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

Friend,

For those who care deeply about Israel and its future as a democratic
homeland for the Jewish people, these are unprecedented times.

With the far-right Netanyahu government grinding forward with its plans to
undermine rule of law and the independence of Israel's judiciary, an
incredible pro-democracy protest movement is reaching a crescendo. And as
the government carries out incendiary new acts of creeping annexation,
we're seeing signs of growing concern and frustration from the Biden
Administration and Congress.

For the pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy movement here in the US, this
is our moment.

Together, we're standing with Israelis defending their future in the
streets. We're pressing our own leaders in the US to push back firmly
against the far-right’s extreme agenda, and to stand up for the shared,
democratic values at the heart of the US-Israel relationship. We're making
clear that the cycle of deepening occupation and endless conflict is
destructive for both Israelis and Palestinians.

In this period of great anxiety and concern, we’re proud of how our
community is taking action and speaking out. To help fuel that work in the
weeks and months ahead, [ [link removed] ]please consider renewing your support with a
contribution of any amount to sustain our work >>

Below, read more about our work over recent weeks. Thank you,

Logan Bayroff
Vice President of Communications

AROUND J STREET

Congress Speaks Out - With Support from J Street

In a J Street-backed letter to President Biden this month, [ [link removed] ]92
Democratic Members of Congress spoke out strongly about the interconnected
crises unfolding in Israel and the West Bank -- including escalating
violence, acts of annexation, and the ongoing assault on key pillars of
Israeli democracy.

Led by Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Jim McGovern, and Jan Schakowsky, the
letter shares “deep concern regarding the planned changes to the structure
of the Israeli judiciary, the fragile security situation in the West Bank,
and the threat of partial or full annexation of areas that would most
certainly be part of a future Palestinian state.”

It urged President Biden to “use all diplomatic tools available to prevent
Israel’s government from further damaging the nation’s democratic
institutions and undermining the potential for two states for two
peoples.”

J Street proudly mobilized our movement to support this congressional
initiative, contacting Members of Congress across the country urging them
to support the letter -- and showing them just how concerned we are about
the current threats to the future of both the Israeli and Palestinian
peoples. The message from Congress is being heard in the White House and
beyond, receiving widespread media attention with mentions in [ [link removed] ]The New
York Times, [ [link removed] ]JTA, [ [link removed] ]Haaretz and more.

Your support funds our advocacy efforts in Washington and across the
country. [ [link removed] ]Please consider a contribution of any amount to fuel this work
>>

Our Largest Ever Congressional Delegation to Israel and the West Bank

Our work in the halls of Congress is greatly helped by the J Street
Education Fund’s Len Hill Education Program, which routinely brings
Members of Congress to the region to help develop a better firsthand
understanding of the complex realities on the ground for both Israelis and
Palestinians. In late February, 15 Members of Congress joined a trip to
the region led by Representative Jim McGovern -- our largest ever
delegation.

On the trip, Members of Congress and J Street leaders met with Israeli and
Palestinian politicians and peace activists, heard first-hand accounts of
settler violence and home demolitions, and visited Israeli border
communities to witness the impacts of rocket attacks, amid many other
stops on an extensive itinerary. They saw the passion that the Israeli
protest movement is bringing to the battle over the country’s future.

Our Congressional delegations help spark important discussions about the
role of American leadership in stopping the already precarious situation
from deteriorating further. “Ensuring that the US-Israel relationship
remains rooted in the values we share means standing with Israelis
fighting for the future and the soul of their country,” wrote J Street’s
President Jeremy Ben-Ami. [ [link removed] ]Read Jeremy’s full reflections on the trip
here >>

Following the trip, Jeremy also held a special public briefing to discuss
what the group saw and the lessons they took away during this extremely
fraught time in the region. [ [link removed] ]Watch the full briefing here >>

Responding to Escalating Violence, Terror Attacks and the Deteriorating
Security Situation

The entire J Street community has been horrified by the recent surge in
violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territory, as this year has already
seen some of the deadliest terror attacks on Israelis in many years, and
some of the highest monthly death tolls for Palestinians in over a decade.

