As supporters of Israel, we're committed to the future of the state as a Jewish and democratic homeland.
So the decision by Israel's government—to put on hold a new plan for segregated bus lines—is good. But Defense Minister Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon insists that it's a delay, not a rejection.
That's why we need to make sure that the Jewish community speaks out clearly, so plans like these are cancelled outright, not just suspended.
Leaders in Israel like President Reuven Rivlin and Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog have come out against this proposal. PM Netanyahu called this kind of segregation "unacceptable". MK Zehava Gal-On even said that it proves "democracy and occupation can't coexist." We need to speak out, too.
Our values matter, and so do our voices. If we remain silent, the costs are high: further erosion of democracy, and even more international isolation. For Israel's sake, it's critical that the American Jewish community speak out.