[ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]J Street [ [link removed] ]
Friend --

Last week, for the first time since President Biden took office, the
Israeli government carried out major demolitions and confiscation of
property in a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank.

In the village of Homsa al-Baquia, Israeli forces bulldozed several
structures, confiscated the community’s tents and livestock pens and
ordered the residents to relocate immediately to a new area. Authorities
returned to demolish even more of the village this week.

What happened in this village is just the latest example of the Israeli
government’s systematic policy of de facto annexation of sensitive areas
of occupied territory -- a policy of seizing land, destroying property and
displacing residents, all to pave the way for expanded settlements and to
make sure these areas can never become part of an independent Palestinian
state alongside Israel.

This brazen practice of “de facto annexation” had an effective green light
from the Trump administration -- but there’s no doubt that it runs
completely counter to President Biden’s stated commitment to a two-state
solution and his opposition to acts of unilateral annexation and
settlement expansion.

That’s why J Street is urging the administration to back up its stated
opposition to annexation with meaningful action. [ [link removed] ]If you’re with us in
our effort to push back against the relentless expansion of settlements
and dispossession of Palestinians, I hope you’ll consider chipping in to
support this work today >>

The fact that these actions are continuing now that President Biden is in
office is an alarmingly clear sign that the Israeli government intends to
proceed with business as usual, without any regard for the US position.
And that’s unacceptable.

We know how this has gone in the past. Nearly all previous administrations
have been vocal about their support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace
agreement and their opposition to creeping annexation. Yet, at the same
time, the United States has consistently failed to take meaningful steps
to hold the Israeli government accountable and impact its behavior.

That’s why J Street is urging the Biden administration to act swiftly and
decisively to change this paradigm and establish a new norm. We want them
to make clear that if the Israeli government pushes forward with de facto
annexation and endless occupation, there will be consequences.

Specifically, we’re calling on them to take the following steps:

* Determine whether any US-sourced defense articles were used in the
Homsa al-Baquia operation in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.
* Make clear to the Israeli government that US-sourced defense articles,
as well as any materiel purchased with US Foreign Military Financing
funds, may not be used in such operations.
* Make clear to the Israeli government that the United States will not
use its voice and vote in international organizations to shield Israel
from legitimate criticism of such actions and related violations of
international law.

Friend, demolitions and other acts of de facto annexation don’t
often make major headlines -- but they’re deeply unjust, deeply harmful to
the future of both Israelis and Palestinians and taking place on a daily
and weekly basis. They’re destroying communities and livelihoods -- and
flagrantly ignoring the positions of Israel’s closest ally, the United
States.

We can’t afford four more years of 'business as usual' when it comes to
the US approach to de facto annexation and deepening occupation. Together,
our movement will continue to fight for a different kind of American
policy -- one that learns from the failings of the past and is truly
responsive to the needs of the present.

[ [link removed] ]Please support our fight with a donation today. We’re about a quarter
of the way toward our goal of 100 new monthly sustainers and hope you’ll
consider signing up to provide ongoing support. Right now, all new monthly
gifts will be matched each month of 2021.

Thanks for your support,

Logan Bayroff
Director of Communications


[ [link removed] ]DONATE
[ [link removed] ]Facebook [ [link removed] ]Twitter
© 2021 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]