In the News
In its coverage of Israel’s latest election results, JNS highlighted B’nai B’rith International’s statement commending Israel for being an engaged, participatory democracy.
As the results of the Israeli general election became clearer on Wednesday, American Jewish organizations issued a range of reactions.
Some continued with the message consistently disseminated by mainstream American Jewry—that Israel’s democracy was to be celebrated, the results respected, and that the U.S.-Israel relationship would remain strong regardless of the results. Others, though, began sounding the alarm over the effect that a government inclusive of hard-right elements could have on diaspora ties.
“The Jewish Federations of North America respect and salute Israel’s vibrant democratic process, which allows all Israelis a voice and vote in forming their government,” read a statement from JFNA, which was first in line with a message on Wednesday. “We look forward to working with the government selected by the Israeli people, as we always have, to support Jews around the world and strengthen the relationships between Israel, the North American Jewish community, and our government leaders.”
B’nai B’rith International said in a brief statement that “Israel proudly exemplifies what it means to be an engaged, participatory democracy,” and that it looked forward to working with the next government on “issues critical to the future of global Jewry and the Jewish state.”