[ ]J Street [ ]
[ [link removed] ]Stand with Israeli Pro-democracy Protesters. Click to add your name.

Dear Friend,

Today is one of the most historic days in Israel’s 75-year history.

It is both alarming and inspiring. A cause for hope, and a cause for deep
concern.

This weekend, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s own Defense Minister, Yoav
Gallant, urged the government to pause incendiary judicial “reform” plans
which have sparked months of pro-democracy protests across Israel and in
Jewish communities around the world. “This poses a clear, immediate, and
tangible threat to the security of the state,” he warned.

Netanyahu’s response was to unceremoniously fire Gallant and press full
steam ahead.

What has happened since is breathtaking.

In a stunning display of mass support for democracy, hundreds of thousands
of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets in the middle of the
night, protesting in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and across the country. A
national strike has grounded flights and shuttered universities and
shopping malls, with teachers, doctors, diplomats and thousands of others
walking off the job.

Today, Netanyahu has announced that he will postpone the votes on judicial
reforms until the next legislative session beginning in May -- while
pledging to still work to secure their passage.

The fight is far from over. But this is a very significant victory for the
pro-democracy movement. Today, it’s more important than ever to show and
sustain our support.

With Israel’s democratic future in the balance, J Street is deeply proud
to stand in unequivocal solidarity with Israeli protesters. As pro-Israel,
pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans, we support their struggle.

[ [link removed] ]I Stand with Israel’s Pro-Democracy Protesters
✍ Add your name if you agree

We encourage you to share this petition widely with your friends, family
and communities.

At 4:30pm Eastern/1:30pm Pacific today, I’ll be joined by Director of J
Street Israel Nadav Tamir, Chief of Staff Adina Vogel Ayalon, and other
guests for an Emergency Public Briefing Call to discuss the latest
breaking developments. [ [link removed] ]Register for today's emergency briefing >>

Alarmingly, Netanyahu appears to have secured support for the delay from
his right-wing partners by agreeing to establish a “national guard”
overseen by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir -- a
deeply troubling development with potentially serious ramifications for
peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Just weeks ahead of Israel’s milestone 75th anniversary, the country
stands at a historic crossroads.

Will its future be dominated by an agenda that is authoritarian,
discriminatory and illiberal, deepening endless conflict and occupation,
and suppressing key freedoms?

Or can the incredibly inspiring pro-democracy movement uphold and enact
the founding values of Israel’s Declaration of Independence -- of a
thriving state for all its citizens, living in peace and security
alongside its neighbors?

We can’t know what the final outcome of this struggle will be in the days
(and years) ahead -- but we know what our role is as Americans who care
deeply about Israel’s future.

We must speak out. We must rally ourselves, wherever we can. We must push
our own elected leaders in the White House and Congress to do everything
in their power to back the protesters, stand up to Netanyahu, and demand a
halt to the far-right’s “judicial coup.”

J Street is honored to do this work every day, with your support.
[ [link removed] ]Please, take this opportunity to add your name in solidarity with the
pro-democracy protest movement >>

Thank you for all that you’re doing to stand with the movement for
democracy, peace and a better future.

Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street


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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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