J Street Calls on Congress to Join in Pressing for Biden Administration Action on Israel-Palestine in Remaining Months

New memo sent to House and Senate as part of broad campaign calling for precedent-setting series of actions

November 11, 2024

J Street – the pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy movement – sent a memo to congressional offices today urging legislators to press President Biden to take a series of immediate, concrete steps related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The steps are designed as significant, enduring markers and precedents that – even with a new, incoming administration – will enforce US and international law, alleviate suffering in Gaza, restrain far-right extremists and blunt the impact of the Trump-Netanyahu agenda.

“President Biden remains Commander in Chief and has tremendous international influence. There are real steps he can take right now to set precedents for future US policy and to strengthen the international community’s response to multiple ongoing crises in Israel-Palestine and the broader region. Steps taken today will have a real impact months and years from now,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami.

“There’s a long history of outgoing presidents leaving behind a legacy and a roadmap as they depart the White House. There is real value to setting new baselines and precedents that will endure far beyond any one administration and lay down markers for future debates in the country and party. President Biden has a window of opportunity for action, and he must use it,” Ben-Ami said.

The recommendations to Congress include:

  • Press the Biden Administration to redouble its efforts, together with our allies, to pressure Israel and Hamas for a deal that frees the hostages and achieves a Gaza ceasefire – as well as for a diplomatic solution that ends the war with Hezbollah and allows civilians to return home safely;
  • Urge the President to support a balanced UN Security Council resolution reaffirming that annexation of Palestinian territory outside the context of a mutually agreed exchange of land between Israel and the Palestinian people would violate international law;
  • Press the administration to enforce existing US law regarding the Israeli government’s obstruction of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The administration should set the precedent of pausing certain offensive weapons transfers until Israel fulfills its obligations, as US law requires for any recipient of US security assistance that is found to be out of compliance. No new laws or new conditions specific to Israel are required, and these pauses would not affect the Iron Dome or other defensive systems;
  • Urge the administration to impose sanctions under the terms of Executive Order 14115 against extremist Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and entities that support settlement growth and settler violence, and encourage other countries to do the same;
  • Call for the President to deliver a major speech that lays out an American vision for achieving regional security and peace – including a resolution to Israel’s conflicts with its neighbors that prioritizes the essential goal of Palestinian statehood – grounded in President Biden’s many decades of experience on the world stage and his proven friendship to Israel.

Today’s memo is part of a broader J Street campaign in the remaining weeks of the Biden Administration to promote bold, precedent-setting and legacy-defining action that will ultimately bolster Israel’s long-term security and democratic standing. J Street has shared its recommendations directly with the administration, provided a detailed memo to Members of both the House and Senate and circulated a petition to hundreds of thousands of supporters calling on the Biden Administration to take action immediately.