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

Friend,

As supporters of Israeli democracy and advocates of Israeli-Palestinian
peace, we see this as a time of crisis. With boiling resentment in the
occupied West Bank and Netanyahu’s far-right government intent on
inflaming things further, a dire situation has gotten even worse.

Violence has escalated: Last month saw one of the worst terror attacks in
decades, as seven Israelis were shot and killed outside an East Jerusalem
synagogue on Shabbat. For Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, January
was the deadliest month in seven years.

Democracy is in peril: Over 130,000 Israelis have taken to the streets to
protest the Netanyahu government’s radical plans to destroy the
independence of Israel’s Supreme Court and judicial system.

J Street is focused on sounding the alarm about these dangers -- and
pushing our own elected leaders here in the US to take action. Both the
Biden Administration and Congress need to publicly and strongly push back
against destructive policies that undercut our core interests and shared
values. They must champion an alternative path of diplomacy and peace.

At this time of crisis, “business as usual” simply won’t work. As the
political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans, we’re
proud to give voice to the large majority of our community who are deeply
worried about Israel’s future -- and aren’t afraid to stand up to the new
government’s extremism.

Read more about how our movement is working to meet this moment below.

Thank you,

Logan Bayroff
Vice President of Communications

AROUND J STREET

Responding to Violence and Terror, Pushing for US Action

In the wake of the horrific attack in Neve Yaakov, our thoughts are with
the families and loved ones of the victims, and every Israeli mourning the
loss and fearing greater escalation. Acts of terror and violence against
civilians are never acceptable and only lead to more pain, suffering and
loss. [ [link removed]- ]Read our full statement responding to the attack here.

Just prior to the attack, responding to the broader escalation of violence
ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the region, [ [link removed]- ]we
noted the critical importance of American leadership to help head off
disaster -- and break the cycle of endless conflict and deepening
occupation.

J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami wrote that “without intervention,
destructive impulses and ideologies focused on revenge and retaliation, on
punishment and control, will continue to make the lives of Israelis and
Palestinians worse, year after year.”

[ [link removed]- ]Read Jeremy’s full reflection on the escalation here >>

Take Action: Urge President Biden to Stand Up to The Far-Right’s Extreme
Agenda

From advancing a plan to undermine the Israeli Supreme Court's
independence to threatening to unlawfully evict over 1,000 Palestinians
from the West Bank communities of Masafer Yatta, Netanyahu and his
far-right ministers have moved quickly to circumvent Israel’s democratic
safeguards and supercharge demolitions and settlement growth in the West
Bank.

As Israel’s closest ally and a champion of democracy at home and abroad,
the US needs to respond. In a recent petition, we told President Biden:
“Your administration has rightly criticized some of these moves, but it’s
time to go beyond ‘business as usual.’ Netanyahu and his extremist
partners need to face clear red lines.”

[ [link removed]- ]Sign the petition here >>

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Hold Exclusive Discussion with
Jeremy Ben-Ami

J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami’s upcoming conversation with former
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday, February 8 couldn’t come
at a more timely moment.

The event is part of J Street’s new, exclusive Word on the Street
conversation series, available exclusively to top supporters and recurring
monthly donors. For your invitation to next week’s event, and access to
previous Word on the Street events on demand, simply set a monthly
recurring donation to J Street of $10 or more [ [link removed]- ]via ActBlue – or learn
more about joining our [ [link removed]- ]National Leadership Circle.

Important New Resources from the J Street Policy Center

With so much happening on the ground in Israel and the Palestinian
Territory, it can be hard to keep up. With timely new factsheets and
explainers, the J Street Policy Center is here to help. Over the past
month, the Policy Center has released:

* [ [link removed]- ]A regularly-updated dossier on the new Israeli government: Its
members, its policies, and its many vocal Israeli and American
critics. 

* [ [link removed]- ]An action memo on the right-wing plan to demolish and displace the
West Bank Palestinian communities of Masafer Yatta -- and how the US
can take action to prevent it. 

* A briefing from Policy Director Dr. Debra Shushan [ [link removed]- ]on the Netanyahu
government’s radical plan to overhaul the Israeli court system -- and
how a think tank funded by Republican billionaires helped draft the
plan. 

* [ [link removed]- ]A report from the Center’s first-ever symposium: On the
Israeli-Arab normalization process, and the ways in which it can and
should be used to also help promote Israeli-Palestinian peace. 

JStreetPAC Launches New and Improved Website

Since 2008, thousands of J Street supporters have used JStreetPAC to join
our collective mission to elect more pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
candidates -- pooling donations under the JStreetPAC banner to send a
message to Washington about our values and priorities.

Ahead of the 2024 cycle, we’re thrilled to unveil a powerful new platform
to grow our movement, bring new members into the fold, and transform our
politics for the better. With transaction fees 1-3% lower than ActBlue, a
faster checkout process, new direct debit, Apple Pay and Google Wallet
payment options, and a new monthly giving feature, we can’t wait for our
supporters to check it out.

[ [link removed]- ]Visit the new JStreetPAC website here >>

Our Israel: The Adam Institute

Throughout the worlds of civil society, business, science, culture and
beyond, many Israelis are achieving great things while also pursuing a
more just, peaceful and democratic future for their country. J Street is
proud to highlight their critical work through our Our Israel profile
series.

The Adam Institute is an educational organization that works to create a
culture of peace, mutual respect, tolerance and co-existence in Israel and
the region. “We’ve had to figure out creative ways we can fight without
losing ourselves and our values. Action will never take place without
awareness,” explains Executive Director Dr. Maroshek-Klarman. [ [link removed]- ]Read the
full profile here >>

Must Reads

* [ [link removed]- ]How the Biden Administration Should Approach the New Israeli
Government, Carnegie Endowment

* [ [link removed]- ]As the Most Senior Jewish Member of Congress, I Now Fear Deeply for
the U.S.-Israel Relationship, Haaretz

* [ [link removed]- ]Netanyahu’s Betrayal of Democracy Is a Betrayal of Israel, The
Atlantic


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© 2023 J Street | [ [link removed]- ]www.jstreet.org | [email protected]

J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy
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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