[ ]J Street [ ]
Friend --

I’m writing to explain why our December fundraising goal is so
significant, and to address *those comments* by former President Trump
that made headlines over the weekend.

This December, we’re aiming to raise $280,000 for the fight for democracy,
equality and a more principled vision of American leadership in the year
ahead.

Yes, It’s a big goal, but it matches the magnitude of the challenge. In
2022, the battle for rights, freedom and democracy will take place here at
home as well as abroad.

As we race toward the midterms, we continue to battle an increasingly
radicalized pro-Trump movement intent on sabotaging our democracy to
regain power, perhaps indefinitely. Pro-Trump officials are openly laying
plans to undercut our democratic process, and we know they won’t hesitate
to use white nationalism, antisemitic conspiracy theories and racial
grievance to do so.

At J Street, we’re committed to standing at the forefront of this fight.
Proud to be one of the few pro-Israel organizations focused on protecting
the democratic rights and freedoms of all people in the US, Israel and the
Palestinian Territory.

And yes, that means we must continue to press our leaders in Washington to
support Israeli democracy and security without further enabling the
Israeli far-right or trampling Palestinian rights and freedoms. It means
continuing to push for stronger action to stop settler violence, to halt
settlement growth, and to end demolitions and evictions that violate our
values and international law.

It’s a lot of work. [ [link removed] ]So if you feel able, please consider an end-of-year
contribution of
$22
or
$54
-- or any other amount -- to help prepare our movement for the year ahead
>>

Now -- to talk about *those comments* by President Trump.

In case you missed it, when Trump was asked by Axios reporter Barak Ravid
what he thought of Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year, he summed it up
in two words: “F**k him.” Outraged that Prime Minister Netanyahu
recognized President Biden’s election victory in a congratulatory video,
Trump said “I haven’t spoken to him since.”

He followed up with a series of candid revelations:

* “I don't think Bibi ever wanted to make peace.”
* “I did more for [Netanyahu] than any other person I dealt with.”
* “He would have lost the election if it wasn't for me."

Two things stand out for me here, both highly relevant to our mission.

The first point relates to Israelis, Palestinians and American leadership.

While it’s perhaps surprising to see Trump slam his former political ally
so sharply, he is joining a long list of former American presidents and
senior officials who -- once released from the political constraints of
office -- are far more candid and scathing in their assessment of the role
played by Netanyahu and the Israeli right in deepening the occupation,
expanding settlements, and demolishing and spurning opportunities for
peace.

It seems to almost be a rite of passage for former presidents and senior
officials to lament the Israeli right’s efforts to build and bulldoze
their way to permanent, undemocratic control of the West Bank -- and to
note the political constraints they felt stopped them from pushing back.

This highlights the importance of our work to change these political
incentives and challenge the establishment groupthink in Washington. To
fight back against groups like AIPAC who run interference for the
occupation and the settlement movement. And to shift the perception that
any action to push back against the Israeli right would be somehow toxic
to American supporters of Israeli security and self-determination.

Together, we must show loud, vocal support for those willing to take a
firm stand for justice, equality and a democratic future for Israelis and
Palestinians. And we must push our current leaders to take a stronger
stand.

[ [link removed] ]To support that work, please consider a donation of
$22
or
$54
to meet our December fundraising goal today >>

The second point reinforces the ongoing threats to democracy here at home.

It wasn’t Netanyahu’s corruption or extremism that ultimately earned him
Trump’s public scorn -- it was his mere acknowledgment that
President-elect Biden won the November 2020 election.

Taken with the work that right-wing groups are doing to install pro-Trump
officials at the state level across the country, and the ongoing
revelations coming out of the January 6 investigations, it is yet another
reminder that we cannot ignore the single-minded effort underway to
discredit the democratic process and entrench minority rule.

As Jews, we know all too well where that brand of antidemocratic,
ethno-nationalist politics can lead -- and we cannot allow it to succeed
here.

Our leaders and institutions cannot excuse this because Trump or other
anti-democratic leaders are “good for Israel” or “a friend of the Jews”.
We must recognize this as the threat that it is, and mobilize accordingly.

As we brace for the midterm elections, we must make the stakes of this
election clear to voters, we must delegitimize and defeat right-wing
candidates, and we must prevent pro-Trump forces from laying the
groundwork for catastrophe in 2024.

At J Street, we’re proud to lead this work. Proud to be standing firm for
our values, mobilizing our movement, and working strategically to defend
our democracy and defeat the significant threats we face.

Friends, I’m so thankful to have you by our side in this work.

[ [link removed] ]If you could, please consider helping us meet our final fundraising
deadline with a contribution of
$22
or
$54
or any other amount today >>

Thank you, sincerely, for your continued support.

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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