The Orthodox Union, a major Jewish advocacy group in the United States, is planning a demonstration at the White House to protest President Biden’s shifting policy towards the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The group is gathering 180,000 letters to be delivered to the White House on April 3, marking 180 days since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. The letters will urge the President to support Israel without undermining its war effort, combat antisemitism, and secure the release of Israeli and American hostages.
The Orthodox Union is drawing letters for the demonstration from its network of over 1,000 synagogues across the country and is collaborating with other Jewish advocacy groups to reach the 180,000 letter goal. They are urging the Biden administration to continue supporting Israel until the Hamas threat is eliminated and are hoping that the initiative will bring attention to the urgency of ending the suffering of hostages, bringing them home, and removing the threat of Hamas. The group initially supported the Biden administration following terrorist attacks on Israel but has become increasingly concerned about the qualified support for continued offensives in Gaza and the recent U.S. abstention from a United Nations Security Council vote on a ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed plans to invade the city of Rafah in Gaza despite strong opposition from the Biden administration on humanitarian grounds. Vice President Kamala Harris has stated that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake and that there is nowhere for the people of Rafah to go. Despite the U.S. protest, Harris has not ruled out consequences for initiating the invasion, indicating that no option is off the table. The Orthodox Union and other Jewish advocacy groups are voicing their concerns over the direction of U.S. foreign policy in the region and emphasizing the importance of supporting Israel in the face of continued threats from Hamas.
The Orthodox Union’s demonstration at the White House is part of a larger effort to push the Biden administration to maintain its support for Israel and take meaningful steps to address antisemitism and secure the release of hostages. The group’s collaboration with other Jewish advocacy organizations underscores the broader concerns within the Jewish community about the U.S. response to the conflict in Gaza and the ongoing threats faced by Israel. The Orthodox Union is calling for continued attention to the urgent need to end the suffering of hostages and eliminate the threat posed by Hamas to ensure the safety and security of Israeli citizens.
The Biden administration’s shifting policy towards the Israeli offensive in Gaza has sparked controversy and opposition from Jewish advocacy groups like the Orthodox Union. The group’s demonstration at the White House aims to highlight the importance of supporting Israel and ending the suffering of hostages held by Hamas. The ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Israeli governments over military operations in Gaza underscore the complexities of the conflict and the challenges of finding a resolution that prioritizes both humanitarian concerns and national security interests. The Orthodox Union’s initiative to deliver 180,000 letters to the White House is a symbolic gesture of unity and strength within the Jewish community in advocating for continued support for Israel and the protection of its citizens.
