[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends,

A few weeks ago I traveled to Israel and Palestine with several Members of
Congress and members of the J Street board -- my first trip since the
pandemic began.

The headline from the trip for me was the striking parallels between the
political battles we face both here and in Israel.

In both countries, broad coalitions are fighting to hold onto a just, free
and democratic future. Fighting for a society in which all children grow
up with equal rights and opportunity, and which lives up to our founding
values of justice, equality and peace.

This Giving Tuesday, I want to outline why I’m hopeful you’ll consider
making a contribution to that fight -- especially since one of our
generous leaders, Arnie Richman, has pledged to double every donation made
before midnight tonight.



[ [link removed] ]Donate
$18
(which becomes
$36)
>>

[ [link removed] ]Donate
$36
(which becomes
$72)
>>

[ [link removed] ]Donate
$54
(which becomes
$108)
>>

[ [link removed] ]Donate another amount >>



Friends, when we were in Israel, every conversation about the
new Bennett-Lapid government began with a sigh of relief that the
Netanyahu era is over (Following the Trump presidency, I think we in the
US can relate).

Yet we also saw, over and over, that members of the new government are
constrained by the makeup of their coalition from taking the bold actions
we might most like to see them take -- another all too familiar dynamic.

And we saw firsthand that despite the new government, the core threats to
Israel’s democratic future and to the fundamental rights of Palestinians
remain: The Bennett government is continuing to demolish Palestinian
homes, evict Palestinian residents and build new settlements at a
significant pace. The military occupation itself is deepening, not
shrinking. The cycle of injustice, retaliation and violence continues to
harm both peoples.

Perhaps even more concerningly for those of us in the United States, we’re
still not seeing the Biden administration push back against these
destructive steps to the extent necessary to deter them.

In the year ahead, our movement will be focused on making clear to the
Biden administration and Congress that they have both an urgent moral
imperative to take stronger action, and a significant degree of political
space and support to do so.

[ [link removed] ]Your
contribution of any amount this Giving Tuesday will fuel that work >>

Trump and Netanyahu may be out of office, but the threats posed to
democracy, equality and freedom in the countries we love are as urgent as
ever.

Settlements, demolitions and deepening injustice continue to limit
Palestinian freedoms and erode Israel’s democratic future. Just as in the
US, the leaders of the radical, illiberal, anti-democratic right still
lurk in the shadows, just a short distance from power.

We cannot be complacent. We can’t go ‘all in’ for a few months around an
election campaign and then go home after election night assuming all will
be well. We know that won’t work.

No, we need to stand up with pride and determination and fight strongly
and strategically for the values at the core of our identity:

* A commitment to social justice and equal rights for all;
* A belief in the importance of democratic norms and institutions;
* Determined opposition to the oppression and abuse of vulnerable
minorities -- and an understanding that true democracy does not allow
one privileged group to dominate all others;
* Confidence in the power of diplomacy to resolve complex conflicts that
will never be brought to an end by brute military force.

A decade ago, J Street was a feisty start up with a dozen staff and a very
small budget. Today we’re an established player on the American Jewish and
political landscape -- and the only player capable of fighting back
against the influence of AIPAC and other right-wing groups seeking to
speak for our community on Capitol Hill.

While some institutions and leaders in our community have hesitated to
confront anti-democratic forces or oppose endless occupation, we’ve given
voice to the views of the majority in our community. We haven’t hesitated
to champion what we know to be right.

We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go to win the
debate in our community over what it truly means to be pro-Israel and
pro-peace; to ensure that American leaders act boldly and responsibly to
promote peace; to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and end
the occupation; to ensure the long-term health of liberal democracy in
Israel and here at home.

To win these battles, we have to get bigger and we have to get stronger.
That means rallying more people to our side. Mobilizing our community to
take action. Fighting against apathy and complacency.

It means being organized and present in more communities, synagogues, and
campuses, with more chapters, more staff and more activists. And it means
building a bigger, stronger advocacy network capable of reaching
decision-makers in Congress and the White House, and electing and
reelecting champions for change next November and beyond.

[ [link removed] ]Please take a
moment to join that fight this Giving Tuesday with a matched contribution
of any amount today >>



[ [link removed] ]Donate
$18
(which becomes
$36)
>>

[ [link removed] ]Donate
$36
(which becomes
$72)
>>

[ [link removed] ]Donate
$54
(which becomes
$108)
>>



When we rally together, I have no doubt that we have what it takes to win.

Happy Hanukkah, and happy holidays to you and yours,

Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street

 

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© 2021 J Street | [ [link removed] ]www.jstreet.org | [email protected]

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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