Press Releases and Statements

Belgium’s announcement of its intention to recognize a Palestinian state is, like similar pronouncements from other nations, counterproductive to the stated goal of achieving a two-state solution, even with Brussels making clear that such recognition is dependent upon the fulfillment of specific, well-defined conditions.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, strongly opposes the German government’s decision to impose a partial arms embargo on Israel and urges Berlin to reconsider.

Today’s announcement by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the United Kingdom intends to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state in September—unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and meets a list of other one-sided conditions—is deeply alarming. It sends a chilling and dangerous message in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, massacre: that terrorism, mass murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping are viable means of achieving political objectives.

A coalition of leading American Jewish organizations, including ADL (Anti-Defamation League), American Jewish Committee (AJC), American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), B’nai B’rith International, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, UJA-Federation of New York and WJC (World Jewish Congress), today declined an invitation to meet with France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

Today’s announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron to formally and unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood without any preconditions at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September comes at an extremely troubling time, with Hamas continuing to reject proposals for a ceasefire and the return of the remaining hostages.

Japan and South Korea’s support of Israel following the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas is a reflection of a strong bond between the two nations forged by an unstinting commitment to democracy and economic ties that have propelled both nations’ growth, American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch said following a mission last week to Japan and South Korea.

The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)—the interparliamentary, cross-party network spearheaded by the American Jewish Committee (AJC)—launched its Italian chapter to strengthen the ties between Europe, and specifically Italy, the United States, Canada, and Israel. TFI Italy Chair Senator Marco Scurria announced the launch in the Italian Senate with the support of 16 bicameral lawmakers from Fratelli d'Italia, Lega, Forza Italia, Noi Moderati, and Partito Democratico.

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.

An American Jewish Committee (AJC) delegation has returned from Japan, where they met with top government leaders and diplomats to reinforce strong ties among Japan and the U.S., Israel, and the American Jewish community.

American Jewish Committee’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) inter-parliamentary group convened a virtual roundtable discussion on transatlantic responses to Iran’s nuclear ambition. Introduced by new American TFI co-chairs Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), the discussion brought together 22 members of Congress, members of the Knesset, and lawmakers from Europe and Canada. The event was moderated by AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson.

After the launch of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) inter-parliamentary group in the EU Parliament in July 2019, the first national chapter opened on October 13 in the Austrian parliament, under the leadership of Chair MP Martin Engelberg and the support of lawmakers from the Greens, the Social-Democrats and NEOS, the liberal party.

In an unprecedented transatlantic initiative, 313 cross-party lawmakers from Europe, North America, and Israel urged EU countries and democracies worldwide to help end the discrimination against Israel at the United Nations. Spearheaded by AJC’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI), the interparliamentary statement comes ahead of tomorrow’s opening of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomes the introduction today of a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives urging the European Union to designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terror organization. “We encourage swift passage of this important bipartisan resolution pressing the EU to do the right thing and correct the fiction of a bifurcated Hezbollah it endorsed nearly a decade ago,” said AJC CEO David. “Mistakenly believing it can tame Hezbollah’s behavior, a proposition unsupported by evidence, the EU has created ‘military’ and ‘political’ wings within Hezbollah, when, in reality, it is a single, unified terrorist entity."

American Jewish Committee applauded the Slovenian government for recognizing Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization. The government announced today that it “adopted a decision on treating the Hezbollah Group as a criminal and terrorist organization posing a threat to peace and security.”

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization, praised Germany’s decision today to ban Hezbollah’s activities on the country’s soil, determining that the organization in its entirety is engaged in terrorist activity. The government’s action will ban all activity, prohibit public display of all symbols, and confiscate all assets of Hezbollah in Germany.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, addressing the AJC Global Forum, extolled his country’s close relations with Israel, recalled the efforts of his countrymen to save Bulgaria’s Jewish population during World War II, and expressed support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz declared at the 2018 AJC Global Forum that the Austrian government viewed both the fight against antisemitism and the security of the state of Israel as part of the country’s Staatsräson, or national interest.

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, will address the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum in Jerusalem.

Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of Austria, will address the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum in Jerusalem. The four-day conference, June 10-13, is the premier Jewish global advocacy organization’s signature annual event.