Press Releases and Statements

American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns the passing of Pope Francis. The pontiff, who was elected to serve in 2013, died today at the age of 88. Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to the throne of St. Peter after decades as a priest, bishop, archbishop, and cardinal in greater Buenos Aires, where he enjoyed an exemplary relationship with the Argentinian Jewish community. He chose Francis as his papal name, in tribute to St. Francis of Assisi, a forerunner of the interreligious outreach which characterized Francis’s papacy.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is monitoring the planned negotiations between Iran and the United States related to the Iranian regime's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Action toward a solution is necessary and overdue. The Iranian regime has long been a destabilizing force on the world stage. It has continuously called for the destruction of the U.S. and Israel, supported terrorism, interfered in the internal affairs of other nations, and committed pervasive human rights abuses. Its ongoing, active threats to regional stability and peace are intolerable.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) was joined Wednesday evening by ambassadors and other diplomats from more than 50 countries, along with U.S. officials and civil society and communal leaders at AJC Washington's 33rd Annual Ambassadors’ Seder. In hearing from both Ambassador of Ukraine Oksana Markarova and freed hostages Keith and Aviva Seigel, the event explored the Passover themes of liberation, freedom, unity, and faith.

Following three days of reflection and collaboration at the third Jewish Africa Conference (JAC), American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Mimouna Association, and American Sephardi Federation (ASF) issued the Cape Town Declaration, a joint call for increased unity among Africa’s Jewish communities. The declaration highlights the importance of collaboration across the continent to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future, as well as the need to better protect African Jewish heritage and enhance these communities’ integration and visibility within the Jewish diaspora and the broader international community.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) has repeatedly insisted that universities must take action to counter and prevent antisemitism on their campuses. However, the broad, sweeping, and devastating cuts in federal funding that a growing number of American research universities have been subjected to in recent weeks, under the auspices of combating antisemitism, will damage America’s standing as a center of innovation and research excellence.

Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Managing Director of AJC Europe, wrote to UN member states expressing concern about the possible reappointment of Francesca Albanese, to serve as UN Special Rapporteur regarding human rights in the Palestinian territories.

A bipartisan group of mayors has returned from Israel as part of a joint delegation sponsored by American Jewish Committee (AJC) Project Interchange and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The intensive program, which ran from March 17-22, enabled the mayors to gain first-hand knowledge of the situation in Israel at a time when the nation continues to confront ongoing terror attacks and threats from the Iranian regime and its proxies on multiple fronts and grapples with the fate of the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas.

With deep sorrow, American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns the loss of former Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a true friend to AJC and an irreplaceable champion of the Jewish people.

Today, American Jewish Committee (AJC) Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker met with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin during his official visit to Washington to directly address concerns about antisemitism and the demonization of Israel in Ireland, seen as one of the most problematic countries in Europe. AJC, the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, has been in close touch with Ireland’s Jewish community as the situation has worsened following Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. ADL Senior Vice President for International Affairs, Ambassador Marina Rosenberg, also participated in the meeting.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) New England has released a new report unpacking the Massachusetts Teachers Association's (MTA) failure to take meaningful actions to address deeply troubling “curriculum resources” that it curated for its members—including teachers who work in K-12 schools.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today wrote to the Joint Federal Task Force on Antisemitism expressing appreciation for holding Columbia University accountable “for its egregious record of antisemitism” while also voicing concerns that “life-saving scientific research and other critical fields that have little connection to the areas where antisemitism has manifested may be harmed by arbitrary, across the board cuts to grants and research contracts.”

AJC Statement on ICE Proceeding Against Mahmoud Khalil

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today wrote to the Joint Federal Task Force on Antisemitism expressing appreciation for holding Columbia University accountable “for its egregious record of antisemitism” while also voicing concerns that “life-saving scientific research and other critical fields that have little connection to the areas where antisemitism has manifested may be harmed by arbitrary, across the board cuts to grants and research contracts.”

It is an insult to students and all those who value education based in critical thinking, viewpoint diversity, and fact-based inquiry, that a job description for a Palestinian Studies professor at Hunter College sought candidates who would further a divisive, one-sided narrative that would have been replete with falsehoods about Israel.
We thank Governor Hochul for ordering the listing’s removal and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to stoke hatred toward Israel, which often turns into outright antisemitism.

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, brought together the Trump Administration, elected officials, diplomats, and thought leaders in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to introduce AJC’s Center for a New Middle East and present a vision for a new path forward in the Middle East in a post-October 7 world. As outlined in the Center’s policy recommendations for the Trump administration, released at tonight’s event, the Center’s work focuses on interconnected initiatives that deepen ties throughout the Middle East with a focus on diplomacy, business, and civil society.

As the world marks the third anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and its sustained campaign of human rights violations and war crimes, American Jewish Committee (AJC) reaffirms unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Major Jewish organizations on February 20 announced that the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against the school district for introducing ethnic studies courses that were developed in secret and infected with antisemitism.

Following today's return of Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz, all murdered while in terrorist captivity in Gaza, American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns with the families and all of Israel. AJC also anxiously awaits the return of Ariel and Kfir’s mother, Shiri, and the planned release of six living hostages on Saturday.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) New England welcomes today’s statement from Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy that they will remove from the MTA’s website “any materials that do not further the cause of promoting understanding.” This statement refers to the publication of very troubling, one-sided, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israel content posted on the MTA’s members-only website.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is concerned by President Trump’s comments undermining the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and suggesting that Ukraine bears responsibility for the war that Russia began — in 2014 with the occupation of Crimea and in 2022 with the illegal invasion of Ukraine.