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Dear Friend, Earlier this month, we saw perhaps the starkest ever split-screen of two profoundly different visions for our country. On Tuesday, January 5, two impressive, unifying candidates -- both endorsed by JStreetPAC -- emerged victorious in two of the most consequential Senate races in decades. Overcoming the odds and the many smears and disingenuous attacks leveled against them, Rev. Raphael Warnock became Georgia’s first-ever black Senator-elect and Jon Ossoff became Georgia’s first Jewish Senator-elect. The significance of this victory is profound not only for its legislative implications, but for its clear demonstration of unity and solidarity. The majority of Georgia voters rejected campaigns of hate, lies and fear, overcoming them with a powerful multi-faith, multi-racial, values-based coalition. If these victories show us the heights our country is capable of, Wednesday, January 6 showed us the depths -- as a mob of white nationalist extremists led a violent attack on the heart of our democracy, determined to overturn the results of a free and fair election. As images of Trump supporters storming the Capitol were beamed across the world, our screens became a window into the angry, crazed and anti-democratic future that some of the president’s supporters want. Following the pain, anguish and anger of the past ten days and Trump’s fully-deserved second impeachment, it is clearer than ever that right-wing forces will fight tooth and nail against every measure of progress advanced by President-elect Biden -- and against his very legitimacy as president. There’s no doubt they will fiercely oppose J Street’s agenda when it comes to US foreign policy, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the pursuit of social justice at home. But we also know that together -- after our shared victory in 2020 -- we have what it takes to counter their attacks and continue our work toward a proud new era of American leadership grounded in a commitment to democracy, peace, diplomacy and human rights. Thank you for standing with us in this struggle. Logan Bayroff Communications Director |
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Around J Street |
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J Street calls for Trump’s removal following Capitol Hill insurrection |
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Following the insurrection at the Capitol, J Street condemned President Trump’s major role in inciting the attack and swiftly called for his removal from office, by impeachment if necessary. As shocking as this attack was, the markers leading us to this precipice have been visible for all to see. For years, J Street and many, many others have warned that President Trump and his enablers were fueling the cancerous growth of white-nationalist, antisemitic, anti-democratic forces within our nation. Even before he was elected president, we said in March 2016 that Trump was unfit to serve as president and warned of “the threat of demagogues who prey on fear and peddle prejudice while inciting their supporters to violence.” Since then, our determination to oppose Trump’s dangerous policies and help defend our democracy from his attacks has never wavered for a moment. History shows us that there is nothing guaranteed about democracy or democratic freedoms. Moving forward, it will take vigilance and determination from all those who believe in democracy to defend it, strengthen it and hold accountable those who have weakened and continue to attack it. J Street is proud to be part of the vast majority of Americans and American Jews who are standing together to do that work. |
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Read our full statement calling for Trump's removal → |
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Historic victories for JStreetPAC endorsees Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff |
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The twin victories of JStreetPAC endorsees and Senators-elect Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff heralded the start of a new era of leadership in the Senate -- and the end of Senator Mitch McConnell’s destructive tenure as majority leader. Between Election Day and last Tuesday’s runoff election, thousands of J Street supporters stepped up to donate, organize and volunteer. Together, our pro-Israel, pro-peace movement made thousands of voter contacts and raised over $380,000 for the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns and over $115,000 for Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight voter mobilization group. Special thanks go to J Street’s Atlanta chapter and student activists who chipped in on the ground in Georgia. In this new era, JStreetPAC endorsees will now hold the White House as well as significant majorities within the majority party in both the House and Senate -- accomplishing all the major goals that we set out for ourselves in the 2020 cycle. This gives our movement a major opportunity to push for measures to fortify our democratic institutions at home, help end the occupation in the Palestinian territories and secure Israel’s long-term future as a truly democratic homeland for the Jewish people. |
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Join J Street for an inauguration night celebration! |
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| On Wednesday, January 20, the Trump administration will at long last come to an end -- and Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States. To celebrate this critical moment that so many of us worked so hard to help achieve, J Street will be holding a celebratory call at 7:30pm ET that evening, featuring members of Congress and other guest stars, hosted by J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. We’ll take stock of what this moment means and look ahead at what could be on the horizon for our country and for the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Register now → |
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150 representatives sign J Street-backed letter supporting Iran deal re-entry |
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In late December, J Street welcomed a vital letter signed by a significant majority of House Democrats which expresses strong support for President-elect Biden’s stated goal of a speedy return to the JCPOA nuclear agreement. Led by Representatives David E. Price, Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, Gregory Meeks, Joaquin Castro, Abigail D. Spanberger and Brad Sherman, the 150 signatories represent a large and diverse cross-section of the House Democratic Caucus. The letter makes clear that there is broad support for a mutual return to compliance with the nuclear deal by Iran and the United States, as a starting point for diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s other destabilizing activities in the region -- and more than enough congressional support to ensure that no harmful legislation designed to block reentry to the agreement could become law. Over the past four years, President Trump’s violation of the deal and call for ‘maximum pressure’ have proven to be a dramatic failure, pushing Iran and the United States closer to conflict and resulting in the resumption of some Iranian nuclear activities previously banned under the agreement. A 2020 Election Night survey commissioned by J Street found that an overwhelming 74% of Jewish voters nationwide support re-entering the agreement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See the full letter and list of signers → |
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Important J Street National Conference update |
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After careful consideration, J Street’s 2021 National Conference -- our most important event of the year, and our first-ever virtual conference -- will now be held on April 18-19. While the conference was originally scheduled for late February, our team has made this decision to ensure we can deliver the richest and most engaging virtual event possible, taking full advantage of some of the new systems and platforms that have been rapidly developing during the pandemic to help take virtual gatherings to the next level. While the date has changed, our commitment to delivering the most accessible, engaging and interactive conference ever has not. This gathering will mark a crucial moment for our pro-Israel, pro-peace movement, for the American Jewish community and for pro-diplomacy progressives across the country. We can’t wait to see you there! This will be a can’t miss event for our movement, and we need all our supporters to join us to plan for the year ahead and make our voices heard! Register today with code “NewDay” for 15% off of your registration fee >> |
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Register now → |
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Israeli Election: This time it’s different… maybe |
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As Israelis endure their third nationwide lockdown and gear up for a fourth election in 24 months, there’s a feeling among pundits and prognosticators that after three elections with similar, deadlocked results, this time could be different. This year, Netanyahu’s top rival is no longer centrist Blue and White leader Benny Gantz but renegade Likud MK Gideon Sa’ar and his freshly minted right-wing party, New Hope. To remain in power and evade corruption charges, Netanyahu must win enough seats for his Likud party to deny Sa'ar the ability to form a center-right coalition without him -- polls show that proposition is currently on a knife-edge. To follow all the ups and downs of the latest Israeli election as leaders race toward the March 23 polling date, sign up for J Street’s Israeli Election Updates. |
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