U.S. - Israel Relations - American Jewish Congress

May 12, 2025 - PRESS RELEASE: Edan Is Finally Free

May 12, 2025, New York, NY - The American Jewish Congress welcomes the release of the hostage Edan Alexander after 584 days of unimaginable captivity at the hands of the brutal terrorist organization Hamas. Edan, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was freed following sustained diplomatic efforts by the United States, and we are deeply moved to see him reunited with his family. Edan Alexander grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, and at the age of 18 made aliyah to Israel to volunteer for military service in the IDF’s Golani Brigade. He lived with his grandparents in Tel Aviv and with his…

November 6, 2024 - PRESS RELEASE: Statement of Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump

November 6, 2024, New York, NY – The American Jewish Congress extends its heartfelt congratulations to President Donald J. Trump for winning the 2024 presidential election. Mr. Trump was able to convince American voters with his platform, and this victory reflects the will of the American people. Throughout his first term, President Trump achieved significant milestones that strengthened and furthered the bonds between the United States and Israel. His administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem were historic. At the same time, the landmark Abraham Accords, which launched Israel’s normalization with several…

July 22, 2024 - PRESS RELEASE: Statement on President Biden’s Announcement

July 22, 2024, New York, NY - Jack Rosen, Chairman of the American Jewish Congress, released the following statement following President Biden's announcement on July 21, 2024: "I have known President Joe Biden for over 30 years. Yet, after all this time, he still continues to surprise me with his selfless dedication to America, his commitment to democracy, and his genuine love for everything that makes our nation great. Every decision and action he takes reflects these core values. Throughout his entire career, President Biden has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the Jewish community and Israel. He’s always felt it…

April 4, 2024 - PRESS RELEASE: Statement on U.S. President Biden’s Call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

April 4, 2024, New York, NY – The American Jewish Congress (AJCongress) released a statement following President Joe Biden’s call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel earlier today: “We welcome President Biden’s clarity and leadership in protecting America’s interests and in supporting our ally Israel at war while striving to mitigate the inevitable harm that a military conflict does to innocent people on all sides. The President speaks and acts like a true friend of Israel, including in his conversations with Israeli leaders with whom he enjoys years of familiarity and partnership. Defeating Hamas terrorism and mitigating the harms of war in Gaza are…

March 30, 2024 - PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Approves New Arms Package to Support Israel

March 30, 2024, New York, NY - As reported by The Washington Post, the Biden Administration authorized a new arms package to support Israel amid its fight with the terrorist organization Hamas. This critical arms package includes 2,300 bombs, as well as 25 F-35 fighter jets (worth roughly $2.5 billion). America continues to stand with Israel! We have unfortunately seen a growing chorus of far-left elected officials and so-called peace activists that seek to condition and eventually curtail U.S. aid to Israel. However, it is incredibly encouraging to see that the key decision-makers in D.C. reflect a deep understanding of the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East and…

January 19, 2024 - NEW YORK TIMES: Black and Jewish Activists Have Allied for Decades. What Now?

Published originally in the New York Times. Eva Borgwardt first embraced the Palestinian cause the summer after she graduated from high school. It happened because of Michael Brown. It was August 2014, and in Ferguson, Mo., not far from her family’s well-off St. Louis neighborhood, protests were erupting after Brown was killed by a police officer. At home, Borgwardt had often wondered who she would have been during the civil rights movement. Would she have really stood up for what was right? Now, as the demonstrations for racial justice and against police brutality dominated the news, her mother, a history professor and…

January 8, 2024 - PRESS RELEASE: Daniel Rosen Appointed President of American Jewish Congress

January 8, 2024, New York - In Shadow of Rising Antisemitism and Israel’s War with Hamas, Influential Advocacy Organization Charts a New Direction The board of directors of the American Jewish Congress, a New York-based nonprofit organization founded more than 100 years ago by luminaries including Albert Einstein and Supreme Court Justices Felix Frankfurter and Louis Brandeis, has named real estate executive and U.S. Presidential appointee Daniel Rosen its new President. Rosen’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Jewish-Americans and the security of the State of Israel as antisemitism is reaching a fever pitch in American communities and college campuses.…

December 5, 2023 - PRESS RELEASE: Vice Chair Daniel Rosen Meets Special Envoy Lipstadt, Highlights Community Concerns About Rising Antisemitism

American Jewish Congress Vice Chair Daniel Rosen with Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt December 5, 2023, New York, NY – American Jewish Congress Vice Chair Daniel Rosen met last week with Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, President Biden’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, and expressed his deep concerns about the skyrocketing rise in antisemitism, both at home and abroad, in particular since the October 7 terror attack in Israel by Hamas. Daniel Rosen praised and thanked Ambassador Lipstadt for her tremendous leadership at this challenging time. Her active role and high-level engagements with American and international leaders are sincerely encouraging and have helped to raise awareness…

November 24, 2023 - PRESS RELEASE: President Biden’s Clarity On The War Against Hamas Is A Watershed Moment In America’s Foreign Policy

November 24, 2023, New York, NY - President Biden continues his unrelenting support for Israel through the war’s sixth week in a principled stand that defies political pressures and cuts through disinformation. This moral clarity was on display in his Washington Post op-ed over the weekend where he rejected a ceasefire and convincingly argued in favor of breaking the cycle of violence by eliminating its cause, and rallied the nation behind his emergency funding request for Israel and Ukraine.President Biden is showing matchless leadership under tremendous pressures. There always is an easier way but the president opted for what is right. He…

November 15, 2023 - PRESS RELEASE: American Jewish Congress Celebrates the Historic “March for Israel” in Washington, D.C.

New York, NY, November 15, 2023 - The "March for Israel" held yesterday in Washington, D.C., stands as an unprecedented and historic demonstration of unity, strength, and solidarity among hundreds of thousands of American Jews and pro-Israel advocates. With almost 300,000 people present, this march truly amplified the Jewish community’s collective voice and stands as a testament to our resilience and determination. By all accounts, this historic gathering not only marked the largest pro-Israel assembly but also became the largest Jewish gathering in U.S. history. This is a Jewish response of epic proportions, both to the existential threat facing Israel following…