[1]Our Israel

Friends,

At J Street, we have a clear and strong vision of the Israel we’re
fighting for -- an Israel that can be a truly just, democratic and
peaceful homeland for the Jewish people, and a beacon of our shared
values.

We’re not alone in that fight. Across Israel, there are a range of truly
inspiring, progressive groups who are fighting to realize those values
each and every day. These leaders, advocates and organizations work
tirelessly to build a better future for all Israeli citizens regardless of
religion and ethnicity, and for their Palestinian neighbors living under
occupation.

Through J Street’s ‘Our Israel’ project, we’re introducing our communities
in the United States to these champions of justice, equality and peace --
and amplifying their work to build a broad movement of solidarity,
allyship and hope.

We wanted to share with you a recap of some of the great organizations who
we have profiled and interviewed so far.

Standing Together

[ [link removed] ]Stand Together members marching and holding signs

Strength through Solidarity

Standing Together is a joint Arab/Jewish progressive advocacy organization
that leads thousands of advocates across Israel as they campaign for equal
rights, rally against injustice and the occupation and push for fairer
wages, better working conditions, and a better future for all Israeli and
Palestinian families. The group works to build coalitions, connect
political priorities with people’s everyday lives and is seeking to build
a sustained organizing machine.

“We are tackling racism not only by saying it is wrong, but by creating
the politics of shared interests — a politics that is centered on
self-interest, not on morals or abstract values,” co-founder Alon-Lee
Green tells J Street. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Hand in Hand

[ [link removed] ]Hand in hand students

A Vision for an Integrated Israel

Through a network of integrated Arab-Jewish schools across Israel, the
founders of Hand in Hand have created a model for an integrated Israel
based on peace, coexistence and respect. The schools navigate divisive
issues like difficult holidays and the conflict with sensitivity and
compassion, and focus on the commonalities between the students rather
than the differences

“I think a lot of people see our schools as a sign of hope,” founder Lee
Gordon tells J Street. “I like to think that Hand in Hand is a little
model of what Israel could look like.” [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Gisha

[ [link removed] ]Members of Gisha congregating

Fighting for Gazans' Freedom

The hardworking staff at Gisha — a name that means “access” in Hebrew —
fight in the courts and in the court of public opinion for the rights of
residents of Gaza to enter and exit the region, to trade freely across
their borders and to access the essential services and supplies. Since
2005, the organization has represented both individuals and organizations
in legal proceedings and has advocated for freedom of movement for
Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

“You don’t realize how much movement and access is taken for granted until
you see what happens when it’s taken away,” Tania Hary, Gisha’s executive
director, tells J Street. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

PresenTense

[ [link removed] ]Khouloud Ayati and Ariella Rosen, the founders of PresenTense

Making The ‘Start-Up Nation’ More Inclusive

PresenTense is an Israeli impact organization that looks to make
entrepreneurship accessible to underprivileged communities across Israel.
The hard-working group has launched a number of business incubators across
the country focused on providing the necessary resources for entrepreneurs
from the Arab Israeli, Bedouin, and Haredi communities, among others, to
start businesses.

“If Israel is to truly be the world’s ‘Startup Nation’ then it must be an
inclusive society in which all groups can get a foothold in our
entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Khouloud Ayuti, one of the organization’s
founders, tells J Street. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

MachsomWatch

[ [link removed] ]Checkpoint watchers eating with a Palestinian family

Women Against the Occupation and for Human Rights

The dedicated women behind MachsomWatch, also known as Checkpoint Watch,
are committed to observing, addressing and reporting on the indignities
inflicted upon Palestinians not just at checkpoints, but throughout the
occupied West Bank.

“The only Israelis most Palestinians encounter are those on the other end
of a rifle or violent settlers who kill their herds, destroy their
orchards, and burn their fields,” says veteran Watcher, Daphne Banai. “We
show them that not all Israelis support the ongoing occupation and that
throughout Israel there are people who understand their plight.” [ [link removed] ]Read
the full profile >>

Save A Child's Heart

[ [link removed] ]A nurse watches over a child in a hospital bed

Saving Children, One Heart At a Time

Over the last two decades, Save A Child’s Heart has performed more than
5,400 similar pediatric cardiac surgeries for children from over 60
developing nations, with approximately half their caseload consisting of
Palestinian children from Gaza and the West Bank.

“When you have a Palestinian mother sitting next to an Israeli mother in a
waiting room as their children are undergoing pediatric cardiac surgery,
you have a bond that’s instantly created,” Executive Director Rabbi David
Litwack tells J Street. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Israeli Women's Network

[ [link removed] ]Members of the Israeli Women's Network hold signs and march

Fighting for Gender Equality in Israel

The Israel Women’s Network has been fighting the increasing exclusion and
segregation of women in public events, business settings, academia,
politics, sports, police and the military. The tremendous, non-partisan
women’s network, which has been fighting for equality since 1984, views it
as one of their core missions to ensure that Israelis connect the dots on
segregation.

“This is something that we all need to fight, men and women,” Executive
Director Michal Gera Margaliot tells J Street. “Feminism is not a movement
of women against men. It’s a movement to make the world a better place.”
[ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Regional Council for the Unrecognized Villages in the Negev

[ [link removed] ]Bedouin Israelis hold signs and protest

The Bedouin Israelis Fighting for Their Land and Heritage

Fighting demolitions, discrimination and violence at the hands of their
own government, the regional council has advocated for Bedouin rights and
recognition since 1997. In that time, the group has won a series of
bureaucratic and legal fights and has secured the rights of Bedouin
residents of several towns to equal access to health, education and
infrastructure services.

“Ultimately, our goal is for the state to treat us as equal citizens and
treat us equally in the allocation of resources, and in fundamental
rights,” Chair Attia Alasam tells J Street. “I want the state to allow us
to preserve our traditional way of life and our traditional customs, and
to preserve our Bedouin heritage.” [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Jerusalem Open House

[ [link removed] ]Jerusalemites march in Pride parade

Protecting the Rights of LGBTQ+ Jerusalemites

Tel Aviv holds a reputation as the Middle East’s gay mecca, but in
Jerusalem, long-running tensions between religious groups and LGBT+
residents has too often led to violence. Jerusalem Open House is a
pioneering advocacy, education and organizing hub and launched the city’s
first pride parade in 2002.

They also operate the city’s only LGBT+ health clinic and community
support center. “We believe that people shouldn’t have to choose between
their identities, you can be LGBT+ and a religious person at the same
time, there is no contradiction,” Executive Director Alon Shachar tells J
Street. [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>

Kav LaOved

[ [link removed] ]Workers sit in KavLaoved's waiting room

The Battle for Workers' Rights

Since 1991, Kav LaOved (‘Worker’s Hotline’) has fought with determination
to protect the rights of disadvantaged Israeli, Palestinian and migrant
workers. Their vision is an Israeli society in which workers — regardless
of nationality, gender, religion or legal status — are respected, valued
and have their rights protected. Every year, they help thousands of
workers seeking help, including Israelis, Palestinians and migrant workers
and refugees from as far afield as Thailand, India and Ukraine. Their
challenges range from sexual harassment to underpayment, unpaid
compensation to unsafe work environments.

“Victories are still possible in this political climate,” Executive
Director Adi Maoz tells J Street. “What drives me and a lot of us is the
fact that we believe in the place that we’re living in, and we have the
strength and the ability to change it.” [ [link removed] ]Read the full profile >>


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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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