| Friends, The last two months have been impossibly difficult and distressing. At J Street – with staff, allies, friends and family caught up in the Hamas attack and the ongoing conflict – we have felt the anguish and dread closely and personally. Many of us have lost friends and colleagues – Israeli and Palestinian – and have close connections to people still held in Gaza, displaced from their homes or whose lives have been thrown into chaos amid the shocking scale of violence and fear. Here at home, we’re grappling with a debate riven by anger and partisanship. The number of partisans willing to use antisemitism to further their anti-Israel goals has been truly terrifying. Many in our community have never felt so unsafe. The fight against antisemitism has not been helped by those who brand even the fairest criticism of the Netanyahu government – or very understandable sympathy for Palestinian civilians – as somehow “pro-Hamas” or antisemitic. In this moment of anguish and division, J Street has been guided by some very clear goals: defeating terror, supporting hostage families, protecting civilians and pursuing long-term peace. Our work, grounded in nuance, empathy and humanity, is more important now than ever. As other groups retreat into partisanship – or shy away from the challenge of holding the humanity of both Israelis and Palestinians – our teams continue to tirelessly represent our shared values to the Biden administration, on Capitol Hill and in communities and on campuses across the country. J Street champions in Congress been asking firm questions of the White House; pursuing vital pro-Israel, pro-peace policy shifts; holding focus on the safety of hostages and Palestinian civilians; and fighting antisemitism without equivocation. We know that if J Street falters in this work, extreme voices would have the field to themselves. We can’t afford to let that happen. If this work matters to you, please help fund it. Every donation strengthens our shared advocacy >> Donations processed immediately for ActBlue Express users. Thank you, sincerely, for your consideration. Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street DONATE | 