"We want Iran to be a normal country, at peace with its neighbors. That's not likely to be the future with an extremist radical regime in Tehran." On @NewsX, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson on whether the current negotiations can move the ball forward—and why he remains hopeful but skeptical of real change from Tehran.

We welcome the decision by the new Slovenian government, led by PM @JJansaSDS, to pursue relocating the embassy to Jerusalem - a meaningful step that will strengthen Slovenia–Israel relations. PM Janša, a staunch supporter of Israel, has also signaled his intention to reverse the previous government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state. jpost.com/israel-news/politi…

We mourn the passing of Rev. Dr. John T. Pawlikowski, a pioneering giant of Catholic-Jewish relations in practice and in scholarship. Honored by AJC multiple times during his illustrious career, he was a mentor, teacher, partner, friend, and advisor to generations of AJC professional and lay colleagues. From his perch at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he taught the future Pope Leo XIV, his influence was felt by AJC locally and throughout the world. His leadership of and within marquee interreligious organizations and toward the development and sustainment of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum assured his indelible impact upon emerging fields. May the memory of Fr. John be for a blessing. bit.ly/4waT3hZ

In 1790, Moses Seixas of Rhode Island’s Touro Synagogue wrote a letter to President George Washington, praising him and describing America as a place that protects individual rights and freedoms. Washington's reply became a hallmark of America's commitment to religious freedom. He wrote that the U.S. government “...gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” 236 years later, we celebrate this Jewish advocacy that helped lay the groundwork for religious pluralism in the United States.

On this day in 1941, Romanian dictator Ion Antonescu ordered that Romania's second-largest city be cleansed of all Jews. The Iași pogrom was one of the most violent massacres in Jewish history. Over 13,000 Jews—one-third of the city's Jewish population—were murdered.

Forty-two years after Israel and Lebanon signed their last formal agreement, today’s U.S.-brokered framework marks an important first step forward. In the aftermath of October 7, many questioned whether regional diplomacy could endure. Yet existing peace agreements have held, and new opportunities continue to emerge despite extraordinary challenges. We commend President Trump, @SecRubio, and the rest of the U.S. Administration for their leadership in bringing the parties together. We also urge the international community to ensure that the Iranian regime and Hezbollah are not permitted to undermine this progress or Lebanon’s sovereign decisions. Much work remains, but today’s agreement reflects the kind of practical diplomacy the AJC Center for a New Middle East is committed to advancing—building a region where Israel and its neighbors can live in peace, security, and prosperity.

Worth keeping in mind: since 2019, the United States has designated the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization—the first time Washington applied the designation to part of another country’s official military. That reflects the IRGC’s unique role in supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region. timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

For the second year, AJC and our partners @RabbiSacks welcomed a Sacks Scholar at AJC Global Forum. Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner channeled Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’ enduring Torah teachings and moral vision for our time. As Shabbat begins, we share his powerful call to embrace our biblical responsibility to build a better world. May we answer that sacred charge. Watch his full speech here: bit.ly/4eHrRAq

The U.S.-GCC Strategic Dialogue delivered several important messages for the future of the Middle East. The Dialogue reaffirmed the U.S.-Gulf partnership and recognized that confronting Iran requires addressing the full spectrum of its destabilizing activities, from weapons to proxies, while ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Further, we welcome the Dialogue's support for Lebanese sovereignty, the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel-Lebanon negotiations, and a the development of a Gaza framework centered on reconstruction, reform, and an eventual pathway to peace. state.gov/releases/office-of…

New York has always been a place where diversity, dialogue, and democratic values matter. Those values were sadly tested too many times during the NY primaries when divisive rhetoric became normalized, support for Israel became an obsessive focus and political fault line, and when a Jewish member of Congress was refused service at a coffee shop. 

Many in our community are rightfully distressed and concerned by what is happening in our politics. This is a difficult moment, but we’ve faced tougher. This moment won’t weaken us. Rather, it strengthens our resolve to have pride in who we are and to continue to engage across communities, stand up against antisemitism in all its forms, and make the case — clearly and confidently — for Israel’s right to live in peace and security.

