[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends --

Earlier this year, when former Prime Minister Netanyahu was finally ousted
by a new “change” coalition government, those of us fighting for peace,
justice and a better future for Israelis and Palestinians hoped for change
and progress -- a path out of the ongoing cycle of fear, injustice,
retaliation and violence.

While there has been real, welcome change on many issues within Israel --
the same cannot be said when it comes to injustice, inequality and
violence in the occupied Palestinian territory. Despite several coalition
partners in the current government sharing our vision for peace, under
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his allies, authorities are continuing
to carry out deeply unjust and damaging actions at a disturbing pace.

In just the past few weeks:

* Thousands of new Israeli settlement units in occupied territory have
been advanced or approved, sparking public criticism from the Biden
administration. Many of these units are in settlements designed to
encircle longstanding Palestinian communities with walls and
checkpoints.
* Without presenting public evidence or affording due process, the
government sparked a firestorm of condemnation by officially
designating six well-known Palestinian civil society and human rights
organizations as “terrorist organizations,” effectively criminalizing
them. This includes a women’s collective, legal aid groups and a
widely respected children’s rights organization.
* The government’s permissive approach to settler violence has enabled
an ongoing surge in attacks against Palestinian communities -- with
some soldiers either observing or actively supporting settlers as they
attack and harass Palestinian communities and Israeli anti-occupation
activists, and other soldiers themselves facing harassment from the
settlers.
* Israeli authorities have continued to push forward discriminatory
demolitions and eviction proceedings in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem -- destroying family homes, cutting water supplies and
leaving hundreds homeless so far this year.

As an Israeli-American and J Street’s former Israel Director, I’ve been
hearing all week from my Israeli and Palestinian friends -- veteran
activists, advocates and elected leaders -- who are outraged and deeply
worried about this worsening trend.

Friends -- Today I’m asking you to stand with our allies on the
ground and push back against Bennett’s policies of permanent occupation
and endless conflict:

[ [link removed] ]America Must Stand with Israelis and Palestinians Battling Injustice
and Working for Peace
[ [link removed] ]Add Your Name if You Agree ✍️

As an Israeli-American, I’m a big fan of speaking clearly and directly --
so let’s be honest:

Prime Minister Bennett’s openly stated vision for the future is one of
permanent control over the West Bank and all those who live there. It’s a
vision that tramples the rights and freedoms of Palestinian people, just
as it tramples the principles of democracy, justice and equality enshrined
in Israel’s founding documents. It’s a vision that imperils Israel’s
security and future.

Some have suggested that the Israeli government should try the approach of
“shrinking the conflict” with small measures designed to ratchet down
tensions or improve economic conditions for Palestinians.

Let’s be real: Building thousands of settlement units, pushing forward
with evictions in East Jerusalem and failing to stop a surge in settler
violence is not “shrinking the conflict” -- it’s deepening the occupation.

This week, the Biden administration for the first time issued a clear,
direct rebuke of the Israeli government’s settlement expansion plans.
While the administration has found some positive common ground with the
new government, it’s clear that its patience with unilateral, harmful
actions toward the Palestinians is wearing thin.

We’re glad that the White House has begun to speak out -- and we at J
Street will urge them to go further. To make clear that the Israeli
right’s efforts to entrench permanent control of the West Bank undermines
our democratic values, endangers Israel’s future and tramples on the
Palestinian people’s right to freedom and self-determination.

To truly help our friends on the ground yearning for change, we need
strong US leadership. We can’t just sit back and hope for progress while
the situation gets worse.

Now is the time to speak out.

Now is the time to stand with our allies in the struggle for peace.

Now is the time to stand up for the values of justice, democracy and
equality that should underpin the US-Israel relationship.

[ [link removed] ]America Must Stand with Israelis and Palestinians Battling Injustice
and Working for Peace
[ [link removed] ]Add Your Name if You Agree ✍️

Thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support.

Yours,

Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff, 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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