Friends,
J Street was proud this year to stand up for Ben & Jerry’s right not to sell its products within Israeli settlements -- because whether you’re an American, Israeli, Palestinian or an ice cream maker, you have the right to protest injustice without vilification and penalization.
It should be no big deal to say you have a problem with the Israeli right endlessly denying Palestinians equality and self-determination in occupied territory, while simultaneously demolishing their homes and moving Israeli citizens onto their land. It should be straightforward to say this is both deeply unjust to Palestinian families, and deeply harmful to Israel’s democratic future.
But the Israeli settlement movement (and those who cover for them) don’t want us talking about any of this. So they distract with disinformation, smears and absurd claims of antisemitism -- tactics which not only deter honest folks from speaking out, but weaken our collective fight against the very real threat of actual antisemitism in the US and around the world.
J Street’s mission is to press our elected officials to pursue principled, values-driven leadership on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- and that means injecting nuance, empathy and honesty into a debate too often marked by extremism, ideology and disinformation.
Friends -- If you value J Street’s work to give voice to your values, I hope you’ll help us close our fundraising shortfall and fuel our work into 2022.
Every donation helps close the gap. Donations processed immediately for Express Lane users.
As Ben & Jerry’s continues to face sustained assault for taking a principled position against settlements, it’s becoming clearer than ever that this is about more than just “speech and counter-speech.”
Across the country, some ostensibly pro-Israel groups have been pushing -- with the Israeli government’s support -- to establish and activate “anti-boycott” laws at both federal and state level. Laws which push for the dismissal of workers and the cancellation of contracts if individuals, organizations or companies like Ben & Jerry’s take meaningful action to oppose settlements and occupation.
Alongside the ACLU and fellow progressive Jewish organizations, J Street continues to firmly oppose such laws. Not only do they violate the First Amendment, but they are designed as a distraction from the true problems, challenges and injustices that lie at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We don’t know what will trigger the next round of meltdowns, misinformation or attacks in the year ahead, but we do know we do know J Street must be ready to help push back and stand up for what’s right.
Friends -- Please support our work to protect the political space for dissent and debate with an end-of-year contribution. Your donation will get us closer to our goal.
All grassroots donations matched. Donations processed immediately for Express Lane users.
Thank you, sincerely, for your ongoing support.
Logan Bayroff
VP of Communications, J Street
