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[2]Street Talk: J Street's Monthly Newsletter

Friend,

The past few weeks have been a busy time for our pro-Israel, pro-peace
movement.

With the intensive spending of right-wing pro-Israel groups like AIPAC
becoming a major factor in congressional primaries, J Street’s political
support for principled leaders has never been more important. And as the
Israeli right takes damaging new steps to demolish homes, expand
settlements and exacerbate conflict, we’re working with allies in Congress
and calling on the Biden administration to act decisively in defense of
Israel’s future and Palestinian rights.

You can read about that critical work -- and much more -- in our Street
Talk newsletter below.

Thank you,

Logan Bayroff
Vice President of Communications

AROUND J STREET

J Street-backed Congressional Letters Urge Biden Admin to Oppose Settlements and
Demolitions, Take Action for Peace

[1]J Street-backed Congressional letters urge Biden Admin to oppose
settlements and demolitions, take action for peace

After an Israeli court decision last month gave the Israeli government the
go-ahead for the displacement and demolition of several communities in the
West Bank area of Masafer Yatta, over 1,000 Palestinians are at risk of
being forced from their homes. The demolitions, which have already
started, threaten to become the largest act of mass displacement in
decades.

J Street and our congressional allies sprang into action. Supporters
across the country urged Members of Congress to sign on to a letter to the
Biden administration led by Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative
Melanie Stansbury. The letter urged the administration to take action: “As
supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, we believe such evictions
undermine our shared democratic values, imperil Israel's security, and
disregard Palestinian human and civil rights…We respectfully request that
you immediately engage with the Israeli government to prevent these
evictions and further military training exercises in the area.”

Ultimately, 20 Senators and 63 Representatives added their names to this
urgent message -- earning widespread notice in outlets like [ [link removed] ]Politico,
[ [link removed] ]Haaretz and [ [link removed] ]Times of Israel. At the same time, 80 Members of
Congress signed on to another important J Street-supported [ [link removed] ]letter led
by Reps. Price, Lee, Wexton and Castro. Ahead of President Biden’s planned
late-June visit to Israel and the West Bank, these leaders urged his
administration to show strong, principled leadership to support peace,
human rights and democratic freedoms for Israelis and Palestinians.

Fighting to Elect Candidates Who Share Our Values

[6]Fighting to Elect Candidates Who Share Our Values

While Israel and foreign policy are far from the top of most voters’
priority lists, right-wing pro-Israel groups like AIPAC have already spent
an unprecedented $12 million to defeat progressive candidates in
Democratic primaries -- with more to come. While AIPAC has endorsed the
vast majority of Trump-allied Republicans who voted to overturn our
election results on January 6, they’re simultaneously attempting to block
principled, J Street-aligned Democratic candidates from coming to
Congress. [ [link removed] ]Through the critical work of JStreetPAC and J Street Action
Fund, our movement has pushed back on these harmful attacks and helped win
key victories so far.

In PA-12 -- where J Street-supported progressive Summer Lee faced an
onslaught of over $3 million in misleading AIPAC-funded ads -- our vocal
public support for Lee and contribution to a broad coalition of allied
groups helped her win by just over 1,000 votes. In OR-6, our endorsee
Andrea Salinas triumphed despite facing over $10 million spent by crypto
billionaires and other outside groups.

Still, AIPAC and their allies have also succeeded in defeating some
pro-Israel, pro-peace candidates -- and we know they’ll keep trying to
attack candidates who support principled, even-handed, diplomacy-first US
leadership to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [ [link removed] ]As our
president Jeremy Ben-Ami told CNN, "This kind of overwhelming outside
spending -- driven by a hawkish, right-wing foreign policy agenda that is
completely out of touch with most Democratic voters -- deeply challenges
the underpinnings of America's political system.” With the future of
American democracy and the Democratic Party in the balance, our work is a
critical counterweight.

