will help our movement
stand up for diplomacy, equality and the pursuit of peace. [ [link removed]- ]You can
register here and use code “BETHERE” at checkout to receive 20% off your
ticket fee.


[ [link removed]- ]DONATE
[ [link removed]- ]Facebook [ [link removed]- ]Twitter
© 2019 J Street | [ [link removed]- ]www.jstreet.org | [email protected]

J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace 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.



You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]-