We remain extremely concerned as the situation has only continued to
escalate in recent weeks. We’ve seen appalling incidents including a
[ [link removed] ]Palestinian gunman’s killing of Israeli brothers Yigal and Hillel Yaniv
in the West Bank and a settler pogrom against the Palestinian community of
Huwara; [ [link removed] ]the killing of Elan Ganeles, a dual citizen of the United
States and Israel, in a terrorist attack; [ [link removed] ]a terror attack on a
Dizengoff Street cafe in the heart of Tel Aviv which ultimately killed one
Israeli and left two others wounded; the [ [link removed] ]recent wounding of
Israeli-American David Stern in another West Bank terror attack; and many
others.

While encouraging authorities to do what’s necessary to prevent further
attacks and keep civilians safe, J Street and our allies are calling for
urgent steps to be taken to reduce tensions, stop the deteriorating cycle
of violence, and prevent further suffering. As the 92 Members of Congress
noted in their letter, “consistent and sustained U.S. diplomatic
leadership is critical to preempt counterproductive unilateral actions and
prevent violent escalations.”

Taking to the Streets in the US to Oppose Extremism, Support Democracy

It’s increasingly clear that some of the most extreme, dangerous figures
in Israeli political life are driving the government’s far-right agenda.
In the wake of the horrifying attack by settlers on the Palestinian
village of Huwara, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich -- leader of an
ultra-nationalist settler party -- called for the government to “wipe out”
the village, a statement that Israeli Opposition Leader and former Prime
Minister Yair Lapid said constituted “incitement to a war crime.”

J Street strongly condemned Smotrich’s outrageous incitement. And when he
traveled to Washington, DC this month, we and our partners in the
Progressive Israel Network (PIN) helped organize a major protest, with
hundreds of Jewish Americans taking to the streets alongside the Israeli
expat group UnXeptable to say “No to Smotrich, No to Hate.” You can check
out coverage of the protest in [ [link removed] ]Haaretz and the [ [link removed] ]Forward -- and also
read [ [link removed] ]here about PIN’s NYC rally in solidarity with Israel’s
pro-democracy protesters.

We’re rallying the strongest possible coalition to speak out in defense of
peace and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians -- and against hateful
demagogues who see our core values as roadblocks in their quest for power
and control. [ [link removed] ]Support J Street’s work to mobilize the pro-Israel,
pro-peace, pro-democracy movement >>

Meanwhile the J Street Policy Center, J Street’s in-house home for
top-level policy and analysis, has also raised major concerns about the
fact that Smotrich has been handed significant authority over civilian
affairs in the occupied West Bank. As J Street Policy Director Dr. Debra
Shushan wrote in an important analysis piece, “Simply put: Smotrich’s West
Bank takeover is tantamount to annexation.” [ [link removed] ]Read Dr. Shushan’s full
column about the significance of this move here >>

Get Your Invite to Our “Word on the Street” Discussion Series with Top
Supporters

J Street recently launched a new “Word on the Street” conversation series
with Jeremy Ben-Ami, available exclusively to top supporters and recurring
monthly donors.

So far, Jeremy has had eye-opening discussions with former presidential
candidate and Vermont Governor Howard Dean, former Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert, and current Labor Party Leader MK Merav Michaeli.

For on-demand access to previous Word on the Street events and to ensure
you don’t miss future events, become a sustaining supporter by setting a
recurring monthly donation of $10 or more [ [link removed] ]via ActBlue -- or learn more
about joining our [ [link removed] ]National Leadership Circle.

Must Reads

* [ [link removed] ]American Jews Cannot Stay ‘Neutral’ in the Face of Israel’s
Catastrophe, Haaretz

* [ [link removed] ]American Jews, You Have to Choose Sides on Israel, The New York Times

* [ [link removed] ]The Netanyahu Government’s Destructive Actions are Out of Control.
Here’s How the Biden Administration Should Respond, J Street

* [ [link removed] ]My Pro-Israel: The Judicial Crisis and Beyond, J Street

Must Watch

* [ [link removed] ]“J Stream” Discussion with Three Leaders of Israel’s Pro-Democracy
Protests

* [ [link removed] ]J Street Clergy Cabinet Spotlight | Cantor Danny Maseng

* [ [link removed] ]Former PM Ehud Olmert Tells J Street and American Jews to Stand Up to
Netanyahu's Extreme Agenda


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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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