As antisemitism continues to rise across the United States, @AJCCEO Ted Deutch is meeting directly with elected officials from both parties to ensure they are equipped to recognize and respond to antisemitism. Through these conversations, AJC is sharing its Candidates Guide to Antisemitism in American Politics, a practical resource designed to help candidates and incumbents navigate antisemitism throughout the campaign cycle. This resource is critical given the unacceptable rise of antisemitism rhetoric in political discourse. Combating antisemitism requires leadership and AJC is proud to work directly with elected officials, candidates, and party leaders across the political spectrum to ensure antisemitism has no place in American politics.

AJC is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, causing tragic loss of life, injuries, and widespread destruction. We are heartened that the United States, Israel, and other nations have offered support for rescue and relief efforts as the country begins the difficult process of rebuilding. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including our partners from the Confederation of Jewish Associations of Venezuela (@Caivenlinea).

Sarah Hurwitz, former Chief Speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, speaks about the most misunderstood thing about Jewish identity and why getting it right matters more than ever. "Jews are not just a religion, nor are Jews a race or an ethnicity. We are incredibly diverse. We're something that predates the categories of the modern world, predates race, ethnicity, religion. We're a people, we're a tribe, we're a nation, we're a civilization, and most of all, we're a family." Understanding who the Jewish people are helps negate misinformation and disinformation that feeds the hate directed at Jews around the world.

We welcome this bipartisan effort by @RepJoshG and @RepMikeLawler. Regional stability requires addressing the root causes of conflict. The Lebanese people deserve a future free from Hezbollah and the Iranian regime.

These negotiations with Iran will impact American national security for years, as well as security for Israel and stability across the Middle East. I’m at the White House today making AJC’s voice heard as these talks continue.

Today, we remember the heroic Jan Karski, a Polish Catholic and WWII underground courier, who relentlessly tried to alert the world to the horrors of the Holocaust.

We welcome @SecRubio’s commitment to working directly with the Lebanese government and his recognition of the challenges posed by the Iranian regime's support for Hezbollah. Lebanon's future should be determined by its citizens and institutions, not by an Iran-backed terrorist organization that has undermined the country's sovereignty, stability, and prosperity for decades.

This is what Israeli families fear: just 4 miles from their homes, a massive underground terrorist command center was discovered. The border with Lebanon isn't just a line on a map—it's where Hezbollah terrorists prepare to murder Israelis. This Hezbollah terror tunnel, less than four miles from Israel, was found filled with explosives, missiles, and four launch shafts aimed directly at Israel. Israel has a duty to protect its citizens from terrorists.

The Colombian people have spoken, demonstrating once again the strength of Colombia's democratic institutions. Congratulations to President-elect @ABDELAESPRIELLA and Vice President-elect @JRestrp, an alumnus of AJC's @ProjInterchange, on their victory. AJC looks forward to working with the incoming administration to restore strong Colombia-U.S.-Israel trilateral ties, and to promote security, prosperity, and opportunity for all across our hemisphere.

After watching @NYCMayor's recent speech at a political rally, I wanted to offer these thoughts to him. Mayor Mamdani, referring to fellow New Yorkers as “monsters” is outrageous and dangerous, and the impact of your words extends far beyond politics. It’s not only about your repeated attacks on Israel and those who support it, now rooted in the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theories of secret control and nefarious agendas. It’s about politics and division. You are doing exactly what you falsely accuse others of doing. Your accusation, Mr. Mayor? Efforts “to turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning toward the moral change we all know to be necessary.” But when you use your position to label people you disagree with as monsters - people who live and work and pay taxes in the city you lead, people who loved the Knicks championship parade as much as you did, people who spent yesterday celebrating their fathers and grandfathers - you are turning people against one another. Your speech wasn’t just about preserving your power. By every measure, it was about growing that power by dividing New Yorkers. You want to debate ideas? Fine. But when you call people monsters, you’re not debating ideas, you’re dehumanizing the people you disagree with. And when that comes from a mayor, it creates an environment where people hear clearly who is being cast as outside the community, one where they wonder whether they can safely live and speak as themselves. You say we deserve leaders who lead with hope and not fear. We all agree. But what you did here is the opposite. No one should have to wonder whether they are safe expressing who they are or what they believe, whether they worship at shul, at a mosque, in a church, a gurudwara, or at a temple. Contributing to an environment in which people feel that fear is not leadership. It is exactly the kind of division you claim to oppose.