Press Releases and Statements

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, is horrified by the violent, antisemitic assaults on Israeli and Jewish fans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team that took place in Amsterdam. This modern-day pogrom reflects a broader rise in antisemitic violence across Europe since October 7 – fueled not only by an anti-Israel political ideology and extremist interpretations of Islam, but also by the rhetoric and complacency of some European leaders. Symbolically, the attacks were a chilling reminder of Europe’s darkest chapters on the very eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9.

Marc D. Jaffe has been honored with American Jewish Committee’s Judge Learned Hand Award, AJC’s highest honor for members of the legal profession.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the nonpartisan global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, congratulates Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States and J.D. Vance as Vice President.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), on the eve of the 2024 election, calls for civility in the lead up to, and in the days after, Election Day. Our democracy is built on respect for and trust in our electoral process and a smooth transition of power. It is up to its citizens and political leaders to maintain this ideal.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) Chicago today welcomed a joint statement from a coalition of leaders representing wards from around Chicago calling on newly appointed Chicago Public School Board President Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson to resign given past antisemitic statements.

AJC Statement on the Death of Hamas Head Yahya Sinwar

American Jewish Committee (AJC) strongly believes that it is harmful for disagreements between the United States and Israel, two close allies, to be discussed in the public eye, and is engaging with high-level officials in both governments regarding the humanitarian aid situation in the Gaza Strip. It is clear that Israel is facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza. Ensuring that aid continues to reach Palestinian civilians is critical.

AJC Statement on UNIFIL and Current Situation in Lebanon

American Jewish Committee today expressed outrage at the irresponsible and profoundly biased report published by an independent UN panel that uncritically endorses defamatory claims that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza aims to deliberately harm the Palestinian people and largely ignores Hamas’ policy of recklessly and intentionally endangering civilians.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today brought together diplomats from more than 45 countries for memorial events recognizing the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terror attack, during which Hamas terrorists massacred 1,200 Israelis and took 251 people from Israel and 25 other countries hostage. U.S. and Israeli officials that addressed the events included Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff; U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield; U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt; and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch issued the following statement in response to today’s Iranian missile barrage against Israel:

American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch today met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside other organizations representing the American Jewish community, following the Prime Minister’s speech to the UN General Assembly.

AJC is under no illusions that a definitive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be simple - or is close at hand. However, with pragmatism and visionary leadership, AJC continues to imagine, and strive for, a more hopeful future in which Israelis’ security requirements and Palestinians’ political aspirations can be fulfilled.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) tonight honored Tal Becker, a veteran peace negotiator and legal advisor to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for his tireless efforts to strengthen and safeguard the Jewish homeland in the community of nations, as well as his steadfast commitment to peace in the Middle East.

The Madeline and Bruce Ramer Award for Diplomatic Excellence was presented to Becker at this year’s AJC Global Jewish Diplomacy Reception, a keystone event of AJC’s Diplomatic Marathon on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly—a three-decade-old, first-of-its-kind outreach operation aimed at advancing issues of concern to the Jewish community with leaders from around the globe. The reception is the main Jewish event during the opening days of this year’s meeting.

The world community must not waver in its support of Ukraine in its fight against the brutal and unprovoked invasion by Russia, now in its third year. In his address today to the UN General Assembly, President Zelensky made a compelling case for a just peace. Ukraine deserves nothing less.

American Jewish Committee today welcomed a sweeping report that found the City University of New York (CUNY) is ill-equipped to handle rampant antisemitism at many of its campuses.

In his first address to the United Nations as Iran's President, President Pezeshkian sought to portray himself – and the regime he represents – as a thoughtful partner on the world stage. It is important to remember that his is a regime that is single-handedly responsible for undermining regional stability in the Middle East and around the world, pouring funding and weapons into terror groups that are committed to death and destruction, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, all while building nuclear weapons in violation of international law and the JCPOA.

President Biden has long been a stalwart defender of Israel and his stirring address to the UN General Assembly sent an unequivocal message to the world that his support and that of the United States for Israel remains ironclad.

Today, American Jewish Committee (AJC), Hillel International, and the American Council on Education (ACE) concluded a landmark two-day College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism, held at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. With more than 75 university presidents and chancellors attending, the Summit marked the largest-ever gathering of college and university presidents to discuss the topic of confronting antisemitism on campus.

With the FBI reporting that hate crimes against Jews increased a staggering 63% year over year, from 1,124 in 2022 to 1,832 in 2023, AJC recognizes that the actual numbers of incidents is likely greater, as hate crimes are widely underreported across the country. Despite Jews only accounting for 2% of the U.S. population, the community was the target of 68% of religiously motivated hate crimes committed in 2023.