Friends,
The next 36 hours really matter. The political debate around Israel and Palestine is changing rapidly – and J Street is filling a gap no one else is positioned or prepared to fill.
I'm reaching out now because, once those 36 hours are up, we'll have reached the end of our major end-of-year fundraising drive. As the clock ticks down, we still have about $133,000 left to raise, and I'm hoping that I can count on you to help us close the gap before midnight tomorrow.
As polarization deepens all around us, J Street is emerging as a sensible, rational voice doing three hard things at once:
- Defending Israel’s legitimacy and security
- Centering Palestinian rights and freedom
- Building real leverage inside the American political system to push for a better future
That role has never been more necessary – or more fiercely challenged – than it is right now.
In Israel, the radical right is more powerful than ever: expanding unlawful and immoral settlements in the West Bank, entrenching war and violence, and steadily undercutting Israeli democracy.
Here in the US, we’re facing threats to our own democracy and a level of antisemitism that many of us never imagined we’d see in our lifetimes.
The Jewish community is struggling to keep up – caught in a polarized debate between demands for unconditional support for Israeli government policy and critiques that do not adequately account for Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
J Street exists to fill this gap and to serve as a political and communal home for those interested in peace, security and a clear path forward.
We have our work cut out for us:
- Supporting serious efforts toward a lasting peace that links regional normalization to Palestinian statehood
- Building a new values-driven approach to Israel-Palestine in the Democratic Party
- Providing the next generation of Jewish leaders a political home where our values are applied consistently – in Israel and in the US
J Street is uniquely positioned to meet this moment. We have relationships, credibility, and trust where it actually counts: in Congress, on campus and in the Jewish community.
But success is not guaranteed. It depends on whether we have the resources to stay strong, agile, and strategic through what will be a volatile, high-stakes period.
That’s why I’m asking you – directly – to contribute in these final 36 hours. All gifts are still being matched by one of our generous supporters, so your contribution will make double the impact.
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If J Street is not strong heading into 2026, the center will not hold. The loudest voices will define the debate - and they will either excuse permanent occupation or question Israel's very legitimacy.
We reject both sets of loud voices.
We believe Israel’s security and Palestinian freedom are not competing goals, but inseparable ones.
And we can only win the battles ahead if we have the resources – and resolve – to fight.
Thank you for your consideration and all the best for the New Year,
Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street
