J Street isn’t what it claims to be

Last week, the national spotlight focused on an Atlanta online forum for local Jewish mothers who removed some of its members for affiliating with Jewish Voice for Peace (“JVP”) and J Street. The incident has ignited a passionate and public conversation about how to maintain our communal unity amid deep disagreements and partisan divisions.

I don’t wish to add to the cacophony of voices weighing in on who should – or shouldn’t – be admitted into our Jewish moms’ group. However, the dispute has reopened another important conversation about organizations involved in Israel-related work, and what it means to be a pro-Israel advocate in 2025.

Because I have been a vocal and active grassroots advocate for more than 15 years encouraging our leaders in Washington to support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, friends often ask me about J Street and JVP. The latter doesn’t hide its anti-Israel views. JVP openly calls to end American support for Israel and smears it with toxic accusations of ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid.’ J Street, on the other hand, isn’t so clear on the surface.

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J Street’s motto, ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy’ resonates with many of my peers. As a lifelong Democrat, I would label myself all three.

But that’s the problem.

When you look beyond the tagline and the rhetoric, J Street is not aligned with the pro-Israel community – in fact, they’re aligned with Israel’s loudest opponents. In my conversations with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill, I see the real and harmful work of J Street. Their words and their actions couldn’t be further apart.

A few recent examples illustrate this point.

This month on Capitol Hill, Sen. Bernie Sanders forced a vote on two resolutions to block U.S. arms sales to Israel. The military support he wants to end is essential to keeping Israelis safe from terrorism, and is a hallmark of America’s partnership with the Jewish state.

These arms sales have broad bipartisan support in Washington and among mainstream organizations like AIPAC, Jewish Federations of North America, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Jewish Democratic Council of America and Democratic Majority for Israel.

But J Street – which claims to be the voice of American Jews – sides with fringe groups like JVP. Not only does J Street back the Sanders effort, the group endorses him and all fifteen senators who voted with him to abandon Israel during this war. You wouldn’t know that from J Street’s homepage.

Some of my friends have asked if J Street is a good way to channel disagreement with the Israeli government. I am no cheerleader for Israel’s current leadership, but undermining Israel’s security and working to sever America’s support for Israel is not how you send a political message. Creating daylight and friction between Israel and the U.S. only emboldens Israel’s enemies like Hamas, who exploit it to prolong the war and delay releasing hostages.

Ahead of the Sanders vote, the leading political opponent of Israel’s current coalition – Opposition Leader Yair Lapid – said, “Anyone who cares about the people of Israel and the State of Israel should reject this resolution which encourages the enemies of freedom and does nothing to improve the situation in the Middle East.”

When even the current coalition’s most fervent critics in Israel oppose the policies J Street backs, whose interests are they representing? How can they possibly purport to be “pro-Israel” if even the opposition sees J Street’s actions as a threat to their security?

There are countless other examples of J Street supporting and promoting initiatives to cut or condition American aid to Israel, and giving political cover to some of the most anti-Israel members in Congress.

But it’s not just what’s happening in Washington that concerns me about J Street – it’s also what’s happening on campus.

Instead of working to inspire the next generation to advocate for Israel and actualize their Zionism through pro-Israel activism, J Street U (their college outreach arm) campaigns for “NO AID TO OCCUPATION,” to push “Members of Congress as well as communal leaders to embrace the need for a serious change in American aid policy toward Israel.”

I’m the mother of two undergrads and one soon-to-be college freshman. I’ve watched with anger and deep concern as anti-Israel mobs wreaked havoc on campuses across the country and targeted our college kids. I am grateful to the organizations who are empowering our students with the confidence and conviction to be proud, pro-Israel Zionists in a post-October 7 world. But J Street isn’t one of them. Here again, J Street fans the flames and deepens divisions between Americans and Israel.

When you take all the above into account, to J Street, being “pro-Israel” means undermining and defaming Israel in Congress and on college campuses. It means dictating Israel’s decisions about its vast security challenges from afar. It means empowering her enemies at a time of war while 59 precious hostages still languish in Hamas’ hands. There’s nothing “pro-Israel, pro-peace, or pro-democracy” about any of that. PJC

Alli Cardin Medof is an Atlanta-based Jewish community leader, pro-Israel advocate and organizational psychology professional. She is passionate about bipartisan support for Israel and community-building guided by Jewish values.