Dozens of prominent Israelis sign letter of support for J Street
J Street announced
the names of dozens of prominent Israelis from the security, military,
diplomatic, political and academic fields who have signed a second
letter of support for J Street. Read the letter below or click here to download a PDF version of the letter and its signatories.
- Mr. Yossi Alpher
bitterlemons; former Senior Member of Mossad; former Director of the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies - Col (Ret.) Shaul Arieli
Council on Peace and Security; former Commander Gaza Brigade; former
head of the ‘Peace Negotiations Administration’ under PM Ehud Barak - Rabbi Arik Ascherman
Executive Director, Rabbis for Human Rights - Haim Assa
Former National Security Advisor to PM Yitzhak Rabin - Bernard Avishai
Jerusalem Venue for Jerusalem Supporters and Recruitment; External Contact for David Grossman - Colette Avital
Former Deputy Speaker of Knesset; Consul General - Adm (Ret.) Ami Ayalon
Former Minister and Member of Knesset; former head of the Shin-Bet, and Navy - Uzi Baram
Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Tourism; former Secretary General of the Labor Party - Shlomo Ben Ami
Former Foreign Minister and Public Security Minister - David Broza
Singer; writer; performer - Professor Naomi Chazan
Former Deputy Speaker of Knesset; founder, Israel Women’s Network - Sidra Dekoven Ezrahi
Professor, Hebrew University, Jerusalem - Maj Gen (Ret.) Shlomo Gazit
Former Commander of IDF Intelligence; former President of Ben Gurion
University; member of the staff of Jaffee Center for Stretegic Studies,
Tel Aviv University - Professor Galia Golan
Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia - Micha Harish
Former Minister of Industry and Commerce and Secretary General of the Labor Party - Dave Kimche
Former Director General of the Foreign Ministry - Shlomo (Tchich) Lahat
Ret. Major General in the IDF and former Mayor of Tel Aviv - Maj Gen (Ret.) Amos Lapidot
Former Commander of Israel Air Force; former President of the Technion University, Haifa - Alon Liel
Former Director General of the Foreign Ministry - Maj Gen (Ret.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak
Former Chief of the General Staff of the IDF; former Minister of Transport & Tourism - Eti Livni
Former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset - Maj Gen (Ret.) Amram Mitzna
Former Chairman of the Israel Labor Party and Knesset Member; former
Commander of the IDF Central Command and Planning Branch; former Mayor
of Haifa - Ambassador Ora Namir
Former Minister of Labor and Social Affairs; Former Ambassador to China - Brig General (Ret.) Israela Oron
Former deputy National Security Council adviser; former Chief of the Women’s Corp - Amos Oz
Author - Brig Gen (Ret.) Ilan Paz
Former Head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank - Orni Petrushka
Businessman and Entrepreneur - Rabbi Andrew Sacks
Director General of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel - Adv Talia Sasson
Former Special Adviser to Prime Minister Sharon; author of Sasson Report on Illegal Settlements - Amb. Shimon Shamir
Professor, Tel Aviv University; former Ambassador to Egypt and Jordan - Colonel (Ret.) Gilead Sher
Former Israeli Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and Policy Coordinator - Professor David Shulman
Professor, Hebrew University, Jerusalem - Abu Vilan
Former Member of Knesset - Rabbi Levi Weiman Kelman
Kehilat Kol HaNeshama, Jerusalem - Danny Yatom
Former Knesset Member; former Head of the Mossad
To the Supporters of J Street,
Congratulations on the initial success of J Street. You could not
have chosen a more critical moment to mobilize American support for the
two-state solution and to promote a broader conception of what it means
to be pro-Israel in the United States.
Without diplomatic resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian and
Arab-Israeli conflicts, the region faces a future of ever-escalating
tension and violence. The remaining window of opportunity for the
two-state solution is short. The future of a Jewish, democratic Israel
is at stake, as are national and security interests critical to Israel,
the United States, the Palestinians and the region as a whole.
We need your help to address this existential threat. Israelis and
Palestinians have not and are unlikely to resolve this conflict alone.
Majorities of both populations still desire a two-state solution, and
we welcome J Street’s promotion of strong American leadership in
reaching and implementing a comprehensive peace deal.
Only serious, sustained international engagement – not simply
further process – can forge a regional solution that addresses
outstanding claims and results in comprehensive conflict resolution.
And only the United States has the stature and prestige to lead an
international effort and orchestrate a regional solution.
We were pleased that President Obama made resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts an early and serious
priority. We welcomed the appointment of Senator Mitchell as Special
Envoy for Middle East Peace and are committed to supporting his
efforts. Now, it is imperative that America moves ahead and exert the
necessary leadership to help us move forward quickly and meaningfully.
We share J Street’s view that there is ultimately no military
resolution to the political conflicts between Israel and our neighbors.
We appreciate your voice of moral and strategic clarity on this point.
We value the political space you are opening in Washington, and we
believe the broad policy discussion you are encouraging there stands to
benefit Israel and the broader Middle East.
As Israelis dedicated to our country, its future, security and
progress, we support your effort to promote a safer and more
prosperous future for both our countries and the entire Middle East.
As Friends of J Street, we stand behind your goal of advancing regional
comprehensive peace and security.
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