[ ]J Street [ ]
Friends,

The past few weeks here in Israel have brought a series of frightening
announcements as Benjamin Netanyahu assembles the most extreme, right-wing
government in our history.

* Itamar Ben Gvir -- who has encouraged violence against Palestinians
and Arab Israelis and was once described as the “go-to” defense lawyer
for violent settlers -- is in line to be Israel’s Minister for
National Security, with authority over the police.
* Bezalel Smotrich -- a settler activist who has called for full
annexation of the West Bank and has supported Arab-Jewish segregation
within Israel -- looks set to be in charge of the settlements and the
Occupied Territory.
* Avi Maoz -- who has mocked trans colleagues, opposed gender equality
laws and wants to cancel the Jerusalem Pride parade -- will likely
play a significant role in the education ministry.

This new government could do terrible damage to democratic rights and
freedoms within Israel, not to mention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.

While the final government is still a few days from taking office, we
already know we’re going to need a strong, effective response from the
Biden Administration.

Together, we must show the Biden Administration that pro-Israel Americans
are deeply worried about Israeli democracy -- and want our leaders to
stand up to Netanyahu’s band of extremists.

We’re counting on grassroots supporters like you to help fund our
advocacy. [ [link removed] ]Please consider an end-of-year contribution today >>

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It’s not just human rights advocates and progressives sounding the alarm.

The former deputy of the Shin Bet security agency, Roni Alsheikh, has said
Ben Gvir’s pending appointment makes him “anxious for the fate of the
State of Israel.”

Amos Gilad, a former chief of Israeli military intelligence, has said that
Smotrich would be “a major disaster” if he pursued his hardline proposals
within the Ministry of Defense.

The Jerusalem Post Editorial Board said that Avi Maoz’s “blatant
homophobia” and hostility to women and progressive Jews make him “unfit to
have authority on Israel's education system.”

If leading, mainstream Israelis are comfortable pushing back against
Netanyahu’s extremist allies, then we should expect similar leadership
from a White House that has committed itself to equal measures of freedom,
security and dignity for all Israelis and Palestinians.

Friends -- Please consider an end-of-year contribution to J
Street to help push the Biden Administration to stand up for what’s right.
[ [link removed] ]Every donation strengthens our movement >>

True leadership from the US means standing up for the shared values at the
heart of the US-Israel relationship, including equal rights and democratic
freedoms. It means a clear red line against home demolitions, settlement
expansion and annexation -- steps that lead to endless conflict and
injustice.

Thank you, sincerely, for your support.

Nadav Tamir
Executive Director, J Street Israel


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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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