J Street Founder Jeremy Ben-Ami’s Efforts to Influence Political Activity in Jerusalem
L: J Street founder Jeremy Ben-Ami (Twitter) R: President Joe Biden (Getty Images)
The founder of J Street, a prominent anti-Israel group, had significant influence within the Biden State Department and collaborated with top administration officials, including former deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman, to suppress political activity in Jerusalem. Internal government emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon reveal this coordination.
Jeremy Ben-Ami, the founder of J Street, a group funded by George Soros that has actively worked to undermine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative government, expressed gratitude to senior State Department officials for granting him access to the administration. In June 2021, Ben-Ami corresponded with then-deputy secretary of state Sherman, acknowledging the “open door” provided by the State Department. Sherman forwarded Ben-Ami’s message to other high-ranking State Department staff members, including Victoria Nuland, the undersecretary for political affairs, and Michael Ratney, the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia who was serving as the chargé d’affaires at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem in 2021.
This correspondence sheds light on the Biden administration’s collaboration with far-left groups as they sought to exert pressure on the Israeli government to scale back a massive pro-Israel march planned in Jerusalem. The march, which saw tens of thousands of Jewish Israelis carrying flags through the city, was a focal point of tension between Israeli and U.S. officials. Ultimately, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yielded to pressure from the Biden administration and rerouted the march away from Arab areas of Jerusalem, as well as restricting Jewish access to the Temple Mount.
Ben-Ami and J Street were actively working to cancel the event and urging the Biden administration to challenge Israel’s approval for the march. Publicly, the State Department called for “calm” and “restraint” ahead of the march, while internally expressing concern over the Israeli government’s decision to proceed with it. Israeli officials criticized the Biden administration’s intervention, asserting that they should stay out of the crisis in Jerusalem.
As violence escalated between Israel and the Palestinians, the Biden administration privately pressured Israel to lower tensions on the Temple Mount and cancel the annual Jerusalem Day flag parade. In subsequent years, the administration continued to push for rerouting the march away from sensitive areas and publicly criticized Jewish demonstrators for alleged anti-Arab hostility.
These internal emails, made public by watchdog group America First Legal, provide evidence of the Biden administration’s hostility towards Israel and its collaboration with anti-Israel groups. The records also highlight J Street’s access to top State Department officials, raising questions about their influence on U.S. foreign policy.
A State Department spokesman declined to comment on the specifics of their discussions with J Street and other advocacy groups but acknowledged regular engagement with civil society actors.
Reed Rubinstein, senior counselor and director of oversight and investigations for America First Legal, characterized these records as proof of the Biden administration’s deep hostility towards Israel and its efforts to undermine the Trump administration’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem. Rubinstein also noted J Street’s close ties to the State Department, particularly during the Obama/Biden era’s Iran nuclear deal negotiations.
What questions does Jeremy Ben-Ami’s involvement in the Biden administration raise about the influence of anti-Israel groups like J Street?
Ab neighborhoods in Jerusalem. This decision was met with backlash from many conservative Israelis who saw it as a capitulation to outside pressure.
Ben-Ami’s role in these events raises questions about the level of influence anti-Israel groups like J Street have within the Biden administration. J Street has long been known for its opposition to Israeli policies and its support for actions that undermine the country’s security. By collaborating with top officials in the State Department, Ben-Ami was able to push his agenda and suppress political activity in Jerusalem.
It is concerning that senior State Department officials granted access and held correspondence with Ben-Ami, considering his organization’s anti-Israel stance. This raises doubts about the objectivity of the Biden administration’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By aligning themselves with a group that actively works against the interests of the Israeli government, the Biden administration jeopardizes the United States’ relationship with one of its closest allies in the Middle East.
The rerouting of the pro-Israel march in Jerusalem also highlights the influence of outside pressure on the Israeli government. Instead of allowing Israeli citizens to exercise their right to peacefully demonstrate, the Biden administration, through its collaboration with J Street and other far-left groups, successfully influenced the Israeli government’s decision. This sets a dangerous precedent, as it suggests that the actions of a foreign government and its allied groups can influence democratic processes in another country.
Furthermore, the decision to reroute the march away from Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem raises questions about the Biden administration’s commitment to Israel’s sovereignty and security. By giving in to pressure, the administration effectively sends a message that Israeli actions in its own capital city are subject to international scrutiny and interference. This undermines Israel’s right to self-governance and threatens its ability to address its own security concerns.
It is crucial that the Biden administration reassesses its relationship with groups like J Street and takes a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Supporting partners that actively work against the interests of the Israeli government is not conducive to peace and stability in the region. The administration should prioritize the relationship with Israel, a democratic and reliable ally, and refrain from intervening in domestic affairs that are best left to the Israeli people.
In conclusion, the collaboration between J Street founder Jeremy Ben-Ami and senior officials in the Biden State Department raises concerns about their efforts to influence political activity in Jerusalem. This coordination with anti-Israel groups undermines Israel’s sovereignty, security, and right to self-governance. The United States must prioritize its relationship with Israel and refrain from intervening in the country’s domestic affairs. A balanced approach is necessary to promote peace and stability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Now loading...