Friends,
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has felt the heat of America's broken Israel politics more than most.
In 2003, as then frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Dean endured a firestorm of controversy for saying the US should be "even-handed" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, noting that many settlements would have to be abandoned, and calling for urgent US diplomatic engagement toward peace.
For those straightforward positions, he was slammed as "anti-Israel" and suffered weeks of criticism.
The experience is one of the reasons Dean's then National Policy Director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, went on to create J Street 15 years ago -- and it's an instructive moment in understanding how we got to the extremism of the Netanyahu government today.
Tomorrow, Governor Dean will join Jeremy for the first of our new 'Word on the Street' conversation series, exclusively available to top supporters and monthly donors.
They'll look back at the political transformation that's happened since Governor Dean’s campaign, the distance we still have to go, and what can be done to respond to the extremism of the new Netanyahu-led government.
The conversation will subsequently be available for on-demand viewing for top supporters and monthly donors.
Set a recurring donation of $10 or more today for your invitation >>
Supporters who sign up for monthly donations provide the secure, dependable foundations we need in our ongoing fight for justice, peace and democracy -- we're deeply appreciative to each and every one of them.
Best,
Ben Winsor
Digital Director, J Street
