Over the last five years, the Jewish political advocacy group J Street has gained significant influence, with five Democratic presidential candidates speaking at their 2019 convention and successfully pushing for congressional Democrats to support a bill for a two-state solution in 2021. However, despite their efforts to maintain a moderate stance as a pro-Israel, pro-peace organization, J Street faced criticism for their response to the Hamas attack on Israel in October. Some staff members and donors expressed frustration with J Street’s delayed call for a cease-fire and departure from their original mission to push for diplomatic solutions over military ones.
The internal turmoil within J Street has raised concerns about the organization’s ability to maintain their middle-ground position on Israel without being torn apart by forces on the right and left. Several employees and donors have left J Street due to disagreements with the group’s stance on the conflict in Gaza. In response to criticism, J Street’s founder and president, Jeremy Ben-Ami, defended the organization’s position as still being aligned with the beliefs of a large portion of American Jews who support a two-state solution and criticize the Israeli government’s policies.
Despite the criticisms and departures from some members, supporters of J Street argue that the organization remains at the center of American Jewish opinion, aligning with their values as a pro-Israel, pro-peace group. A Pew Research survey found that a majority of American Jews support both military aid to Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza, echoing J Street’s position. However, generational divides among American Jews have raised concerns that J Street may be losing support among younger generations who may disagree with their stance on current events in Israel.
The conflict in Gaza has led to growing misgivings among American Jews about the way Israel is conducting the war and its impact on Palestinian civilians. While many still support Israel, there is a concern that younger generations are being alienated by organizations like J Street that do not align with their more critical views of Israel’s actions. J Street has faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance against Israel’s conduct during the conflict, leading to internal conflicts and departures of staff members and donors who no longer support the organization.
Despite the criticisms and concerns about alienating certain supporters, J Street has also been successful in attracting individuals who previously dismissed the organization as too left-leaning. Disaffected by the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu, former President Trump, AIPAC, and Israel’s conduct in the conflict, some have reconsidered their views on J Street and aligned with their nuanced approach to the situation. Rabbi Marc Israel, for example, shifted his support from AIPAC to J Street, citing the organization’s ability to express the nuanced views of many American Jews in the current political climate.
