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:
America Must Stand with Israelis and Palestinians Battling Injustice and Working for Peace
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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.
America Must Stand with Israelis and Palestinians Battling Injustice and Working for Peace
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Thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support.
Yours,
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Chief of Staff, J Street
