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: 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.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Get Outta Here >>
Add your name ✍️
Thank you, sincerely, for your support.
Best,
Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street
