JCPA supports Israel as the Jewish homeland and works to deter efforts to undermine the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. We believe in a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through diplomacy and the creation of two independent, democratic, and economically viable states: the Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian state, coexisting in peace and security.
Throughout its history, JCPA has worked to advance the peace process, by forming coalitions to build a constituency for peace, such as Interfaith Partners for Peace; convening high-level talks with diplomats; and endorsing a two-state solution. We continue to encourage the U.S. government to pursue a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict through direct negotiations. JCPA has always been a strong supporter of Israel, and we believe that peace between Israel and its neighbors is an American interest that the U.S. Government should continue to encourage.
JCPA’s network is united in supporting efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian coexistence through civil society projects, economic development, and other such strategies that can help bring about a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. In 2020, after years of advocacy, we achieved passage of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, which provides $250 million over five years to expand coexistence between Arabs and Israelis and peacebuilding programs in the region and support projects to strengthen the Palestinian economy. This historic legislation will help create an environment in which the parties can eventually achieve peace in the region.
JCPA has also worked to ensure that facts about the region’s history, policies, and complexities are understood by our partners. We respond to inaccuracies and intemperate rhetoric by focusing on positive steps to deepen understanding and keep the lines of communication open.
FLOATING: In 2010, concerned about growing delegitimization and BDS efforts in the US, we created the Israel Action Center. We continue to work against BDS and in support of two countries for two peoples.
Resolutions on Peace in the Middle East:
- 2021: Resolution on Supporting the Abraham Accords
- Commends all of the individuals and governments whose work resulted in the signing of the Abraham Accords, including the United States, Israel, and Arab nations. The resolution urges the Biden Administration to seize upon the progress made in the Middle East, as evidenced by the Abraham Accords which the Trump Administration helped to bring about, and use its voice and leverage to expand the relationships between Israel and Muslim countries, and as another means for encouraging the Palestinians to forge a lasting peace with Israel.
- 2011: Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
- Expresses the belief that the Administration should be commended for its active and sustained diplomacy in trying to facilitate direct, face-to-face, bilateral and uninterrupted negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians that can lead to two states for two peoples living side by side in peace and security.
- Supports efforts by the Israeli government negotiates permanent status issues (including borders, security, Jerusalem, settlements and refugees) to reach a comprehensive and just peace agreement with the Palestinians, and we believe the right of Israel to defend itself against missiles and other security threats while continuing to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties should be fully respected.
- 2008: The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
- Calls on the organized Jewish community to support the Government of Israel’s insistence that the Palestinian Authority recognize Israel as a Jewish State, affirm its support for two independent, democratic and economically viable states living side-by-side in peace and security.
- Expresses the belief that it is crucial that the United States and the entire international community support the courageous peace efforts made by Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
- 2005: Opportunity for Progress in The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process
- Articulates the view that new circumstances, especially the passing of Yasser Arafat, offer an opportunity to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. However, terrorist attacks on Israel, as well as anti-Israel incitement in the Palestinian media and educational system, must cease.
- 2004: The Middle East
- Supports a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and various efforts to advance peace in the region, including by urging the international community to apply pressure to prevent terrorist financing and by supporting the vital role the United State has historically played in facilitating the Middle East process
- 2001: Israel and The Peace Process
- Pledges to reinvigorate its solidarity with and action on behalf of Israel. As with all of his predecessors, we express support for Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon’s search for a secure and lasting peace in the Middle East. We also deeply appreciate Prime Minster Ehud Barak’s contributions over many years to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
- 2000: Middle East Peace Process
- Expresses strong support for Israel’s commitment to the ongoing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, the renewed negotiations with Syria, and the pursuit of a secure and lasting peace with her Arab neighbors.
- 1999: Peace Process
- Reaffirms our strong support for the peace process and expresses the hope that negotiations between Israel and the Arab parties will move forward in the period ahead.
- 1998: The Middle East Peace Process/The Clinton Administration and the Israeli/Palestinian Peace Process
- Commends the Clinton Administration and the State Department for their efforts to advance negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians within the framework of the Oslo Accords, and strongly encourages the Administration to continue to make the attainment of a comprehensive and sustainable Israeli/Palestinian peace a top priority.
