A letter signed by 169 American moderate Jewish leaders and published Wednesday expressed concern over a number of policies proposed by the new hardline Israeli government.
Statement calls for an “important and necessary debate” about government policies and cautions against false accusations of antisemitism aimed at critics of Israel.
“Those who use allegations of antisemitism as a political weapon poison the debate. They undermine our ability to fight genuine antisemitism and effectively advocate for a stronger US-Israel relationship.
The list of signatories includes former officials of the Rabbinical Seminary, the Jewish Federation, AIPAC, and the Presidents’ Conference. Among the supporters were leaders of congregations, organizations and universities in more than 70 cities across the country, as well as former policy makers and US administration officials.
“We do not take lightly the responsibility of making this statement at a time of heightened violence,” said Alan Solow, former chairman of the Conference of Presidents, one of the organizers of the statement. “We are committed to a secure, Jewish and democratic Israel, and we stand in solidarity with our Israeli brothers and sisters in mourning the innocent victims of terror. At the same time, we will defend our democracy and the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace.” We share the concerns of thousands of Israelis determined to
Among the policies highlighted in the letter was a legal overhaul introduced last month by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, which seeks to significantly restrict the power of high court justices. The signatories also expressed concern over proposals to restrict immigration to Israel by descendants of Jews who are not themselves Jewish.
The statement also denounced non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall as “provocative actions” as well as a clause in one of the coalition agreements seeking to maintain the fragile situation on Jerusalem’s flashpoint Temple Mount. Raises, where only Muslims are allowed to pray. Criticism was expanded to include pledges by members of the government to legalize the outposts and expand Israeli sovereignty into the West Bank, referring to the occupied territory.
The statement makes clear that anti-Semitism should be called out when it is employed during debates about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, including tropes about Jewish power.
“However, accusations of antisemitism should not be abused or misused. In fact, it is highly irresponsible to mix accusations of anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel’s policies, especially when anti-Semitism is rampant in our country and around the world.” is increasing,” the letter said.
Signatories include Tom Deine, former executive director of AIPAC, David Allenson, former president of Hebrew Union College, Eric Yofi, president emeritus of the Union for Reform Judaism, Ismar Schorsch, chancellor emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary, current JTS rabbinical school dean Ayelet Cohen, former Reconstructionist rabbinical college President David Tietsch. Former Dean of Hebrew College in Boston Arthur Green, Former US Senator Russ Feingold, Former Congressman Mel Levin, Former US Ambassador for International Freedom David Saperstein, Former US Ambassador to Morocco Sam Kaplan, Former US Ambassador to Spain Alan Solomon, Former American Jew Anti-Semitic envoy Hannah Rosenthal, Joel Tauber, former president of the United Jewish Appeal, and Joe Kanfer, former president of the Jewish Federation of North America.
