Dear Friend,

This wasn’t how Prime Minister Netanyahu expected things to go.

In April, when Netanyahu inked a coalition agreement and touted July 1 as
the day he could begin to move forward with annexation, it seemed that
there was little to stand in his way -- but times have changed. In Israel,
the United States and around the world, a global anti-annexation movement
rallied a broad and powerful chorus of opposition to Netanyahu’s
destructive plans.

Thanks in part to J Street’s advocacy efforts, virtually the entire
Democratic Party has now gone on record in strong opposition to annexation
-- including Vice President Biden, Speaker of the House Pelosi and over
eighty percent of the Democratic Caucus in both the House and Senate.
Their opposition helps provide a significant deterrent to the Netanyahu
government -- and makes clear that the next administration will work to
roll back and reject the damage caused by President Trump and his cronies.

As you receive this, it’s been almost two weeks since July 1, and the
prime minister has yet to announce any moves toward annexation. But that’s
no reason to relax. The chances are still high that they will try to push
forward at some point in the coming months -- which is why our movement
needs to build on our success so far and keep up the fight.

This week, our supporters took action to support a new amendment
introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen that would make sure that US
security assistance to Israel cannot be used to carry out annexation. Like
J Street, the amendment’s thirteen co-sponsors have made clear that they
fully support security assistance to Israel to help it defend against
genuine threats -- and believe this aid should not be used to carry out
measures that would imperil Israel’s security, trample on Palestinian
rights and undermine US interests.

We’ll continue to do all we can to prevent annexation -- and to ensure
that if it does move forward it is met with real, meaningful consequences.
At the same time, our movement will keep working to help defeat Trump at
the polls and lay the groundwork for a new era of US leadership committed
to promoting diplomacy and human rights, pursuing lasting
Israeli-Palestinian peace and ending the occupation.

Thanks for standing with this movement,

Logan Bayroff
Director of Communications

Around J Street

In Congress and Around the World, Opposition to Annexation Grows Louder

On Capitol Hill and around the world, opposition to West Bank annexation
is continuing to intensify -- thanks in part to ongoing, concerted
advocacy from the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement. The overwhelming
majority of Democrats in the House and Senate have now signed on to
anti-annexation letters or released their own statements opposing
annexation -- including [ [link removed] ]191 members of Congress who signed a letter
late last month. They join a powerful chorus that includes high-profile
Jewish leaders, clergy and organizations, student activists, Israeli
security officials and American foreign policy professionals.

As Israeli journalist [ [link removed] ]Amir Tibon observed in Haaretz: “If the Democrats
win the November presidential election, annexation will put the Netanyahu
government on a collision course with the new Biden administration. The
Democratic party is united in its opposition to annexing the settlements.”

[ [link removed] ]Visit our Stop Annexation resource page to see the full breadth of
opposition to annexation, from Israeli generals to European leaders to
American rabbis >>

New Senate Measure Would Make Sure US Taxpayers Don’t Foot the Bill For
Annexation

[4]Sen. Chris Van Hollen on the Senate floor
Last week in the US Senate, we saw the introduction of one of the most
consequential measures so far in the fight against West Bank annexation.
Senator Chris Van Hollen’s proposed amendment to the National Defense
Authorization Act would block Trump and Netanyahu from using any of the
United States’ $3.8 billion in annual security support to advance West
Bank annexation.

At J Street, we’ve been clear that we believe this critical security
assistance should be used for Israel’s urgent security needs -- not
actions which violate international law, endanger security relationships
and trample on human rights. That’s why we’re proud to support Senator Van
Hollen and his colleagues who have already signed on to support the
amendment, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown, Tom Carper,
Martin Heinrich, Tim Kaine, Patrick Leahy, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy,
Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Tom Udall and Elizabeth Warren.

[ [link removed] ]Sign our petition now and tell the Senate: US taxpayers must not foot
the bill for annexation >>

J Street Kicks Off 2020 Voter Mobilization Campaign

As the 2020 presidential race unfolds, it’s becoming obvious that
President Trump's strategy relies on voters staying home or being cheated
out of their right to vote. As we face a calamitous pandemic which
continues to inflict disproportionate harm on older Americans and
communities of color, the Trump White House is waging war on vote-by-mail
programs. Across the country, they’re pushing states to purge voter rolls,
tighten voter ID laws and shut down polling stations.

At J Street, our top political priority is defeating President Trump this
November -- and to do that, we have to get out the vote. That’s why, in
coordination with the Biden digital team, we’re running online phone banks
to call voters, help them check their registration and ensure they have a
plan to vote on November 3.

We’re
legally only able to invite official J Street members to these phone
banks, so we encourage you to become a member today! Membership is free.
[ [link removed] ]Become a member with one click →


Democratic Platform Campaign Enters Final Stretch

With the Democratic National Convention now just weeks away and the threat
of annexation still looming, J Street’s student-driven campaign to reshape
the 2020 Democratic Party Platform is entering a critical final stretch --
and we need your help.

Backed by dozens of former Obama officials, hundreds of American rabbis
and thousands of college students across America, J Street’s
#ChangeThePlatform campaign is calling for the 2020 party platform to
include specific recognition of Palestinian rights and explicit opposition
to annexation, settlement expansion and ongoing occupation.

Now, you have the chance to add your voice. Under the DNC’s newly unveiled
public submissions process, any individual can send a brief video or
written message directly to the Platform Drafting Committee with
recommendations for the 2020 platform.

[ [link removed] ]Please click here to read and share our guide to making a direct
submission to the DNC Platform Drafting Committee >>

“Enrollment” Now Open: J Street Launches “J School”

[9]J School
In March we launched J Stream, a series of virtual briefings and trainings
designed to keep our movement connected, informed and engaged. Now, we’re
supplementing that programming with J School, a free virtual learning
series designed to deliver a masterclass on the drivers of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impact of American foreign policy.

Beginning this Wednesday, July 15, J School will convene for weekly
lectures from former diplomats, political leaders, academics and Israelis
and Palestinians who have experienced the realities of the conflict
firsthand. Each lecture will include an interactive Q&A, optional breakout
discussions and recommended resources for further reading.

Through J School, we’re building on J Street’s commitment to being a
‘go-to’ resource for pro-Israel, pro-peace and pro-diplomacy education.
[ [link removed] ]Click here to learn more and enroll in our first session on Wednesday,
July 15 >>

Must Watch on J Stream
June was a jam-packed, star-studded month for J Stream -- catch up on
content you may have missed.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Representative Jan Schakowsky
[11]barrier and and MKs Nitzan Horowitz and Ofer Shelah
settlement Israeli and American Legislators Against Annexation
[ [link removed] ]Watch →
Rep. Karen Bass
[13]Rep. Karen Bass Striving for Justice in the US and Israel/Palestine
[ [link removed] ]Watch →
Ari Berman and Leigh Chapman
[15]Voter Suppression Structural Racism and Voter Suppression
[ [link removed] ]Watch →
[ [link removed] ]Donate →

[ [link removed] ]View this email as a web page.
[2]Street Talk Logo
© 2020 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.



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