J Street welcomes the Biden Administration’s decision to allow passage of a UN Security Council Resolution demanding the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages, an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during the month of Ramadan, and full compliance with international law, including ensuring access for humanitarian aid.
The US abstained from the otherwise unanimously supported resolution despite a stunning threat from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a high profile visit by senior Israeli officials to the United States if President Biden did not exercise America’s veto power.
“The United States should not use its veto to block diplomatic efforts which are consistent with US policy,” said J Street Vice President and Chief of Staff Adina Vogel Ayalon. “This is a welcome step in the right direction. It’s part of a pattern of steps by President Biden to give fuller force to his calls to release hostages, protect civilians and end the humanitarian catastrophe. It’s extraordinary that a Prime Minister of Israel would seek to influence US policy through threats like this, and President Biden is right to show he won’t be bullied. It’s deeply unfortunate that Prime Minister Netanyahu is now blocking consultations with Israel’s closest ally over a consequential policy disagreement at this critical moment.”