Friends,
We founded J Street recognizing a core reality: Only two states – Israel and Palestine – can deliver peace, safety and freedom to Palestinians and Israelis alike, while also securing Israel’s Jewish, democratic future.
Right now, Trump and Netanyahu are erasing hope for Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu is on the precipice of annexing parts of the West Bank, and Trump’s team is drafting glossy plans to remove Palestinians from Gaza. This week, the US took the extraordinary step of barring Palestinians from entering the US to represent their people at the UN.
As Australia’s foreign minister warned, without recognition soon, there may be “no Palestine left to recognize.”
That’s why J Street is backing a landmark congressional letter – led by J Street Champion Ro Khanna – to rally support for recognition of Palestinian statehood. Click here to call on your Member of Congress to sign the letter and support US recognition of Palestine »
Let’s be clear: Recognition is not a silver bullet. Job one continues to be ending the war in Gaza, freeing the hostages and getting aid into Gaza. And the Palestinian Authority must continue to pursue democratic, security and anti-corruption reforms.
But as former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon wrote in Time, “military action alone cannot defeat extremism. It must be paired with a credible, alternative political vision.”
Recognizing Palestine, he points out, “could help create new momentum toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while undercutting the ideology of violent resistance espoused by Hamas.”
If you agree, tell your Member of Congress to add their name to Ro Khanna’s recognition letter today »
As with any bold step forward, there are many lining up to tell us why this won’t work, especially the cheerleaders of the settlement movement.
They will claim this rewards terror.
But the real gift to Hamas is endless war in Gaza, relentless settlement expansion and the vile anti-Palestinian rhetoric of extremist ministers.
It takes no small amount of chutzpah: Some of those same voices calling recognition a “gift to Hamas” have spent decades undercutting Palestinian moderates – including by channeling money to Hamas - in their quest to bury the idea of a Palestinian state.
They will claim this undermines peace.
But it’s settlements, annexation and extremism that are killing hope. Recognition weakens Hamas and strengthens the Palestinian Authority, an institution that coordinates security with Israeli authorities every day and is committed to a non-violent path to peace.
It rewards steps taken already – including prisoner payment reforms and recognition of Israeli statehood – and unlocks new incentives for further reforms in exchange for deepening ties on trade, visas and international participation.
Some will say recognition is purely symbolic.
But affirmation of a people’s right to freedom and self-determination goes far beyond symbolism. It carries with it important opportunities to build the foundations of nationhood, from issuing currency and passports to signing international treaties.
Most importantly, by recognizing Palestine, the US can render far-right annexation plans untenable and redirect diplomacy toward the real issues of borders, security and peace.
No people should endure endless statelessness, military occupation and the erosion of their freedoms. As Jews, we know: 2,000 years never erased our dream of being a free people in our own land.
We cannot know how the war in Gaza will end – but we do know the cycle of horror and trauma will only repeat itself for future generations unless we break the impasse and make irreversible progress toward peace.
The time for recognition has come. Please add your name to our petition today »
Yours in hope,
Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street
