WASHINGTON — Jeremy Ben-Ami, president and founder of J Street, issued the following response to an advertising campaign urging cuts to U.S. military aid to Israel:
J Street profoundly disagrees with advertisements appearing on public transit around the country calling for cuts in U.S. military aid to Israel.
We believe that if the campaign’s organizers are really looking to promote a productive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they should put their energy and their money into mobilizing broad-based political support for assertive American efforts to resolve the conflict through a two-state solution, rather than campaigns that put blame and pressure on only one side.
J Street supports a strong U.S.-Israel relationship based on shared values and interests as well as America’s assurance of Israel’s qualitative military edge that ensures its security.
J Street similarly opposes campaigns currently being run to suspend U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Such aid strengthens state-building efforts in the West Bank, develops the local economy and gives the Palestinian people the tools needed for a vibrant democracy.