Press Releases and Statements

Colombian President Ivan Duque, appearing today on an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Advocacy Anywhere program, declared that his country is “the number one ally” of Israel and the United States in Latin America. In a 30-minute conversation with Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA), President Duque discussed Colombia’s relations with Israel and the United States, the Jewish community in Colombia, Hezbollah, and the crisis in Venezuela.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is supporting IsraAID efforts to furnish urgent humanitarian supplies to Guatemala following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Eta in the Central American country.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), in coordination with Israeli Flying Aid (IFA), is providing tents for thousands of people in Chad who have lost their homes in massive floods.

“The truth is that for Argentines, the AMIA attack is very painful. This was not an attack against the Jewish community only, it was an attack against Argentina,” President Fernandez said on an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Advocacy Anywhere program today. “The victims, many of them, were members of the Jewish community. But they were Argentines first and foremost and it hurts us as such.” In a 45-minute conversation with Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Belfer Center for Latino and Latin American Affairs, President Fernandez discussed the AMIA bombing, Hezbollah, antisemitism, his visit to Israel, the coronavirus pandemic, and Argentina’s relations with the United States.

The Latino Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC) applauds the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

“Given the massive tragedy Hezbollah wrought on Argentina 25 years ago, adding the Iranian-sponsored terror organization to the new registry and freezing its assets is a positive step on the long and winding path to justice for the AMIA bombing victims and their families,” said Dina Siegel Vann, AJC Director of Latino and Latin American Affairs, who is in Buenos Aires for the 25th anniversary events.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) presented its Champion of Democracy Award to Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), for exemplifying courageous and visionary leadership in fighting for democratic rule in the region and for combating antisemitism and terrorism.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) strongly supports calls for establishing an inclusive civilian government in Sudan that supports human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedoms for all.

A delegation of American Jewish Committee (AJC) leaders — joined by representatives of the Mexican-American community from across the United States and leaders of the Mexican Jewish community — met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador today for an hour-long session.

The recent actions by Juan Guaido, President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, the only remaining democratic institution in the country, have injected new hope that the cause of democracy will advance after years of suffocating authoritarianism and corruption.

“As longstanding advocates for robust relations between Brazil and Israel, we are especially gratified that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended President Bolsonaro’s inauguration and met with him, as well as with other regional leaders,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.

The Council recently met in Austin to take stock of its 2018 initiatives, address the most pressing developments on its priority agenda, and join in the launching of the Texas LJLC, its first regional affiliate.

“We are inspired by the many accomplishments of this small community over the last eight decades,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director of AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) stands with the people of Puerto Rico in honoring the memories of the thousands of casualties caused by Hurricane Maria on the one-year anniversary of this disaster.

AJC is dismayed that Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, just prior to leaving office, recognized a Palestinian state despite his commitment during his tenure not to do so.

An AJC delegation has just concluded a three-day visit to Santiago.

AJC condemns the unconscionable separation of nearly 2,000 children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks and urges immediate congressional action to change the administration’s policy.

AJC’s Latino Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC) will visit Puerto Rico this week on a fact-finding and solidarity mission.

AJC New York’s Latino-Jewish Coalition, in partnership with AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, held an advocacy training for leaders of the Puerto Rican and Jewish communities. The event at AJC headquarters addressed ways to work together to aid Puerto Rico’s recovery.

The national Latino Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC) convened in the nation’s capital for a series of meetings on the first anniversary of its founding.