Dear A.,

This morning, we saw the stark contrast between Israel and the threats it’s forced to confront.

In Jerusalem, a six-year-old boy and a 20-year-old newlywed were killed, and at least five others wounded, when a Palestinian terrorist intentionally rammed his car into a crowded bus stop.

This is the third major Palestinian terror attack in two weeks, following a shooting at a Jerusalem synagogue that killed seven Israelis.

In Türkiye, meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy was rescued by Israeli military search and rescue experts, after being trapped for 100 hours following the devastating earthquake.

This is the 18th survivor rescued by the 450-person Israeli humanitarian delegation this week.

“For the IDF, there’s no greater mission than saving a life.” But as we join Israelis in grieving after another despicable terror attack, Palestinians have already taken to the street to celebrate the attack.

Together, these moments serve as a critical reminder of the importance of our work to keep Israel safe and strong.

See below for more stories we are following from this week as well as pictures and videos of Israel’s delegation in Türkiye.

An op-ed by national security experts Chuck Freilich and Danny Ayalon makes the case: "In Israel's Current Crisis, AIPAC Is Vital and J Street Is Dangerous."

Weakening Israel: The two authors, one center-left and the other center-right, plainly state how J Street's work harms the Jewish state and weakens the U.S.-Israel relationship. 

• "AIPAC devotes enormous efforts to building the U.S.-Israel relationship…J Street, meanwhile, spends much of its time calling that relationship into question."
   
• "[J Street] claims to support [U.S. aid to Israel], but shamefully commends members of Congress who oppose it. In last year’s U.S. elections, J Street endorsed four of the eight Democratic members of Congress who went as far as to oppose funding for Israel's Iron Dome." 

Undermining bipartisan support: 

• "J Street attacks AIPAC’s legitimacy by claiming that it is a right-wing organization. But AIPAC seeks to be a home for the entire pro-Israel community, from the left to the right, and promotes U.S.-Israel ties regardless of whom is in office in either capital."
   
• "AIPAC goes to great lengths to reach out to all parts of American society and has consistently demonstrated the ability to work both with Democrats and Republicans. In contrast, J Street only endorses Democrats and can hardly work with Republicans."

Misleading the public: While masquerading as a pro-Israel organization, J Street pressures Congress to enact policies that would undermine Israel's security.

• "It is questionable whether J Street can truly be considered a pro-Israel organization."
   
• "Rather than being a pro-Israel lobby, however, [J Street] has morphed into something else entirely."

The bottom line: "Friendships and ties between brethren are tested in their hours of distress. AIPAC will help smooth the way. J Street will make matters even worse."

J Street is many things, but it's not pro-Israel.

In recent months, Russia has used hundreds of Iranian suicide drones to bomb Ukrainian population centers and kill Ukrainian civilians.

The latest: Iran is planning to build a drone factory in Russia, capable of producing thousands of advanced military drones in the coming years. 

• Meanwhile: Iran and Russia have recently taken steps to circumvent Western sanctions, including linking their banking systems and helping each other illegally transport oil.

In Congress: A bipartisan group of over 60 lawmakers urged the Biden administration to crack down on Iranian weapons supply chains.

• The letter was led by Reps. Henry Cuellar, August Pfluger, Brad Schneider and Don Bacon.

Palestinian schools, run and funded by the Palestinian Authority (PA), continue to radicalize young Palestinians by teaching students to glorify violence and to hate Israelis and Jews.

In late January, a 13-year-old Palestinian shot and seriously wounded two Israelis in the Old City of Jerusalem. 

• Before leaving home to carry out the attack, he left a note expressing his desire to die in an attack against Jews.
   
• Just a day earlier, a 20-year-old Palestinian terrorist shot and killed seven Israelis and wounded several more outside a synagogue in Jerusalem. 

Go deeper: According to a peace education nonprofit, the textbooks in Palestinian schools “incite violence, promote the killing of Jewish Israelis, spread overt antisemitic tropes, and glorify jihad and martyrdom."

• A story intended to teach reading comprehension promotes suicide bombings and attacks where Palestinians “cut the necks of enemy soldiers” and wear "explosive belts.”
   
• A 7th grade Palestinian teacher guide shows Jews crushing children’s heads, setting them on fire and throwing them into wells.