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Friend,

This week, Israeli politics sailed into unfamiliar new territory.

Naftali Bennett, a hardline right-winger who once served as Netanyahu’s
chief-of-staff, has taken over as prime minister in a new coalition
government, ending Netanyahu’s twelve-year reign in office. He is
supported not by Netanyahu’s coalition of the Likud and ultra-orthodox
parties, but by a complex and diverse group of centrists, progressives,
breakaway right-wingers and religiously conservative Palestinian citizens
of Israel -- each of which essentially holds veto power over much of the
government’s domestic and foreign policy agenda.

Thousands of progressive and centrist Israelis marked the new government
with celebrations on the streets. Loyalists marked the moment with bitter
and angry protests. Netanyahu gave an embittered parting speech and has
already branded the new government as ‘fraudulent’ and captured by the
‘radical left.’

This is a significant moment not just for Israel, but the US-Israel
relationship and, potentially, the wider region. And of course, it’s a
critical moment for our work here at J Street.

The course this new Israeli government will take on key issues -- from
settlements to the Iran deal to Sheikh Jarrah to Gaza restrictions to
equality for Israeli citizens -- remains uncertain. We know that while the
progressive and center-left parties will likely be able to block some of
the worst excesses of the occupation and de facto annexation, this
government is also unlikely to act to address the root causes of violence
and injustice at the heart of this conflict.

What is certain, however, is that the work we do to support our allies in
Israel -- several of whom are now ministers in the new Israeli government
-- matters now more than ever. More so than at any moment in recent
decades, the signals sent by American leaders will have a significant
impact on policy-making as parties jostle for influence and work to repair
Israel’s democratic institutions, the US-Israel relationship and Israel’s
international standing.

At J Street, we’re pushing for our leaders to make a clean break with the
failed policies of the past that have too often given a blank check to the
far-right and done little to empower those in Israel who share our values.
Now is the moment to pursue a new vision for the US-Israel relationship,
one grounded in support for the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians
to live in peace, security and self-determination.

In recent days, as this new government has taken shape and finally been
sworn in, we’ve created and shared a number of different reflections,
analyses and resources to help you navigate this major political change
and what it means. To make sure you didn’t miss anything, you can find
links to each of them below.

For even more analysis on this new government, we are holding a special
briefing tomorrow, June 16 at 12pm ET on the "change" coalition with J
Street Israel Executive Director Nadav Tamir. [ [link removed] ]Click here to register >>

Thank you,

Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff

J Street Israeli Political Resources

[ [link removed] ]J Street’s Statement Welcoming and Congratulating the New Government

[ [link removed] ]Lapid

Following the official formation of the new government, J Street welcomed
it and congratulated its leaders on “their achievement in negotiating the
formation of an ideologically diverse coalition in the face of
tremendously aggressive and intense political pressure tactics.” We noted
that “the election of a new government does not mean an automatic change
in policy or ideology when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or
a number of important issues. What it does mean is that -- for the first
time in many years -- Israeli leaders and society have a very welcome
opportunity to change course on critical questions, including the
occupation and Israel’s future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish
people.”

[ [link removed] ]Read and share our full statement >>

[ [link removed] ]Analysis: The End of the Netanyahu Era and J Street’s Work Going Forward

[ [link removed] ]Netanyahu

Netanyahu’s 12 years in office were marked by a rise in ethnonationalism,
extremism and a view that the status quo of violence and injustice is an
acceptable, ‘manageable’ feature of permanent occupation and conflict. In
rejecting diplomacy, undercutting hopes for a two-state solution, allying
with Trumpism and betraying Israel’s founding principles of justice,
democracy and equality, Netanyahu drove a painful wedge between Israel and
American Jews.

Now, we have the chance for a new beginning. In the coming weeks and
months, American leaders should reaffirm their commitment to a just,
secure and democratic future for Israel -- while also making clear that
the disastrous, right-wing policies and ideology of the Netanyahu era have
put that vision in terrible jeopardy.

[ [link removed] ]Read and share the full post >>

[ [link removed] ]Your Guide to Who’s Who in the New Israeli Government

[ [link removed] ]New government image

Parties in the new government span the ideological spectrum from
progressive to Islamist to centrist to far-right, united by the common
goal of defeating Netanyahu -- and little else. While Prime Minister
Bennett hails from the far-right, he’ll be far more constrained in his
actions than Netanyahu was since he must maintain the backing of a much
broader cabinet and coalition.

[ [link removed] ]Read and share our guide to who’s who in the new government >>

[ [link removed] ]What the New Government Means for Israel, with Gabriel Mitchell

[ [link removed] ]Youtube

Last week, Gabriel Mitchell, director of External Relations at Mitvim: The
Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, joined J Street’s
Director of Government Affairs Debra Shushan for a timely discussion about
the shape of Israel’s incoming government. They discussed its likely
approach to the US-Israel relationship, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
and occupation, and much more.

[ [link removed] ]Watch the full briefing with expert analyst Gabriel Mitchell >>

[ [link removed] ]J Street Israel Director Nadav Tamir: A New Era in US-Israel Relations

[ [link removed] ]US and Israeli flags

In the Times of Israel, J Street’s Israel Director Nadav Tamir shares his
insights on a path forward for the US-Israel relationship. “Biden and
Lapid’s similar approaches may bring about a change in relations between
the two countries despite the inability of the new Israeli government to
lead a significant initiative,” Tamir writes. “The very return to the
traditional approach of mutual respect between the states and the
cessation of the Netanyahu governments’ attempt to side with the
Republican Party and to favor the evangelical Christians over the Jewish
community marks the beginning of necessary healing.”

[ [link removed] ]Read and share the full Times of Israel Op-Ed >>


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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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