[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends --

Later today, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will join President
Biden for their first ever official meeting.

It’s a significant and very welcome moment: In both Israel and the United
States, new governments are challenging old orthodoxies, navigating new
progressive alliances, and addressing long-running issues, problems and
threats with fresh eyes.

It will also be the first time in over a decade that Benjamin Netanyahu
hasn't been seated in the Israeli Prime Minister’s chair for one of these
meetings. Already, we’ve seen that despite some obvious areas of
disagreement, this new government is more interested in cooperation than
open antagonism. And instead of being dominated solely by right-wing
parties (like Bennett’s), it represents a much wider range of the Israeli
political spectrum.

If there were ever a time to rebalance the US-Israel relationship, the
moment is now.

In our communities and in Congress, we continue to witness a growing
groundswell for change. For a new, sustainable relationship which puts our
shared values of democracy and equality front and center. For a
partnership which is strong enough to meaningfully confront the injustice
of the occupation and help end the deadly cycle of ongoing violence.

At the same time, we know that there are still many obstacles to progress.

In an interview in yesterday’s New York Times, Prime Minister Bennett made
clear that he has no intention to allow serious changes to the
Israeli-Palestinian status quo. While he promised (unlike Netanyahu) not
to pursue de jure annexation of the West Bank, he also made clear that he
will not accept the creation of a Palestinian state.

If the “status quo” continues, it means more settlement construction and
home demolitions in occupied Palestinian territory. It means punishing
restrictions on medicine, food and goods to families in Gaza will
continue. It means that even President Biden’s plan to reopen the US
Consulate for Palestinians in East Jerusalem -- shuttered by the Trump
administration -- could be regarded by the Israeli government as a step
too far.

Friends -- In this moment, it’s vital that our leaders be both
friendly and firm. While the US builds common ground with the new Israeli
government in a number of areas, we also must make clear that the “status
quo” is too dangerous to accept.

That’s why J Street is urging President Biden to make clear in today’s
meeting that a strong, enduring, bipartisan US-Israel relationship demands
fidelity to our shared values of democracy, peace and respect for human
rights.

That means pushing for an end to harmful settlement expansion. An end to
discriminatory evictions in East Jerusalem and demolitions in the West
Bank. An end to the policy of perpetual occupation. An end to the twin
erosion of Israeli democracy and Palestinian hopes for self-determination.

It means making clear to the prime minister that while Israel should and
will continue to receive the full amount of robust US security assistance,
it must be used only for Israel’s very real security needs -- and cannot
be used to fund actions that entrench occupation and undermine the
prospects for a lasting peace.

In standing firm behind this message, President Biden will be speaking for
the majority of Americans -- including the vast majority of American Jews
and Democratic voters.

He will be speaking for all of us who want to see a bold, principled and
persistent effort to resolve the cycle of injustice and violence that
continues to destroy lives, fracture support for Israel, and threaten
Israel’s future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people.

President Biden must also make clear that the United States remains
absolutely dedicated to tough diplomacy to ensure Iran can never develop a
nuclear weapon. As recent events have shown all too clearly, an
abandonment of diplomacy and escalation to all out conflict would be
catastrophic for the security and stability of Israel, the region, and the
United States itself. The last thing anyone needs is another devastating
and preventable war in the Middle East.

The consequences of failing to place the US-Israel relationship on a more
sustainable footing, and failing to address the 54-year occupation (the
elephant in the room) would be significant.

If we don’t push for real changes, support for Israel within the American
Jewish community and the country as a whole will continue to fracture. The
partisan politicization over Israel/Palestine will only get worse. Our
shared vision for Israel as a just, democratic and secure homeland for the
Jewish people will slip further and further from reach. Palestinians will
continue to suffer unacceptably -- and more and more will lose any hope of
peace.

By making these dangers clear to both the Biden administration and the
Israeli government, J Street is showing that true pro-Israel leadership
means acknowledging the challenges of the current reality -- and putting
forward strategies to help change it.

We’re showing that so many of us who love and support the state of Israel
and its people also care for the rights and future of Palestinians, and
recognize that the well-being of both peoples is firmly intertwined.

We’re insisting that real progress and a different and more effective
approach from American leaders is desperately needed -- before the next
round of violence and destruction is allowed to begin.

Thank you, sincerely, for supporting our shared movement.

Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street

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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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