Press Releases and Statements

American Jewish Committee (AJC) expressed deep concern regarding renewed attempts to hold the far-right Lukov March in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on February 25.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continue supporting the Ukrainian people as they endure the brutal Russian invasion of their country. “Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also global security and the rules-based international order. Like-minded countries must stand together in support of Ukraine, and there must be accountability and justice for Russia’s war crimes,” said Deutch. AJC has stood in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and staunchly supported a free and democratic Ukraine for more than 30 years.

On the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, American Jewish Committee (AJC) is urging Congress to pass legislation designating the Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). A private military company with ties to Russian white supremacist and neo-Nazi far-right extremists, the Wagner Group has a long record of committing atrocities against civilians in Ukraine and in African countries.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is partnering with the Israeli relief agency IsraAID and the Turkish Jewish community to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to victims and survivors of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, welcomed today Chad President Mahamat Déby’s inauguration of his country’s embassy in Israel. “Chad’s opening of an embassy in Israel is a significant development. The continuing renewal of Israel’s diplomatic relations with African nations is vital for expanding mutually beneficial relationships that initially began decades ago,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Chad joins the growing number of African countries with a diplomatic presence in Israel that greatly contributes to the overall building of bilateral and regional relations with Africa.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomed the latest French government plan to combat antisemitism. The plan, updated by the Interministerial Delegation for the Fight Against Racism and Antisemitism (DILCRAH) every three years, included several policies recommended by AJC and was presented yesterday by Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to an audience that included AJC leaders in Paris. “DILCRAH has long recognized that antisemitism endangers all of French society, not only Jews. It is essential for the government to have a robust strategy dedicated to confronting antisemitism in all its forms,” said Anne Sophie-Sebban, Director of AJC Paris,

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today met with Israel President Isaac Herzog, after Herzog told the European Parliament that Israel’s right to exist is not subject to debate. Deutch was in Brussels with an AJC delegation to meet with members of the European Parliament and Herzog, who spoke to the parliament, one of the legislative bodies of the European Union, on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today told the European Parliament that the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and three Arab nations, was an important historical moment “we can never take for granted.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomes Lithuania Parliament (Seimas) adoption of the Good Will Compensation Law, addressing unresolved property restitution claims of Holocaust victims. The legislation was introduced by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. "The Good Will Compensation Law provides an important measure of justice to Lithuanian Holocaust survivors and their families for the horrors they suffered during World War II and its aftermath. It continues the process of property restitution and supports present day Jewish life in Lithuania,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs, who has been directly involved for decades in restitution negotiations with Lithuania and other Central Europe countries.

220 lawmakers from Europe, the United States, and Canada urged Western democracies to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its proxies, such as Hezbollah, as terrorist organizations. The legislators’ call for action against the regime’s state terrorism comes only days before EU foreign ministers are set to deliberate further measures against Tehran on Monday. Spearheaded by the AJC-backed Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI), the interparliamentary statement was released amid the regime’s deadly crackdown on protesters

Rabbi Andrew Baker, American Jewish Committee Director of International Jewish Affairs, addressed today the Terezin Declaration Conference. The two-day conference, hosted by the Czech government, which holds the EU Presidency, is a follow up to the Prague Holocaust Era Assets Conference in 2009. “Government recognition of Jewish communities’ security needs is not the same as action,” Baker declared in remarks focused on the continuing rise of antisemitism. He also underscored the need “for governments to adopt and employ the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.”

American Jewish Committee Central Europe today launched “Don’t Talk Like An Antisemite,” a social media campaign to fight antisemitism in Poland. Short videos appearing on Facebook and Instagram over the next four weeks will raise awareness of words and terms that may not be recognized as furthering hate towards Jews. “Antisemitism starts with hurtful words and prejudices, but it never stops there,” said Dr. Sebastian Rejak, Director of the Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe Office.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Lufthansa Group announced today a joint initiative to combat global antisemitism. The new partnership, detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding that the German airline and the leading global Jewish advocacy organization are signing, focuses on Lufthansa utilizing AJC staff experts to train airline employees to identify and respond to antisemitism.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) honored today Christian Stückl, director of the Oberammergau Passion Play, with its prestigious Isaiah Award for Exemplary Interreligious Leadership. The AJC award, honoring extraordinary achievement in interfaith endeavors, was presented to Stückl by Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC’s Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations. “Throughout his illustrious career as Oberammergau Passion Play director, Christian Stückl has demonstrated the power of one individual to make a tremendous difference," said Marans.

Bulgaria honored American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris today with the Honorary Medal of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, one of the country’s highest awards. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev bestowed the award on Harris for “his exceptional contribution to the advancement of the transatlantic partnership, the strengthening of the relations between Bulgaria and the United States, and in recognition of his role in the fight against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination.”

Austria bestowed one of its highest honors on American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris. The Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria was presented today to Harris during the AJC Board of Governors meeting.

The Federal Republic of Germany honored American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris with the prestigious Stern/Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit. It is the highest tribute Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber presented the award to Harris as “a worthy recognition of your lifelong commitment to the Jewish community and the relationship between Jews and Germany.” The ceremony took place this evening at the residence of German Consul General David Gill in New York.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) polls of the general and Muslim populations in Germany show widespread recognition of the gravity of antisemitism in Germany.

An American Jewish Committee (AJC) delegation visited Warsaw this week to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe Office. Launched in March 2017, AJC Central Europe is dedicated to seven Central European countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris today reaffirmed the leading global Jewish advocacy organization’s support for President Biden’s “resolute leadership in standing with Ukraine in the face of the reckless and illegal Russian invasion.” “You can continue to count on our full support as you galvanize both American and global power to confront this grave challenge to Ukraine, to international humanitarian law, to democratic aspirations, and to a rules-based international order,” Harris wrote in a letter today to President Biden.