- 1995: Middle East Peace Process (Executive Committee)
- Affirms our strong support of the peace process and efforts by the Rabin government to achieve a lasting peace with durable security for the Israeli people.
- 1995: Middle East Peace Process (Plenum)
- Reaffirms our strong support of the Israeli government’s peace initiatives and wishes it continued success in building upon the dramatic achievements of this past year.
- 1994: Middle East Peace Process
- Expresses our continued strong support the peace process and Prime Minister Rabin’s bold efforts to achieve security for the Israeli people and normalized relations with Israel’s neighbors.
Resolutions on Coexistence
- 2018: Resolution on Israeli-Palestinian Coexistence
- Supports and promotes “contact, cooperation, dialogue, shared community building, peaceful coexistence, joint economic development, and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians” through civil society projects, economic development and other such strategies that can bring about a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
- 2001: Calling For Continuing Support By American Jews Of Jewish-Arab Co-Existence Projects In Israel
- Calls for continuing support by the organized Jewish community for coexistence projects in Israel designed to improve relationships between Israeli Jews and Arabs, in the wake of the Palestinian violence which erupted in September 2000, and spread among Israel’s Arab citizens.
Resolutions on Political Developments
- 2006: Implications of Hamas’ Victory in the Palestinian Legislative Elections
- Expresses the belief that unless and until Hamas unambiguously makes the necessary fundamental changes, including recognizing Israel’s right to exist in peace and security as a Jewish state, it is critically important that the U.S. and the international community maintain a policy of not dealing with or providing assistance to a Palestinian Authority that is run by Hamas representatives or whose policies are guided by Hamas. Efforts should be made by the international community to minimize the capability of Iran to use its relationship with Hamas to gain greater influence over the Palestinian people.
- 1999: Israeli Election
- Congratulates Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak on his victory in last month’s national election in Israel. We also express our appreciation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his many years of devoted service to Israel and the Jewish people.
Resolutions on Pro-Israel Advocacy
- 2006: Investment in Israel
- Articulates the belief that economic sanctions, such as divestment, serve to undermine efforts to achieve peace and reconciliation, and therefore urge the Jewish community relations field to encourage investment in companies whose work contributes to the growth of the Palestinian and Israeli economies as well as those of Israel’s neighbors, particularly Jordan and Egypt.
- 2003: Israel
- Stands in solidarity with Israel and her people, and in support of her right to exist as a Jewish State and her right to self-defense.
- Conveys both to the Bush Administration and to the United States Congress appreciation for their firm commitment to Israel’s security, and supports efforts of the American government that will lead to the end of Palestinian terror and will allow for a stable and peaceful future for both peoples.
- 2002: Support for Israel
- Reaffirms our support for the Israeli people’s historic search for peace and security, and for the efforts of the democratically elected government of Israel to fulfill that quest.
- 2002: Campus Pro-Israel Activism
- Commends the thousands of Jewish students nationwide who have organized themselves into pro-Israel activist groups on American college campuses, in response to intensified anti-Israel efforts by anti-Israel, and calls on our member agencies to further assist these students’ efforts on campus.
- 2000: Statement on The Middle East Crisis
- Expresses our support for the Israeli government and its solidarity with the Israeli people during this difficult period, which has seen widespread violence in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and parts of northern Israel.
- 1998: Solidarity with Israel During the Iraq Crisis
- Expresses our solidarity with the people of Israel have been forced to live through a period of terrible anxiety amidst the ongoing crisis in Iraq, and welcomes the recent statements by senior American officials affirming Israel’s right of self-defense.
Resolutions on Bias Against Israel
- 2010: Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement
- Articulates the belief that the promotion of boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel evidences a troubling double standard – singling out Israel for blame, as it polarizes individuals, Israel, and communities in such a way that the proposed actions themselves, and not peace, become the central issue, thus making real contributions to peace more difficult to achieve.
- Encourages those seeking to hasten peace to instead focus on efforts of reconciliation, including investment in the many meaningful coexistence programs between Israelis and Palestinians.
