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A message from Republican Jewish Coalition National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman:

As 2023 draws to a close, I want to reflect on some of the Republican Jewish Coalition’s key moments from the past year and look ahead to what we have in store for 2024.

2023 was a transformational year for the RJC and the Jewish community. The terrorist attack on October 7 and the subsequent events make this THE political and communal moment that the Republican Jewish Coalition was built for. It's been in the time since October 7 that I’ve been most honored and proud to serve as the RJC’s National Chairman. To see our community and our side of the aisle stand resolute and in solidarity with Israel fills me with a sense of deep appreciation for the important work that we do.

That solidarity was on full display just a few weeks after October 7 as we gathered in Las Vegas for our Annual Summit. I hope all of our members understand the significance of being joined, IN-PERSON, by House and Senate Leadership and EVERY major Presidential candidate in the GOP primary field. This showed the importance of your voice and involvement, and the impact of our organization within the Republican Party. The 2023 Summit was the largest in our organization's history with over 1,500 attendees and dominated domestic and international news headlines for a week.

We remained in the headlines through early November, co-hosting the GOP Presidential Debate with the RNC in Miami. The RNC’s decision to invite the RJC to be its partner for the debate demonstrates the value and importance that the Republican Party places on the Jewish community and its growing support for the GOP, and the impact that the Republican Jewish Coalition has as an organization. This was a historic opportunity, as no other Jewish organization had ever co-sponsored a national presidential debate.

Also this year, we once again enhanced the RJC PAC Portal, giving our members the ability to support GOP Presidential candidates for the first time. This enhancement makes the RJC PAC Portal the most comprehensive conduit contribution portal in the Republican and pro-Israel communities. As a reminder, the RJC PAC Portal is a force multiplier. When you donate through the portal, your contribution goes directly to the candidate you select and the campaign will know you're involved with the RJC and care about our priority issues.

There is no doubt that the political stakes of the 2024 election could not be higher, and RJC is preparing to go all-in. The last two presidential elections have come down to a minuscule number of votes in a few swing states. Republicans cling to a slender majority in the House. Democrats have a 51-49 Senate majority. It’s clear that control of all three elected branches is up for grabs. Your support will allow us to amplify our message in Washington and in Jewish communities across the country.

The RJC has already started hiring additional staff in these key battleground states like Arizona in an effort to increase the GOP share of the Jewish vote once again. In 2022, the Republican Party increased its share of the national Jewish vote to a percentage not seen in a generation. The GOP received 33% of the national Jewish vote, an increase from 24% in 2016, and 30% in 2020. In Florida in 2022, the GOP set a record high of 45% of the Jewish vote in support of Governor DeSantis. And in New York in 2022 the GOP garnered 46% of Jewish vote. Given the rise of antisemitism in the grassroots and leadership ranks of the Democrat party and the RJC’s outreach work, the GOP is poised to capitalize at the ballot box next November.

2023 was an important year for the RJC, and we continue to succeed and grow because of your support and commitment to the organization.

I extend my heartfelt wishes for good health, success, and happiness in the new year to you and your family, and know that 2024 has the makings of another truly historic year for RJC.

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You've been our partner in ensuring that the Republican Jewish Coalition can serve as the Jewish voice within the GOP and as the Republican voice within the Jewish community.

As we approach our critical end-of-year fundraising deadline, we want to express our thanks for your past support, and to invite you to upgrade your membership today by becoming a paid RJC Member or RJC Leader HERE. Thank you!

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In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu writes:

Hamas must be destroyed, Gaza must be demilitarized, and Palestinian society must be deradicalized. These are the three prerequisites for peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors in Gaza.

First, Hamas, a key Iranian proxy, must be destroyed. The US, UK, France, Germany and many other countries support Israel’s intention to demolish the terror group. To achieve that goal, its military capabilities must be dismantled and its political rule over Gaza must end. Hamas’s leaders have vowed to repeat the Oct. 7 massacre “again and again.” That is why their destruction is the only proportional response to prevent the repeat of such horrific atrocities. Anything less guarantees more war and more bloodshed....

