Press releases
AJC Welcomes European Parliament Resolution Conditioning a Gaza Ceasefire on Hamas Dismantlement, Release of all Hostages
Brussels – 18 January 2024 – The AJC Transatlantic Institute welcomes today’s European Parliament Resolution conditioning its call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on dismantling Hamas and the release of all remaining hostages. The text also condemned Hamas’ brutal attack and hostage taking, Hezbollah’s rocket strikes against Israel, and Iranian and Qatari support for both terror organizations.
“By making clear that a ceasefire can only be reached when Hamas is defeated and all 132 remaining hostages are released, the European Parliament is standing with Israel and backing its right to self defense against this existential threat,” said Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of the the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Brussels-based EU Office, the AJC Transatlantic Institute.
“As Israel’s youngest hostage, baby Kfir Bibas, still remains in captivity on his first birthday while global attention is shifting from the October 7 massacre, it is crucial that the European Parliament reminded the world that the hostages must not be forgotten and Hamas must be dismantled,” Schwammenthal added. “Any attempt to bring about a ceasefire before these goals are achieved would leave Hamas in power to recoup and break this ceasefire at a time of its choosing--just as it did on October 7. Such an outcome would condemn Palestinians and Israelis to eternal conflict and make a two-state solution impossible,” Schwammenthal continued.
The European Parliament’s January 2024 resolution follows a prior resolution in October 2023 in which the Parliament backed Israel’s right to self-defense and called for the elimination of the terror group Hamas. On January 16, the European Council also put the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, on its terror list.
The terror attack on October 7 was the worst attack in Israel’s history. Over 1100 Israelis were killed and a further 250 kidnapped by Hamas. In November 2023, 105 hostages were released in an exchange deal. 132 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. An unknown number of hostages has been murdered by Hamas while in captivity.
TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal on Iran's Attack Against Israel
On April 16, TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal joined TVP World to discus Iran's unjustified attack against Israel and the Jewish state's possible response. He highlighted that the Islamic Republic has been trying to destroy Israel for over 40 years and that Iran's proxy Hezbollah began...
Celebration of 75 Years of Israeli-Italian Relations in the Italian Senate
On February 28, the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)-Italy Chapter, an AJC project of cross-party, interparliamentarian lawmakers, and the Israeli embassy in Rome organized a panel discussion in the Italian Senate celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Rome and Jerusalem....
AJC Statement on the Provisional Measures Order by the International Court of Justice
While the ICJ should have thrown out South Africa’s baseless genocide charges entirely, AJC’s statement highlights that the Court thwarted South Africa’s primary objective in launching this case: to turn the Genocide Convention on its head and use it as an “aggressor’s charter” to prevent Israel from defending its citizens against Hamas’ brutality and continued terror.
Exhibition: Israel in the Aftermath of the Hamas Attacks with Photos by Ziv Koren
On December 6, AJC Transatlantic Institute together with the Israeli Mission to the EU and the Representation of Bavaria to the EU exhibited the pictures of Israeli photojournalist Ziv Koren showing Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre. Without being graphic, the stunning images...
AJC welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution backing Israel’s right to self-defense and calling for the elimination of Hamas
Brussels – 19 October 2023 – The AJC Transatlantic Institute welcomes today’s European Parliament resolution backing Israel’s right to self-defense and calling...
AJC’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel Opens Italian Chapter to Strengthen Links Between Italy, Europe, U.S., Canada and the Jewish State
Rome – May 31, 2023 — The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)—the interparliamentary, cross-party network spearheaded by the American Jewish Committee (AJC)—launched its Italian...
Statement From TFI Italy on Recent Events in Israel
Rome – 17 Aprile 2023 – Il Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) Italy condanna fermamente l’ondata di estrema violenza che ha colpito Israele in questi ultimi giorni, i ripetuti efferati attacchi terroristici che...
AJC, Other Jewish Organizations Welcome Suspension of Israeli Judicial Overhaul Legislation
In a joint statement with other American Jewish organizations, AJC welcomed the Israeli government’s suspension of legislative consideration of judicial reform measures, and encouraged “all Knesset factions, coalition and opposition alike, to use this time to build a consensus that includes the broad support of Israeli civil society.”
AJC CEO Ted Deutch at the UN on the Institution’s Role to Combat Antisemitism
Speaking at a high-level UN side event focused on globalizing efforts to combat antisemitism alongside Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president, AJC CEO Ted Deutch called on UN leaders to do more to counter antisemitism at the world body. The program was co-hosted by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the missions of Argentina, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, and the United Kingdom.
When Will The Far Left Stop Instrumentalizing The Palestinian Cause?
Jailed for plotting the murder of the former chief Sephardic rabbi of Israel and for his connections with the EU-listed terrorist organization PFLP, Salah Hamouri, often misrepresented as a “human rights activist,” was warmly welcomed by several far left lawmakers in France last December. In Le Figaro, AJC’s Simone Rodan-Benzaquen calls them out for embracing Palestinian terrorists and stresses their serious responsibility to refrain from glorifying terrorism as elected officials.