Dear Lori Lowenthal,
Last week, Irving Moskowitz, the Florida-based millionaire best known for building Jewish settlements in Arab East Jerusalem, contributed $1,000,000 to American Crossroads, the SuperPAC created by former Bush adviser Karl Rove.
That's just the latest seven-figure gift from a single donor, well-known for his right-wing views on Israel, in the 2012 campaign. Of course, Moskowitz's contribution pales next to the $20 million Sheldon Adelson has provided to Newt Gingrich's SuperPAC, Winning Our Future.
We should all be deeply concerned that a handful of far-right funders and groups like Bill Kristol's Emergency Campaign for Israel are turning Israel into a partisan wedge issue with no regard for the actual impact on the future peace and security of the country and its neighbors.
That's why we launched the Future of Pro-Israel campaign: to represent and give voice to Americans who have a different vision for what it means to be pro-Israel today. And that's why we're bringing the campaign to a city near you.
Click here to find a Future of Pro-Israel Launch in your area.
At J Street's Making History conference, we revealed a Community Vision statement that was created by thousands of pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans committed to driving a new course when it comes to the Israel conversation in our national and communal politics.
The statement outlined a set of shared values - but it also shared a vision of shared action. It affirmed what I know from talking with so many of you everyday - that this year you're not prepared to sit on the sidelines while those who claim to be pro-Israel advocate for policies that harm it; this election year, you're not going to watch as the window for a two-state solution closes.
So starting the week of May 6 -- our Locals are holding Future of Pro-Israel campaign launch events in over 35 cities across the country where you can find out how to take this shared commitment and turn it into concrete action.
Join us in one of these cities and learn about our upcoming campaign plans, share your own organizing ideas, and sign-up for one of our Future of Pro-Israel 2012 Action Teams.
Find a Future of Pro-Israel meeting near you and sign up today.
I can't wait to hear the report backs as this campaign launches in communities across the country. And of course we'll be sure to share these reports with you all as they come in, too.
Thank you for all that you do,
Carinne Luck
Vice-President for Campaigns, J Street
