[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends,

From the intensity of the debate this past month, you might think the crux
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was access to frozen desserts.

The melodramatic meltdown over the Ben & Jerry’s decision to cease sales
within illegal settlements has been disingenuous, misleading and
distracting. And that might be exactly the point.

Largely missing from the debate has been discussion of what Ben & Jerry’s
is actually protesting: A violent, unjust, 54-year occupation that fuels
misery, grief and anger on all sides.

This military occupation is carried out in service of a right-wing
movement that aims to drive Palestinians from their land, expand
settlements and entrench permanent control over the West Bank -- and in
the process, it’s destroying our vision of a just, democratic homeland for
the Jewish people.

Yes, we must fight misinformation about the Ben & Jerry’s decision. Yes,
we must ensure others don’t feel silenced by this toxic debate. And yes,
we must resist government-led crackdowns on those speaking out for human
rights.

At the same time, we must also continue to expose the dangers of the
occupation and fight for the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to
freedom, security and self-determination.

[ [link removed] ]That’s a lot of work -- which is why I was wondering if you might be
able to make an August contribution to J Street. Together, we can combat
the meltdown and help transform our politics for the better.

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The attacks on Ben & Jerry’s showcase a well-worn tactic of those fighting
against progressive change. Supporters of the status quo consistently seek
to make the manner and style of protest the issue, not the underlying
injustice itself.

Rather than engaging on the substance, opponents smear those of us pushing
for change as antisemitic or anti-Israel, or engage in misinformation,
‘whataboutism’ or other distractions.

And I
know how disheartening that can feel. As one of only a handful of Jewish
kids at my school in Ohio, my first trip to Israel felt truly magical. I
was captivated by Jerusalem and its history. But at the same time, deeply
distressed by the injustice I saw first-hand in East Jerusalem and the
West Bank.

Like so many of us, I’m in this fight because I want to help make real an
Israel we can be proud of.

And that’s the truth that scares them:

Ben & Jerry’s has opened up an urgent debate about illegal settlements --
and whether we can truly say we support a peaceful and just two-state
solution if we continue to enable and excuse them.

The debate has exposed a gaping chasm between the right-leaning groups who
claim to represent Jewish Americans, and the majority of Jewish Americans
themselves (who understand the threat that settlements pose to peace,
justice and Israel’s democratic future).

This is an important conversation. We cannot allow it to be sidetracked by
absurd smears that obscure the facts and what’s really at stake.

Through community organizing, media engagement and national political
advocacy in Washington, we’re continuing to underscore the threat the
occupation poses to Israelis and Palestinians alike -- and we’re thankful
to every supporter who fuels that work.

That includes everyone amplifying our movement via [ [link removed] ]Instagram,
[ [link removed] ]Facebook and [ [link removed] ]Twitter AND the thousands of supporters who’ve
[ [link removed] ]made a donation so we can boost our message and cut through the noise.

[ [link removed] ]If you feel able, please consider a contribution this August to help
sustain our work >>

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Thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support.

Yours,

Kevin Rachlin
Vice President of Public Affairs


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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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