(RNS) — President Donald Trump’s announcement greater than per week in the past that he wished the USA to take over the Gaza Strip and drive its Palestinian residents to neighboring nations initially surprised many American Jewish teams and leaders into silence.
However slowly, they’re starting to weigh in.
In a full-page advert in The New York Instances Thursday (Feb. 13), some 350 rabbis and a number of Jewish celebrities condemned the plan. The advert learn: “Trump has referred to as for the elimination of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish folks say NO to ethnic cleaning!”
Over the course of the week, the 2 largest American Jewish denominations, the Reform and Conservative actions, additionally issued statements objecting to Trump’s plan. The Rabbinical Meeting, representing the Conservative motion, stated the plan was “anathema to Jewish values and worldwide human rights legislation.” The Union for Reform Judaism stated emptying Gaza was “neither an appropriate strategic nor ethical motion.”
Nonetheless, institution American Jewish organizations have issued impartial non-statements. And a number of other of the massive Jewish establishments, which usually supply unqualified help for Israel, have been mum.
Palestinians return to northern Gaza, amid destroyed buildings, following Israel’s choice to permit 1000’s of them to return for the primary time for the reason that early weeks of the 15-month struggle with Hamas, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photograph/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The American Jewish Committee, a staunch supporter of Israel, issued a assertion saying the president’s plan raises “a wealth of questions.” In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Jason Isaacson, AJC’s chief coverage adviser, referred to as the plan “a dramatic out-of-the-box try to shake up the regional dynamic.”
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The Anti-Defamation League stated on X that “US involvement — in coordination with Israel and regional companions — will likely be important for long run rebuilding and governance of Gaza. Nonetheless, any plan should take note of Israel’s safety wants and the well-being of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”
The Convention of Presidents of Main American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Federations of North America and AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, haven’t publicly responded to the Gaza proposal.
“It looks like we’re actually in a disaster of management in the mean time,” stated Rabbi Toba Spitzer, of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, a Reconstructionist Jewish congregation in West Newton, Massachusetts. “That’s why in a extremely brief time frame, with out a variety of outreach, this advert is getting folks signing on. There’s actually a vacuum.”
A full-page advert within the New York Instances on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, says “Trump has referred to as for the elimination of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish folks say NO to ethnic cleaning!” (Photograph through X/@JFREJNYC)
Spitzer was among the many a whole lot of rabbis — representing most Jewish denominations — who signed The New York Instances advert.
Actors, administrators and writers, together with Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings Summer season and Rain, Ilana Glazer, Eric André, Morgan Spector and Tony Kushner additionally signed the advert, as did journalists Peter Beinart and Naomi Klein.
The advert was funded by progressive donors who’re a part of the “In Our Identify Marketing campaign,” a gaggle of Jewish philanthropists who search to lift $10 million for organizations that “help Palestinian-led efforts to construct security, dignity and self-determination in Palestine,” in keeping with its web site.
J Avenue, the liberal advocacy group that promotes a “pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy” stance, was one of many first to sentence the Gaza plan final week, saying on social media that Trump’s proposal was “completely unacceptable.”
On the Jewish proper, the Zionist Group of America described the plan as “sensible and brave,” praising its mastermind as “the Winston Churchill of our time.” Many main Israeli politicians additionally welcomed Trump’s plan.
Within the center, mainstream Jewish leaders, corresponding to a Conservative rabbi, are discovering the plan distasteful.
“In relation to ethnic cleaning, Jews are extraordinarily delicate. They tried to ethnic cleanse us loads of occasions,” stated Rabbi Stephen Grundfast, rabbi emeritus of Beth El Congregation, a Conservative synagogue in Akron, Ohio, who signed the advert. “Despite the fact that Hamas is detestable and disgusting, on the identical time, it’s mistaken to inform a whole people who it’s important to depart.”
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