March 14, 2024 - Majority Leader Schumer’s love of and care for Israel’s future is unquestioned, as is his commitment to a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We pray that his vision of two states, side by side in peace and security, can someday be made real. And in the immediate term, we will continue to pray and work to see that the hostages held in Gaza return home and humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians, as we shared in our own recent statement.
The United States has been Israel’s longest and closest ally. The importance of that relationship to Israel’s well-being over the past 75 years cannot be overstated. At the same time, even while the Netanyahu government has sought to weaken it, Israeli democracy is robust. As to Sen. Schumer’s call for new elections, we believe that only Israelis can decide when it is time for a change of government and a change of leadership. We respect Israel’s democratic processes to make such decisions.
Union for Reform Judaism
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman (she/her)
Chair
Rabbi Rick Jacobs (he/him)
President