Friend --
Earlier this week, the European Union’s top court ruled that products made in West Bank settlements cannot be labeled “Made in Israel.”
Reactions to the decision were immediate and predictable. The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations called the decision “deeply repugnant,” claiming -- puzzlingly -- that it somehow harmed prospects for peace. AIPAC called it “outrageous.” The Trump administration panned the legal ruling as “deeply concerning.”
What we find “deeply concerning” is that our government -- and organizations that claim to speak for pro-Israel Americans -- would condemn the EU’s simple acknowledgement that there is a meaningful distinction between the State of Israel and the occupied territory. It’s especially infuriating to see these objections wrapped in the language of peace and even support for two states, when obscuring the distinction between Israel and the settlements clearly benefits the settler movement and makes peace harder to achieve.
Erasing the distinction between Israel and its settlements and outposts is the goal of the annexationists. It is the mission of Ambassador David Friedman and all those determined to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state and eliminate prospects for a two-state solution -- the only solution that secures Israel’s future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people.
Fortunately, we know these organizations and individuals do not speak for the majority of Jewish Americans or pro-Israel Americans.
We know that for more and more American Jews, supporting Israel and opposing settlement expansion go hand in hand.
As we’ve done for ten years, J Street made sure that the voice of pro-Israel, anti-occupation Americans was heard.
We welcomed the EU ruling and created resources to explain to American policymakers why -- contrary to AIPAC and Trump administration talking points -- differentiation between Israel and the territories it controls is a pro-Israel and pro-peace position. In fact, under Israel’s own law, there is a vital difference between Israel inside the Green Line and the territory it occupies over it.
Over the next year, we’ll be fighting to make sure that pro-Israel, anti-occupation views aren’t merely heard, but are reflected in the Democratic platform, on the debate stage and in the policies of the next president of the United States.
To make the impact we’re capable of -- to make sure the voices of the majority rise over those who deny the occupation, enable the settlement movement and defend the status quo -- we need your help.
Please chip in whatever you can to keep J Street funded so we can continue to grow this movement, amplify your voice and fight for a better future for Israel and the Palestinians.
Thanks so much for all you do,
Jess Smith
Chief Operating Officer, J Street
