[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends --

It’s been a truly horrific and frightening few weeks in Israel.

Since March 22, Israelis have endured the deadliest wave of terror attacks
in many years. From Tel Aviv to Be'er Sheva to Hadera, four attacks
including shootings, stabbings and car-rammings have killed 14 Israelis
and injured dozens more.

Shopping centers, apartment buildings, bars and bus stops were transformed
into scenes of chaos, panic, shattered glass and devastation. The victims
included rabbis and police officers; Jews, Muslims and Christians.

There’s something especially terrifying about scenes of violence erupting
in everyday life. It recalls for me the fear, dread and insecurity that
permeated life through the second intifada.

Now, as we approach the convergence of Easter, Ramadan and Passover -- a
traditionally turbulent time for the region -- I hope dearly that there is
no more pain and loss to come.

In the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian families are bracing for further
potential reprisals, clampdowns and escalation.

This time last year, a spiral of violence emanating from discriminatory
evictions and excessive use of force in Jerusalem escalated into a broader
Israeli-Palestinian conflagration, with Hamas rockets fired at Israeli
cities and Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. That terrible escalation killed
over a dozen Israelis and more than 200 Palestinians, including more than
60 children.

Much still remains unclear about this latest wave of horrific attacks and
just how connected they are. Two West Bank attackers appear to have been
motivated by violent resistance to the occupation, while three Palestinian
citizens of Israel who carried out attacks appear to have had some
connection to ISIS.

This latest wave of tragedies serves as a stark reminder that this
conflict cannot simply be “managed” or “shaped.” That we must be
clear-eyed and committed in our resolve to end it. Tolerating the
deteriorating, dangerous and unjust status quo means only more suffering,
grief and pain for innocent families on all sides.

We cannot accept a future in which generation after generation of Israeli
children must be drilled to rush to bomb shelters when rocket sirens
pierce the air, or scan for exits whenever they’re out in public. In which
generation after generation of Israeli youth are sent to guard wrecking
crews, eviction teams and illegal settlements.

We cannot accept a future in which generation after generation of
Palestinians grow up under military occupation, passing through
checkpoints at gunpoint, deprived of civil and political rights and
freedoms.

We cannot accept a future of endless conflict in which the Jewish people’s
liberation, freedom and self-determination come at the expense of those
same rights for Palestinians. A future in which Israel exists in a
constant state of insecurity, and slips further and further from its
founders’ vision of a truly just, democratic homeland for the Jewish
people.

We must empower the advocates of peace and justice on both sides, and
confront those who are driven by extremist ideology to thwart a shared,
peaceful future.

As Americans, our role is to demand that the US, as both a global
superpower and Israel’s closest friend, demonstrates strong leadership to
end the deteriorating status quo, break the cycle of violence, and uphold
the right to freedom, safety and self-determination for both peoples.

Today and every day, we at J Street are committed to this critical work.
Thank you, sincerely, for standing with us, and for your continued support
of our mission and our efforts.

May you and your family, and all families in Israel and Palestine, have
safe and peaceful holidays, whether it be Passover, Ramadan, Easter or
none of the above.

Thank you,

Adina Vogel-Ayalon
Chief of Staff, J Street

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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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