Second, Gaza must be demilitarized. Israel must ensure that the territory is never again used as a base to attack it. Among other things, this will require establishing a temporary security zone on the perimeter of Gaza and an inspection mechanism on the border between Gaza and Egypt that meets Israel’s security needs and prevents smuggling of weapons into the territory.

The expectation that the Palestinian Authority will demilitarize Gaza is a pipe dream. It currently funds and glorifies terrorism in Judea and Samaria and educates Palestinian children to seek the destruction of Israel. Not surprisingly it has shown neither the capability nor the will to demilitarize Gaza. It failed to do so before Hamas booted it out of the territory in 2007, and it has failed to do so in the territories under its control today. For the foreseeable future Israel will have to retain overriding security responsibility over Gaza...

Third, Gaza will have to be deradicalized. Schools must teach children to cherish life rather than death, and imams must cease to preach for the murder of Jews. Palestinian civil society needs to be transformed so that its people support fighting terrorism rather than funding it...

Other recent noteworthy articles on the war in Gaza:

WSJ Editors: Why Hamas Won’t Release Hostages - This is Hamas’s path to survival and victory: a premature shift of Israel’s war effort to meet Mr. Biden’s political timetable. Why give up your hostage bargaining chips if you need only hold out for another few weeks?

Kahana: Before Gaza self-rule, Israel must implement de-Hamasization - After surrender and clearing the area from terrorists, there must be a thorough de-Hamasization process. Whether we rule over the Strip or some kind of international entity does, it is vital to implement reforms that uproot Hamas ideology and other antisemitic and anti-Israel content. These must be basic preconditions.

JNS: Netanyahu, Rep. Brian Mast visit injured Israeli soldiers, border officers

After meeting on Wednesday at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) visited Israel Defense Forces soldiers and Border Police officers who have been injured in the war at the rehabilitation ward of Hadassah Hospital Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem. Netanyahu thanked Mast—who lost both of his legs serving in Afghanistan—"for his unwavering support of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF," per the Israeli Government Press Office.... Mast, who told JNS earlier this year that he’s proud to be the only member of Congress to wear both IDF and US Army uniforms, shared with the wounded Israelis how he coped with his injuries.

Washington Examiner: Jewish Democrats suffering from ‘political identity crisis’ after Oct. 7 Hamas attack

Interviews with a dozen liberal Jewish voters who reside in the Washington DC area reveal a growing frustration with the left wing of the party. The aftermath of the Hamas attack has brought back painful memories of the Holocaust and a new wave of antisemitism that many Jewish Americans never thought could be possible in the US.

"It’s truly an absolute nightmare. We’ve seen protests in front of Jewish establishments, threats of violence; I’ve never in my life been more afraid to be a Jew in America," said a Jewish Democratic voter, who asked not to be identified due to fear for her safety. "Republicans have really been out in front, calling out antisemitism. I never thought as a liberal Democrat that I’d be so appreciative of Congresswoman [Elise] Stefanik (R-NY) during that hearing with the college presidents," the person said. “But, where has my party been? The silence is so deafening. To say I’m having a political identity crisis would be an understatement.”

Sharansky: Our false partners

It is time for liberal Jews to accept that neo-Marxist social movements only appear to be our allies. They speak of equality but perpetuate discrimination. They speak of freedom but seek to subjugate the "privileged." They speak of justice but will use any means necessary to promote their warped ends.

Iran increases output of near bomb-grade nuclear material

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) offered rare public remarks on the matter on December 26, confirming to various media outlets that Iranian nuclear facilities are producing about 9 kilograms of 60% HEU per month instead of the previous 3 kg. Iran already has enough 60% HEU for three nuclear weapons if the material were further enriched using a short two-week process (see below). Gleaned from plants at Natanz and Fordow, the extra production adds to this stockpile of potentially weaponizable material. Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons but has no other use for such large quantities of such highly enriched uranium.

Contact information for our offices can be found on our website. Please visit us online for the latest RJC news, to see details of upcoming events, and to donate to the RJC. Read past editions of this newsletter here.