In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise that if re-elected he will “extend sovereignty” to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and prevent a two-state solution, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement:

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s outrageous promise confirms what was already clear: The Israeli right is determined to annex the West Bank and permanently prevent the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. If carried out, even a partial annexation would be a disastrous blow to Israel’s security and democracy — and a severe violation of international law. Israel cannot rule permanently over millions of Palestinians while denying them equal civil and political rights.

While the Trump administration has actively enabled and empowered Netanyahu and the settlement movement, all responsible American elected officials and presidential candidates must make clear that Netanyahu’s statement is dangerous and unacceptable — and that any West Bank annexations would bring about a major crisis in the US-Israel relationship.

All American Jewish organizations that claim to support a two-state solution must come together to unequivocally condemn the direction in which Netanyahu and his political allies are leading the state of Israel. At such a pivotal time, any silence or equivocation will be seen as condoning the prime minister’s vision of permanent occupation, unending conflict and a one-state nightmare.”