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

For a fourth time in two years, Israel’s election has given no leader a
clear path to forming a government.

With this situation still in flux, one thing is clear: Like Americans,
Israelis remain deeply divided across the fault lines of race, religion,
identity and power. And just as in America, we are seeing the views of an
extremist fringe increasingly adopted and accommodated by more mainstream
parties.

As pro-Israel, pro-peace progressives, we can take some heart from the
stronger-than-expected performance of progressive parties like Meretz and
Labor. But we’re also appalled that Israel’s most extreme party -- a
coalition of Kahanists, Jewish supremacists and proud anti-LGBT bigots --
has entered the Knesset and could even be included in the next government.

Their rise did not occur in a vacuum. Prime Minister Netanyahu campaigned
for them and facilitated mergers to increase their vote share. He and
other leaders on the right laid the groundwork for their emergence by
mainstreaming some of their most hateful views.

Indeed, in the final days of the election, a number of right-wing leaders
campaigned for the demolition of the Palestinian village of Khan al Ahmar.
Netanyahu boasted of repeated demolitions of another village. A former
senior official described the Israeli government’s aim as keeping areas of
the West Bank ‘clean’ for annexation.

In this context -- with so much at stake -- J Street’s work is more
important than ever. We must stand together against the far right -- here
and in Israel -- to fight for Israel’s democratic character, defend
Palestinian rights and demand that our own US leadership push back against
an unacceptable and unsustainable status quo.

[ [link removed] ]Please -- can you make a contribution of any amount to help
power our movement for human rights, democracy and peace?

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With most ballots counted and no clear majority, what happens now?

Despite polls showing that a majority of Israelis oppose Netanyahu (and
despite his ongoing corruption trial) he will remain Prime Minister for
the foreseeable future. Israelis will likely endure months of political
maneuvering as Netanyahu and others attempt to build a majority. A fifth
election is not out of the question.

During this time, proponents of annexation and Greater Israel will press
forward with their goals of destroying Palestinian communities, building
on Palestinian land and entrenching an oppressive, unjust occupation.

In the face of these harmful actions, J Street will continue to stand on
the front lines of the American political and communal struggles that will
define the future of both countries.

Most importantly, we will press the Biden administration to move away from
‘business as usual’ in the Middle East. More effective US leadership means
not only rolling back the worst of the Trump administration’s policies on
Israel and Palestine, but outlining a clear and coherent path forward to
ensure real consequences for creeping annexation, to protect Palestinian
rights and to secure Israel’s future as a just, peaceful and democratic
homeland for the Jewish people.

We have a lot of work to do. But with the support of 200,000 activists
across the country and allies in Congress and the White House, no
organization is better suited for this moment.

[ [link removed] ]If you’re able, please consider a Passover contribution to help
sustain the fight >>

Wishing you and your family a meaningful and joyous Passover,

Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street

Our post-election analysis

Hungry for in-depth analysis about the election results? Watch our J
Stream program with Israel-based journalist Neri Zilber, conducted
yesterday.

[ [link removed] ]Watch now


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© 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.



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