J Street stands as a prominent organization in the American political landscape, uniting pro-Israel, pro-peace, and pro-democracy Americans. Its core mission is to advocate for United States policies that reflect deeply held Jewish and democratic values, ultimately contributing to the security and well-being of Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people. At the heart of J Street’s vision is the conviction that a negotiated resolution, mutually agreed upon by both Israelis and Palestinians, is the only viable path to address the legitimate needs and national aspirations of both communities.
Operating within the American political system, engaging with the Jewish community, and collaborating with diverse groups who share fundamental values, J Street champions American leadership rooted in diplomacy. The organization actively promotes policies that foster justice, equality, peace, and democracy, not only in Israel but also throughout the broader Middle East region and within the United States itself.
Core Principles Guiding J Street’s Advocacy
1. Unwavering Commitment to the People and State of Israel
J Street’s foundation rests on a firm commitment to the people and the State of Israel. The organization recognizes and supports the historical right of the Jewish people to a national home, acknowledging the millennia of history that underscore the profound need for such a sanctuary. J Street celebrates the modern rebirth of Israel, recognizing its significance after thousands of years of yearning and struggle.
The democratic principles upon which Israel was founded are deeply valued and shared by J Street. For over seven decades, these principles have guided the nation, even amidst ongoing internal and external challenges to its democratic fabric. J Street acknowledges the real and present dangers facing Israel and unequivocally supports its right to self-defense against these threats. Furthermore, J Street advocates for Israel’s right to exist in security and peace, within internationally recognized boundaries, ensuring its long-term stability and prosperity in the region.
2. Achieving a Negotiated Resolution: The Path to Security for Israelis and Palestinians
J Street firmly believes that the future well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians is inextricably linked to achieving a negotiated resolution to their protracted conflict and bringing an end to the ongoing occupation. Drawing a parallel to the Jewish people’s right to a national home, J Street champions the right of the Palestinian people to their own democratic national home. This vision entails Palestinians living side-by-side with Israel in an environment of peace, freedom, and security. J Street emphasizes that Palestinians deserve full civil rights and an end to the systemic injustices inherent in the occupation.
The organization actively supports the establishment of an independent, demilitarized state of Palestine with clearly defined borders. J Street firmly believes that a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not only in Israel’s best interest but also aligns with America’s strategic goals in the region. Such a resolution would fulfill the legitimate national aspirations of both Jewish and Palestinian peoples, granting them self-determination and sovereignty. J Street urges both Palestinian and Israeli leadership to proactively and consistently present concrete, viable proposals for achieving a lasting agreement. This necessitates a willingness from both sides to engage in meaningful compromises. Furthermore, J Street calls upon the US government and the international community to take immediate and decisive steps to facilitate dialogue between the parties and to establish a solid foundation for meaningful negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive and enduring resolution to the conflict.
J Street challenges the traditional “us versus them” paradigm that has often dominated pro-Israel advocacy. It argues that framing the conflict as a zero-sum game is not only inaccurate but also detrimental to achieving lasting peace. In reality, J Street posits that Israel’s long-term security and its very survival as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people are contingent upon ending the occupation and realizing the Palestinian people’s aspirations for self-determination through a negotiated resolution.
J Street underscores the critical choice facing Israel. It asserts that Israel cannot simultaneously maintain its status as a democratic state and a Jewish homeland while exercising control over all the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. The organization contends that Israel can only realistically achieve two out of these three objectives. To remain a democratic homeland for the Jewish people, Israel must be willing to relinquish the vast majority of the occupied territories, enabling the establishment of a Palestinian state in exchange for a secure and lasting peace.
3. The Right and Responsibility of American Supporters to Voice Concerns
J Street emphasizes that American supporters of Israel possess both the right and the responsibility to voice their concerns when policies or actions undertaken by the Israeli government potentially harm the long-term interests of the United States, Israel itself, and the Jewish people globally.
A crucial distinction, according to J Street, lies in differentiating between criticizing specific policies of the Israeli government and questioning Israel’s fundamental right to exist as a Jewish homeland. J Street firmly believes that constructive criticism of Israeli policy does not pose a threat to the health and vitality of the State of Israel. In fact, the organization argues that such criticism and open debate are essential components of any thriving democratic society. Conversely, J Street contends that certain Israeli policies, coupled with the silence from segments of the American Jewish establishment when vocal opposition is warranted, do pose a significant threat to Israel’s future. These detrimental policies, J Street asserts, must be challenged and opposed by Israel’s supporters, just as harmful Palestinian actions and policies that escalate conflict or impede peace efforts should also be challenged.
J Street specifically points to the ongoing expansion of settlements, creeping annexation of Palestinian territories, and the enforcement of occupation as policies that violate international law, infringe upon Palestinian rights, and push Israel further down a path of perpetual conflict, eroding its democratic values and perpetuating injustice. These policies, J Street argues, actively undermine the prospects for establishing an independent Palestinian state and severely jeopardize the viability of a two-state solution.
Drawing on their identity as Americans, J Street asserts the right and responsibility of American citizens to actively participate in shaping their country’s foreign policy towards Israel and the broader Middle East region. The organization advocates for strong, multilateral diplomacy as the primary approach to resolving conflicts, with the use of military force considered only as a last resort. J Street declares that it cannot support policies that contravene the core values that underpin both Jewish and American heritage. It firmly opposes policies, whether enacted by the American, Palestinian, or Israeli governments, that hinder peace efforts, exacerbate conflict, or violate fundamental human rights.
4. The Value of Robust Debate for the American Jewish Community and Israel
J Street champions vibrant yet respectful debate about Israel, recognizing its inherent benefits for both the American Jewish community and Israel itself. Drawing upon the rich tradition of intellectual discourse within Judaism spanning millennia, J Street, as an organization rooted in Jewish values, underscores the vital importance of engaging in dialogue with those holding differing viewpoints.
J Street cautions against allowing a small minority to dictate the boundaries of acceptable discourse within the Jewish community or in American political discourse concerning Israel. Restricting access to the Jewish community or the American government for those who question US or Israeli policy, J Street argues, stifles the productive and open debate that is essential for sound policymaking. Such restrictions, furthermore, jeopardize the intellectual integrity and future vitality of the Jewish community.
J Street expresses confidence that robust debate about Israel and American policy will not only resonate with younger American Jews across the political spectrum but also foster greater engagement and participation in the broader Jewish community across all generations.
5. Grounded in Jewish and Democratic Values
J Street’s work is deeply rooted in the Jewish and democratic values that have shaped its members and the communities they represent. These values, central to Jewish identity, include the fundamental principle of treating others as one would wish to be treated, core notions of justice and freedom, the pursuit of peace, and the concept of tikkun olam – the imperative to repair the world and make it a better place for all.
J Street is committed to striving for an Israel, a United States, and a Jewish community that embody the highest ideals of these values and traditions. It is in this spirit that J Street actively combats bigotry, inequality, and injustice. The organization collaborates in multi-faith, multi-racial coalitions with diverse communities in their collective efforts to overcome oppression and strengthen liberal democracy, both domestically and internationally.
