Israel

An effort by Dublin leaders to remove Chaim Herzog’s name from a community park symbolizes and risks erasing a piece of Irish Jewish history.

After more than two years of war, a U.S.-brokered deal under President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan led to the release of all Israeli hostages, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, with the recovery of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili on January 26, 2026, marking the completion of phase one.

U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet on Tuesday for Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), in his first U.S. visit since 2018. Among the major items announced were a Strategic Defense Agreement, the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, as well as a civilian nuclear agreement and designating the kingdom as a major non-NATO ally.

AJC CEO Ted Deutch joins ABC News Live from Israel to discuss the historic return of hostages, President Trump’s speech at the Knesset, and the path toward lasting peace in the Middle East.

AJC CEO Ted Deutch joins MSNBC live from Israel to reflect on the emotional return of Israeli hostages from Gaza, the significance of the fragile ceasefire, and what it means for hopes of lasting peace in the Middle East.

AJC experts break down the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas deal, Gaza ceasefire, regional shifts, and next steps for hostages, governance, and advancing lasting peace in the Middle East.

More than two years after the October 7 massacre, Hamas has agreed to return the 48 hostages still in Gaza under the U.S.-brokered peace deal. Jessica Bernton, AJC’s Director of Congressional Affairs, shares details of AJC’s joint advocacy with the hostage families of returned hostages—how personal stories, bipartisan meetings with Congress and the White House, and coordinated delegations kept the issue at the forefront.

As France, Spain, the U.K., Canada, and Australia move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood, Israel remains at war with Hamas after the October 7 massacre. Premature recognition may seem like a bold diplomatic step toward a two-state solution, but it risks rewarding terrorism, destabilizing the region, and delaying genuine peace. This explainer outlines four key reasons recognition now fails—and four actions that can actually move negotiations forward. First, dismantle Hamas’s military and political power so violence is not legitimized. Second, confront the divided Palestinian governance structure by demanding institutional reform, an end to corruption, and enforceable security guarantees. Third, uphold the Oslo framework and return to direct Israeli-Palestinian talks that alone can resolve borders and security. Finally, replace symbolic gestures with regional cooperation, building on the Abraham Accords to create real economic and security incentives. Sustainable peace requires accountability, unified governance, and security for both peoples—not headlines without substance.

When will the next hostages be released? Discover the details of the Israel-Hamas hostage and ceasefire deal, including the release of 33 hostages and ongoing negotiations for remaining captives. Learn about the phases of the agreement, the American hostages held by Hamas, and how families have endured months of advocacy and uncertainty. Stay updated on this pivotal development in the Israel-Gaza conflict

Recent conflict in Syria’s Druze-majority areas has drawn international attention, highlighting the complex challenges faced by this minority amid shifting regional dynamics and Israel’s efforts to protect its Druze brethren. Here’s what to know about the Druze and Israel’s efforts to defend them.

Over the weekend, the Iranian regime launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on Israel resulting in at least 24 deaths, hundreds of injuries, and extensive damage.

The current war in Gaza has been exceedingly painful. For Israelis, the 48 hostages being held by Hamas for over 22 months remains central, as does the near-daily loss of life of Israeli soldiers. For Palestinians, the loss of civilian lives and food security is a heartbreaking reminder of the horrors of war.

Noa Argamani, one of the most recognized survivors of Hamas captivity, sits down for an interview at AJC Global Forum 2025 and delivers a powerful and emotional call to action.

Some Hollywood stars are using the Cannes Film Festival to amplify a false narrative: accusing Israel of genocide.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. For journalist Yardena Schwartz, the massacre was a chilling echo of the 1929 Hebron Massacre—the brutal slaughter of nearly 70 Jews, incited by propaganda that Jews sought to seize the Al Aqsa Mosque. At the time, she was writing her first book, "Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict". Yardena shares how history repeated itself, how the October 7 attack reshaped her book, and why understanding the past is essential to making sense of the present.

Mass protests in Israel, initially sparked by judicial reforms, have escalated due to the Gaza war and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attempts to remove top officials, including the attorney general and Shin Bet chief. Critics argue these moves threaten democracy and prioritize Netanyahu’s political survival over national security, while supporters see them as necessary to restore governance. As tensions rise, opposition leaders and legal experts warn of deepening political turmoil, with implications for Israel’s future stability and its war strategy.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, who has a long history of espousing vile antisemitism, attacked AJC a recent interview in Ireland. AJC CEO Ted Deutch responds to her outrageous claims.

Former Israeli hostage Shoshan Haran, abducted during the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, shares her harrowing story of survival and resilience. Shoshan was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Be’eri alongside her family, including her son-in-law Tal Shoham, her daughter, and her young grandchildren. While she and the other women and children were released after 50 days in November 2023, Tal remained in Gaza for 505 days and was released in February 2025.

To ensure Israeli scholars and their American colleagues can collaborate freely, and foster research and innovation that benefits all of humanity, 2 scientists at MIT formed The Kalaniyot Foundation, named after Israel's national flower. Drs. Or Hen and Ernest Fraenkel speak on the impact of anti-Israel boycotts on academic collaboration with Israeli scholars, and what they’re doing to rehabilitate the reputation of Israeli researchers in the eyes of the world.

As part of AJC’s Center for a New Middle East introductory event in Washington, D.C., Jason Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, and Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East, hold a wide-ranging conversation on the importance of bringing every single hostage home, President Donald Trump’s priorities in the Middle East, expanding the Abraham Accords, and more pressing issues that matter to Israel and the Jewish people.