April 17, 2024
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to thank you for your unwavering commitment to the security of our ally Israel. This past weekend’s unprecedented salvo of aerial armaments unleashed by Iran, in retaliation for a strike reportedly by Israel on senior IRGC officers in the Iranian consulate in Damascus, posed a serious threat to Israel that had the potential to inflict major injuries and loss of life. Thankfully, the impressive performance of Israel’s US-funded missile defense program, coupled with defensive military support from the United States and other allies, proved effective at preventing a far more severe and deadly scenario.
Throughout your career, you have been a stalwart proponent of the US-Israel relationship – including aid for systems like Iron Dome, Arrow, and more – and never has your support been more on display or unquestionable than in the months since October 7. As organizations with deep relationships to the people and the State of Israel, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your friendship.
We are grateful as well for your efforts to prevent the fighting that has followed Hamas’ barbaric October 7 attack from escalating. While Israel retains the right to respond to the Iranian attack and may do so at a later date, we urge you to maintain the firm line you have articulated that now is the time for de-escalation and deterrence.
Furthermore, so long as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza persists, with its ever-growing toll on the civilian population, both the United States’ and Israel’s alliances will remain strained, and Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed forces will continue to look for ways to capitalize on the aftermath of October 7. We urge you to persist in pressing Hamas, via appropriate channels, to accept a negotiated ceasefire–the terms to which it is reported that Israel already agreed–that stops the fighting, releases all hostages, and facilitates the distribution of the massive surge in humanitarian aid that is needed to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Finally, we know as you do that Israel’s long-term security and regional stability relies ultimately on the establishment of an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state, which can unlock Israel’s full normalization of relations with the broader Arab world. After the fighting stops in Gaza, we encourage you to put forward a bold vision for the future that leads to Palestinian statehood and full normalization of Israeli relations with most Arab states that allows for the creation of a meaningful regional security architecture to deter Iran and for the rebuilding of Gaza as well as southern and northern Israel.
Thank you for your continued leadership and defense of American and democratic values here at home and abroad.
Sincerely,
Ameinu
Americans for Peace Now
Habonim Dror North America
J Street
Jewish Labor Committee
New Israel Fund
New York Jewish Agenda
Partners for Progressive Israel
