Peter Frey

J Street, Chair - Board of Directors

[Jeremy Ben-Ami @JeremyBenAmi]

This weekend, J Street U co-sponsored the College Democrats of America convention. Since it was announced that Hasan Piker would be speaking, some have sought to portray our participation as an endorsement of his views.

That is simply false.

J Street disagrees with much of what Hasan Piker says and with the way he says it. We won't hesitate to say so. But we also reject the notion that the right answer to his invitation is to abandon the very spaces where the next generation of Democratic leaders is debating these issues.

Our mission is not to preach to the converted. It is to ensure that a pro-Israel, pro-peace voice is heard wherever the future of American politics is being shaped. If we leave those conversations to others, we shouldn't be surprised when the loudest and most polarizing voices dominate them.

Let's also dispense with the misinformation. J Street U was one of many conference sponsors. Our sponsorship amounted to a couple thousand dollars for an exhibit table. We had no role in choosing speakers, no approval over the program and no say in who was invited to address the conference. Suggesting otherwise is either uninformed or intentionally misleading.

Some of our critics don't object to this particular conference. They object to J Street. They have spent years trying to convince people that there is no room in American Jewish life or Democratic politics for a pro-Israel movement that also insists on Palestinian rights, opposes the occupation and believes diplomacy is stronger than perpetual war. They won't succeed.

Too many people want young Americans to believe there are only two choices: defend every action of the Israeli government or reject Israel altogether. That is a false choice, and it is one J Street was founded to reject.

We will continue to show up. We will continue to engage. We will continue making the case for a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can both live in freedom, security and peace. And we won't be intimidated into surrendering that conversation to voices we disagree with – or to critics who would rather see us stay home.

[Jeremy Ben-Ami @JeremyBenAmi]

Let’s be clear what happened in Illinois’ 9th district tonight:

AIPAC spent millions in a Democratic primary, funded in large part by Republican donors, trying to stamp out opposition to Netanyahu’s policies.

But voters had other plans - and rejected that effort.
AIPAC targeted Daniel Biss not because he’s anti-Israel, but because he represents the kind of balanced, pro-Israel leadership they fear: committed to Israel’s security, while also standing up for Palestinian rights and U.S. interests.

They went after him and others because a growing Democratic Party consensus says support for Israel cannot be a blank check, and that U.S. aid must be consistent with our laws and our values. And they tried to hide their fingerprints because their direct involvement would only hurt.

If there’s a lesson in tonight’s result, it’s this: you can’t rebuild support for Israel through fear, intimidation, and outside money.

Those tactics are doing the opposite - accelerating the erosion of support, especially among younger voters who are already asking why the U.S. is backing policies that don’t reflect the values they were raised with.

[J Street @jstreetdotorg]

J Street opposes President Trump’s reckless decision to launch a war of choice against Iran. Read our full statement: https://t.co/MY4oBMrbov

[Jonathan Kopp @jonathankopp]

“Laughing along as a Muslim candidate is smeared as a potential terrorist sympathizer fuels fear, division and Islamophobia. Jewish leaders and public figures should be condemning such bigotry, not amplifying it.” https://t.co/tR87lczors #zohran @jstreetdotorg

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

We Support Sanctions on Netanyahu's Extremist Ministers https://t.co/yFSakp8uqi

[Randi Weingarten 🇺🇸 🖇️👩‍🎓📚 @rweingarten]

Enough is enough. I am many things, but neither insane nor an appeaser. Hamas is evil. It murdered hostages. And the NYPost must be held accountable for its defamatory headlines and actions. https://t.co/zELmoV7yBj

[Jeremy Ben-Ami @JeremyBenAmi]

Kamala Harris’s remarks on Israel/Palestine were spot on. A clear commitment to Israel’s security, to ending the war and securing a hostage release, and to dignity, security and self determination for the Palestinian people. Her approach speaks for the majority of all Americans.

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@MelissaJPeltier He should stick to selling cars

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@unusual_whales You should have invested with Brian Higgins!!!

[J Street @jstreetdotorg]

J Street leaders are proud and humbled to be in Israel on a solidarity mission. Our group spoke with Chen Kotler in the devastated kibbutz Kfar Aza and bore witness to the destruction there -- and volunteered with the inimitable workers at the Jewish-Arab Emergency Relief Center.

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@JeremyBenAmi @JamaalBowmanNY @RitchieTorres @AmyPaulin @EFischberger Rep. Torres should be embarrassed for either being shockingly ignorant or willfully misleading his followers.

[Jeremy Ben-Ami @JeremyBenAmi]

I led the trip with @JamaalBowmanNY. It’s a fact: there are checkpoints in Hebron where security separates who can walk where by religion. Other checkpoints keep roads “sterile” of Palestinians. I’ve been there dozens of times. Join me. @RitchieTorres @AmyPaulin @EFischberger

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@HadarSusskind Either he’s laughably uninformed or willfully misleading his followers.

[Chris McGreal @ChrisMcGreal]

A public feud has broken out between the US’s leading pro-Israel lobby groups @aipac & @jstreetdotorg over who represents the true interests of the Jewish state in Washington under the most rightwing government in its history.
https://t.co/5YGgZ4PFxq

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been protesting the anti democratic shenanigans of the Netanyahu government but AIPAC is obsessed with J Street which is fully aligned with the pro-democracy movement. So, who is the danger to Israel’s future?? https://t.co/Oy9sZrENnn

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@taliabenamy Sounds fabulous! How long is the sabbatical?

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@TennisPodcast Dominic Thiem comeback to Top 10

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@dorabinovici Du warst natürlich spot-on!

[Jeremy Ben-Ami @JeremyBenAmi]

I’m having a blast watching @AIPAC’s twitter feed obsess with @jstreetdotorg. For years, they pretended we didn’t exist. Now, not a day goes by without attacks, lies and disinformation that would make @foxnews blush. 1/7

[Peter Frey @pfrey59]

@NaomieKremer Gorgeous! Will you make one for us retroactively?