[ ]J Street[ ]
Friends,

Few Israeli politicians represent all that is wrong with Israel’s
right-wing leadership today more than Netanyahu’s National Security
Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.

In less than two decades, Ben-Gvir has gone from a beyond-the-pale
right-wing extremist and convicted felon to Israel’s National Security
Minister, responsible for the police.

In Netanyahu’s cabinet, his faction continues to push an annexationist
agenda and is working to dismantle core pillars of Israel’s democracy –
against the will of the majority of Israelis.

Today, he’s doing everything in his power to sabotage a Gaza ceasefire and
hostage deal.

His prescription? Israel should resettle Gaza and drive the Palestinians
out. As his ally Bezalel Smotrich said yesterday, returning hostages to
their families is “not the most important” goal.

This week, Ben-Gvir is in the United States.

Unwelcome under President Biden, Ben-Gvir is using Donald Trump’s return
to test whether there’s a newfound welcome for him in the United States.
We’re determined to prove him wrong.

This week, he’ll be at Yale University – undoubtedly supporting Trump’s
anti-democratic college crackdown – as well as in New York and possibly
Washington.

Together, we’re working to make clear that the overwhelming majority of
Jewish Americans reject all that he stands for. He in no way speaks for
us.

We’re partnering with allies on protests, speaking out in our communities,
and ensuring everyone in DC understands his record of support for
extremism and political violence.

If you want to support that work, please sign our petition: [ [link removed] ]Itamar
Ben-Gvir, Get Outta Here >>

Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and Bibi Netanyahu have a nightmarish vision
for Israel – one with a lot in common with the MAGA movement here. Like
Trump’s Republican Party, they are attacking and undermining key
institutions, which are at the core of Israeli democracy.

They are leading an all-out assault on Israel’s founding ideals of
justice, equality and peace. They seek a narrower, less pluralistic, more
isolated country. A radical plan for ‘Greater Israel’ through the conquest
of land, with no concern for those living there now.

We look at the horrors wrought in Gaza, the anguish of the hostage
families and the strategic quagmire of an endless war, and we know it must
stop – for everyone’s sake.

They see an opportunity to realize a long sought-after messianic prophecy:
A chance to resettle Gaza, push Palestinians from their land and claim
both Gaza and the West Bank for Israel.

There are few more urgent threats to the promise of Israel as a proud,
liberal democratic homeland, just as there are few greater threats to our
own country right now than Trump.

Here, the MAGA movement seems hell-bent on destroying the core foundations
that make this country great – and a safe and welcoming home for Jewish
Americans for generations. The belief that we are all free and equal,
deserving of the same protections under the law, that out of a pluralistic
nation of many, we come together as one.

In both Israel and the United States, the stakes and the battle lines
could not be clearer.

These fundamental differences in values can’t be papered over by naive
calls for communal unity. As Jews, we cannot ignore that President Trump
is bent on destroying what we love about this country, and destroying
people’s lives, as he pursues his own power – just as we cannot ignore
Prime Minister Netanyahu and the settlement movement blazing that same
path in Israel.

All of us – individuals, organizations, communities – must make clear
where we stand in this generational battle for the soul and future of the
countries we care about.

At a time when too many leaders in too many institutions are far too
quiet, I hope we can count on you to join us as we make our voices and our
values heard.

It starts with speaking out in our own communities and networks. Calling
on leaders you know and organizations you are a part of to act. Joining
rallies and protests and helping to stiffen the spines of those around us.

We’re stronger together, and only together will we persevere.

Please consider adding your name to our petition. We don’t have right-wing
megadonors, we have principled supporters across the country like you.

[ [link removed] ]Itamar Ben-Gvir, Get Outta Here >>
[ [link removed] ]Add your name ✍️

Thank you, sincerely, for your support.

Best,

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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