- 2005: Economic Sanctions Including Divestment As Obstacles To The Advancement Of Middle East Peace
- Reiterates our commitment to alleviating the suffering of all people and we support efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and seeks a solution that will allow both peoples to live in peace and dignity and to fulfill the hopes and the aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples within the context of peaceful co-existence and mutual recognition.
- Opposes efforts that single Israel out for economic sanctions, a troubling double standard that poses a serious challenge to intergroup relations and efforts to achieve peace.
- 2004: The International Court of Justice’s Consideration of Israel’s Security Fence
- Articulates our belief that consistent with the framework of Arab-Israel peace agreements, issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (such as Israel’s security fence) should be settled through bilateral negotiations, rather than via solutions that are predetermined or imposed by the International Court of Justice or other international bodies.
Remembrance
Resolutions on Domestic Issues in Israel
- 2012: Gender Segregation in Secular Public Spaces in Israel
- Expresses the belief that it is critical that the Jewish community speak out and take action in opposition to discriminatory acts and behavior that seek to enforce gender segregation in the public, secular sphere in Israel, pursuant to our sense of justice, and in accordance with Jewish values.
- 2007: Alleviating The Suffering Of Israeli Citizens Evacuated From Gaza And Northern Shomron
- Encourages JCPA member organizations to provide financial assistance and emotional support for the displaced former residents of Gaza and the northern Shomron who were evacuated from their homes, as well as advocate for assistance from the Israeli government.
- 2007: Alleviating the Suffering of Attacked and Displaced Israeli Citizens
- Calls on JCPA member organizations to provide financial assistance and emotional support for all the residents of the northern and southern communities affected by Hezbollah and Palestinian attacks, raise awareness regarding the plight of the residents of Sderot and other affected southern towns and seek necessary support for them, including by advocating for assistance from the Israeli government.
- 2003: Social Justice in Israel
- Continues to push for policies to resolve the social and economic inequities within Israel, including by narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, improving educational opportunities for all Israelis, and ensuring that all citizens of Israel are treated to an equal share of social services, although much is being done in Israeli society to help alleviate inequalities within Israel.
- 1998: Ethiopian Educational Integration in Israel
- Encourages our member agencies to urge the Government of Israel to allocate and distribute the necessary funds to address the situation facing Ethiopian students in Israel, and for our member agencies to assist in educational and advocacy efforts surrounding this issue.
- 1997: Recent Attacks on Religious Institutions and Individuals in Israel
- Strongly condemns the recent acts of arson, vandalism and desecration perpetrated against religious institutions in Israel, as well as attacks directed against individuals based on their religious identities.
- 1997: Israel’s Missing-in-Action / 1996: Israel’s Missing-In-Action
- Expresses our continued deep concern over the fate of Israeli MIAs and urge the American government to keep the issue of the Israeli MIAs on its foreign affairs agenda, and reaffirms our pledge to support fully and actively efforts to increase public awareness of the MIAs to obtain information regarding their fate and to secure their safe return to their families.
- 1996: Absorption of Ethiopian Community in Israel
- Urges our member agencies to urge the Israeli government to implement the measures needed to advance the effective absorption of Ethiopians into Israeli society.
- 1994: Israel’s Missing-In-Action
- Expresses deep concerned over the suffering of Israeli MlAs and the anguish of those families whose loved ones are still missing in action, and we pledge our full and active support in efforts to increase public awareness of this tragic issue, to obtain information regarding the fate of the Israeli MIAs and to secure their safe return to their families.
- 1994: Jerusalem
- Reemphasizes the unified commitment of world Jewry to maintain the city of Jerusalem as the eternal undivided capital of Israel, and aims to increase our efforts to educate American policymakers and the public about the unique status of Jerusalem in the life of Israel and world Jewry.
Resolutions on Other Matters Related to Israel
- 2003: Boycotts
- Opposed to participating in boycotts and other economic measures intended to change the behavior of companies, institutions, media outlets and countries deemed to be hostile to Israel or other Jewish interests, as boycotts have been used against Israel or companies with Jewish leadership. Boycotts may also open the door for retaliatory boycotts and deny the Jewish community the higher moral ground in opposing boycotts against Israel or Jewish interests.
