Israel's progressives need our help today (Avaaz)

Dear friends,

It's a dark day in the Middle East: the right-wing has won the most seats in
Israel's elections, and racist extremist Avigdor Lieberman is now the
kingmaker in forming the next government.[1] Lieberman and his fellow
leaders are promising to bomb Iran, re-invade Gaza and abandon any
ceasefire, stop negotiations and crack down on Israel's large Arab minority.
This could kill all we've worked for in the Middle East. But many
progressives in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) share our feelings -- and they
desperately need our solidarity today.

Wherever extremists have triumphed, we have to organise to beat them. Many
thought all hope was lost in the USA after the neo-conservatives' victory --
then progressives used the internet to come back from the wilderness, and
achieved the unthinkable by putting Barack Obama in the White House.[2] In
Israel today, the despair of the old peace camp opens up a powerful moment
to build a fresh new voice against hatred and for peace.

Just $10,000 could help two young Israeli activists use the Avaaz model of
internet organizing to reach and mobilise tens of thousands of other
Israelis this year -- $5000 would buy billboards in Jerusalem to launch
their first campaign with a splash. Follow this link to watch our shocking
short video of Lieberman's extremist agenda -- and let's donate now to help
a new generation in Israel urgently speak out for peace and change:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/change_in_israel

We have a strong network in Israel to work with already, with almost 10,000
Avaaz members and contacts with promising young organisers who are hungry
for change. They just need our support to organise across divides, uniting
Israel's scattered constituencies for peace and justice. Many Israelis
supported our global campaign for a Gaza ceasefire and joined their voices
with ours on climate change, Burma, Tibet and Zimbabwe -- now it's time for
us to stand with them.

Even if they are in a minority at first, a strong progressive voice in
Israel should make our efforts for the right kind of US and international
diplomacy much more effective. We know the forces we're up against. But
beneath the surface we often find Israeli majorities for peace, social
justice and pragmatism. Before these elections, when Israel's government
broke off talks and launched the Gaza offensive, a majority polled wanted to
renew the ceasefire with Hamas instead, and we've seen broad support for a
wider peace at many times.[3]

Lieberman's rise itself demonstrates how effective, targeted organising can
shape Israel's path for ill -- now a new generation of Israelis need
solidarity from us to mobilise against this extremism, and to advance the
values and causes we share. Everyone who donates to help fund this Israeli
organising effort will be kept informed with reports on its progress. Watch
the short video of Lieberman's savage campaign now at the link below, and
help support a new generation in Israel to organise for change:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/change_in_israel

With hope and determination,

Paul, Graziela, Ricken, Ben, Alice, Paula, Iain, Pascal, Milena, Brett and
the whole Avaaz team

Sources:

1. "Key to who will govern Israel: Avigdor Lieberman", Christian Science
Monitor (12 February 2009):
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0212/p01s04-wome.html

Ha'aretz: "Unite to block Lieberman's march on Jerusalem" (1 February 2009)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1060124.html

2. See this report from MoveOn.org on the impact of the online organising
efforts they pioneered:
http://s3.moveon.org/pdfs/moveon_postelectionreport_ah14.pdf

3. See this Hebrew University poll published in December 2008:
http://www.bicom.org.uk/background/opinion-polls/truman-psr-poll--16-december-2008