[1]J Street
Hi there,

I recently returned from 10 days in Israel and the Palestinian Territory as part of a J Street Education Fund Len Hill Education Program trip – my first since joining the J Street team.

Our delegation was composed entirely of congressional chiefs of staff, many of whom have crafted or helped inform policy on the US-Israel relationship for years but have never been to the region personally. I can’t tell you how moving it was to have heard more than once that their participation in this delegation was “life-changing.”

I’ve been to the region many times over the years and have always left feeling the profound impact of my visit, but I have to say, there’s something special about a J Street trip.

We visited a kibbutz near the Gaza border and the Nova Music Festival site where the devastating effects of Hamas’ October 7 massacre and the resulting war are still deeply, viscerally felt.

We saw firsthand that the vast majority of Israelis are both distrustful of Netanyahu and his government and strongly supportive of ending the war, which they believe is the only way to reunite the hostages with their families, an aim they’re desperate to accomplish.

It was clear that Israeli society, while still reeling from ongoing trauma, is on the cusp of a significant reckoning over both the war in Gaza and how to move forward with the Palestinians.

What sets J Street’s trips apart from other Israel delegations offered to congressional staff is our commitment to spending time with Israelis and Palestinians in both Israel and the Palestinian Territory.

We heard directly from Palestinians about the difficulties and dangers they face under occupation. We listened to painful stories of loved ones suffering in Gaza as the war rages on, and saw first-hand how escalating settler violence has significantly inflamed tensions.

As we closed out the trip by reflecting on what we’d experienced together, several participants shared that they felt significantly more confident about providing their bosses with informed, thoughtful guidance on the issues we care about.

One of the things that I hear most from J Street’s friends on Capitol Hill is that we need to grow, our voices need to be heard more, and that our work is more impactful and necessary than ever.

Members of Congress are eager for partners in the Jewish community and beyond who are pro-Israel and pro-peace – partners who don’t view security for Israelis and Palestinians as a zero-sum game.

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It was an honor to have shared such a transformative experience with our participants.

Thank you, sincerely, for reading,
Ilan

Ilan Goldenberg
Chief Policy Officer, J Street

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