AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): As criticism in the United States regarding the influence of pro-Israel lobbies and accusations of their impact on American decision-making has increased, and simultaneously a significant portion of politicians—particularly Democrats—have shown less inclination to associate with the financial resources of these lobbies, a notable development has occurred from within this very current. This shift is being led by the pressure group J Street, which has called for a redefinition of the form of U.S. support for Israel.
Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of this organization, announcing that the current situation requires recalibration, called for an end to unconditional U.S. military support for Israel. He also proposed that relations between Washington and Tel Aviv be adjusted so that Israel is treated like other U.S. allies. His strategy to achieve this goal is a gradual cessation of direct financial aid from American taxpayers to Israel after the current agreement expires in 2028.
Enforcement of U.S. Laws on Aid
Ben-Ami explained that this approach emphasizes maintaining Israel's military capability but through weapons sales rather than grants. He also stressed the necessity of enforcing U.S. laws regarding the use of these weapons, including the possibility of suspending or cutting off the shipment of certain weapons if their use violates these laws.
He has put forward this position in light of the devastation in Gaza and the ongoing suffering in the West Bank.
Referring to positions published on the organization's website, J Street has stated that Israel's policies and military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon in recent years have crossed lines that raise serious questions about whether the use of American weapons complies with U.S. laws and interests.
In this regard, the organization has supported a legislative bill aimed at preventing the use of these weapons if policies that contradict U.S. laws continue. This bill is a direct reference to conditioning military support on Israel's conduct on the ground, particularly in the Palestinian territories.
Decline in Israel's Popularity
The organization has also noted that while it has historically supported the continuation of U.S. military aid to Israel, it has always emphasized that this aid should not be used in actions such as settlement expansion, the demolition of Palestinian homes, or the consolidation of occupation.
On social media, reactions to J Street's change of position have been mixed. Some see it as a direct reflection of Israel's declining popularity in American society, particularly among youth, a segment of American Jews, and even some right-wing currents that oppose using taxpayer money to support military operations criticized for human rights violations.
In contrast, another group believes that what J Street has proposed is not a fundamental change but rather a calculated move within pro-Israel lobbies to reposition themselves in the face of a wave of criticism and an attempt to contain growing anger without abandoning the principle of support, thereby preventing all these lobbies from being placed in a shared critical framework and losing their influence on the American political scene.
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