AJC CEO Ted Deutch Meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Jewish Community on Sidelines of UNGA

American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO Ted Deutch today met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside other organizations representing the American Jewish community, following the Prime Minister's speech to the UN General Assembly.

Ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terror act when terrorists slaughtered 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages, Deutch expressed support for all efforts to bring the 101 hostages still being held in Gaza home - making clear that a deal for the hostages cannot be viewed as at odds with ensuring Israel's safety and security, but rather they are inextricably linked.

"While many at the UN are quick to condemn Israel and demand the country lay down its arms, they are all too eager to ignore the fact that it was Hamas that violated a ceasefire last October 7," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "As the Prime Minister said today, what we instead need to hear from the UN and international community is a united call for the unconditional release of the hostages, a condemnation of Hamas for the brutal attack on October 7, a call for the cessation of the daily missile and rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon - which have displaced more than 60,000 people in northern Israel - and that the safety and security of Israelis matter just as much as any other nationality."

As part of AJC's annual Diplomatic Marathon, AJC experts and lay leaders have been meeting with world leaders from more than 60 countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, urging them to work with the United States to intensify pressure on Hamas to accept a hostage and ceasefire deal while also working to counter Iran's destabilizing actions and aggression in the region and around the world.

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.