JStreetPAC Proudly Endorses Speaker Nancy Pelosi

[9]JStreetPAC Proudly Endorses Speaker Nancy Pelosi

This week, JStreetPAC proudly announced its endorsement of Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi -- affirming the strong relationship that our movement
has built with one of our nation’s most influential and distinguished
leaders.

[ [link removed] ]Haaretz reported that the endorsement “signals the shifting attitudes
on Israel inside the Democratic Party,” quoting the Speaker’s enthusiastic
welcome for J Street’s support. “I am so thankful for all of the great
work that J Street has done to help advance diplomacy and to safeguard
Israel’s future. J Street’s supporters across the country consistently
strive for peace, justice and equality -- for both Israelis and
Palestinians, and for all Americans too. I welcome their endorsement as we
continue to work together toward these shared goals at this critical
moment in our history.” Jeremy Ben-Ami noted, “As a true champion for
strong diplomacy, Speaker Pelosi played an invaluable, leading role in
shepherding the JCPOA through the House in 2015, ensuring the passage of
the landmark agreement that blocked all Iranian pathways to a nuclear
weapon.”

Co-sponsoring the Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice

[11]Co-Sponsoring the Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice

Last month, Jewish Americans across the country were shaken by a leaked
SCOTUS draft that indicated the court's readiness to overturn Roe v. Wade
and empower further attacks on reproductive rights.

At J Street, we know that reproductive freedom is a Jewish value. That’s
why J Street was proud to co-sponsor the Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice
in Washington, DC. Take a look at some of the photos of our supporters
proudly standing up and speaking out.

Our Israel: Meet the Israeli Organizations Working for Change

Incredible Israeli grassroots advocates and activists are fighting for a
more just, equal and peaceful future for their country and for both the
Israeli and Palestinian peoples. J Street is proud to highlight their
critical work through our Our Israel profile series.

‘This is not an Ulpan’ is an alternative language school, which works in
both Israel and the Palestinian territory. The school was founded in the
wake of the 2011 Israeli social justice protests which saw thousands
rallying against social and economic inequality. “Ulpans are one of the
most powerful tools in transmitting societal norms,” Devon Spitzer, who
serves as the Marketing Manager and International Outreach Coordinator at
This is not an Ulpan, tells J Street.

[ [link removed] ]Read all about ‘This is not an Ulpan’ and their unique class offerings
>>

The Palestinian Internship Program works to connect Palestinians in the
technology sector to companies in Israel and beyond seeking talent. “We’re
looking at how we can help young people reach their potential. And how can
we help young people make the most of the opportunities that are available
for them,” Executive Director Anna Gol tells J Street.

[ [link removed] ]Learn more about the work of the Palestinian Internship Program here
>>

Bokra is an Arabic news site that equips Arab citizens of Israel and
Palestinians in the Occupied Territory with the tools needed for
nonviolent resistance to injustice, violence and inequality. Founded in
2006 by Israeli-Arab journalist Ghada Zaobi, Bokra is more than just a
news service. "If you can influence the media, it's an easy way to achieve
your desired outcome, especially when talking about people who spend most
of their time online,” Zaobi explained to J Street.

[ [link removed] ]Read about how Bokra is using media to ignite change >>

Chag Shavuot Sameach

[15]Road to Recovery Volunteer.

This Shavuot, we are pleased to share with you J Street’s Shavuot
Supplement for 2022, which showcases some of the insights and wisdom of
our Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet. The supplement expands on our Two-Way
Street series with new sources, and poses difficult, but important,
questions about our engagement with advocacy and Jewish tradition. [ [link removed] ]You
can view the supplement here >>

Must Reads

* [ [link removed] ]The Israeli Government Must Cooperate With J Street, The Jerusalem
Post

* [ [link removed] ]Ahead of Biden Visit, Israel Launches Biggest Eviction of
Palestinians in Decades, The Washington Post

* [ [link removed] ]Jewish Progressives Sound the Alarm as Pro-Israel Groups Target
Marginalized Candidates, The Intercept

* [ [link removed] ]Modest Warming in U.S. Views on Israel and Palestinians, Pew Research
Center


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© 2022 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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