StandWithUs Report Labels JVP a “Barrier to Peace and Catalyst for Hate”

StandWithUs Report Labels JVP a “Barrier to Peace and Catalyst for Hate”

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), an organization formed in 1996, has consistently positioned itself in opposition to Zionism and in support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. As detailed in a recently published report in The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, JVP asserts that its anti-Zionist stance is rooted in a vision of liberation and justice for Palestinians. Their platform explicitly supports the Palestinian “right of return” and envisions a future where all individuals in the region live under a single political framework, characterized by freedom and equality.

In January 2024, JVP posted on X (formerly Twitter), reiterating its position with the statement, “when we say free Palestine we mean ALL of Palestine.” This declaration has fueled debates over the implications of JVP’s advocacy, particularly regarding the future of the State of Israel.

The report featured in The Jewish Journal critiqued JVP’s framing of Zionism, characterizing it as “deeply misleading.” The report described Zionism as a liberation movement supporting the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. It highlighted the broader context, noting that many nations worldwide are built on similar principles of majority populations with legal protections for minorities.

The Ultimate Insult: Extremist group JVP tramples on the memory of Holocaust survivors by comparing them with Palestinian terrorists with blood on their hands, who escaped from jail (and were recaptured). pic.twitter.com/WdZMb8avj5

— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) September 12, 2021

According to the report, JVP’s selective focus on dismantling Israel stands in stark contrast to their silence on other nations with comparable national frameworks. It questioned the consistency of JVP’s position, pointing out that their logic would oppose Palestinian self-determination as inherently discriminatory against non-Palestinians. However, the report stated, “in practice the one country JVP seeks to tear down is the world’s only Jewish state.”

The Jewish Journal report highlighted the StandWithUs report’s analysis of JVP’s call for the Palestinian “right of return.” It argued that if JVP’s goals were realized, Israel would cease to exist as a Jewish state, replaced instead by a majority-Palestinian state. The report raised concerns about the consequences for Israeli Jews, suggesting they could face governance by groups such as Hamas or Fatah, both of which are known for promoting antisemitism and, in Hamas’s case, engaging in terrorism. The report stated, “Israeli Jews have every reason to believe that dismantling Israel would be extremely harmful to them, and no reason to trust that their rights would be protected in such a scenario.”

The StandWithUs report, as cited by The Jewish Journal, also documented JVP’s associations with groups and individuals linked to terrorism. For instance, JVP has reportedly held events with Samidoun, an organization sanctioned by the United States and Canada for its fundraising for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization. JVP has also supported campaigns calling for the release of PFLP leaders, including Ahmad Sa’adat, convicted for orchestrating the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi in 2001.

Additionally, JVP endorsed a campaign from the Palestinian Youth Movement advocating for the release of Walid Daqqa, who was convicted for his role in the 1984 abduction and murder of an Israeli soldier and died in prison in 2024. The Jewish Journal further reported that JVP has called for the release of individuals associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and expressed support for Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists  in Yemen through an April 2024 Instagram post.

George Soros has donated tens of millions to radical anti-Israel groups, like JVP and IfNotNow, that have been behind the wave of violence & intimidation targeting Jewish students across the country.

But to far-left, anti-Israel ideologues, he is a “friend to the Jewish people.” pic.twitter.com/fc2U087dQ3

— Shelley G (@ShelleyGldschmt) January 4, 2025

Jewish Voice for Peace’s advocacy for the dismantling of Israel and its associations with terror-linked entities have made it a lightning rod for criticism. As The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles indicated, the organization’s vision of a “free Palestine” where all people live in freedom and equality is viewed by critics as a veiled call for the dissolution of the Jewish state.

In the aftermath of the October 7^th Hamas attack, JVP characterized Hamas’ actions as “resistance” while assigning blame to Israel for the attack itself. The Jewish Journal noted that this framing aligns with a broader trend of JVP equating Zionism with Nazism, a tactic described in the report as “Holocaust inversion.” This antisemitic strategy, according to the report, manipulates the genocide Jews endured during the Holocaust to fuel baseless hatred against Jews today.

The report further contextualizes the realities of the conflict, emphasizing that nearly half of those killed in Gaza were members of terrorist organizations. It highlights Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties, including issuing millions of warnings to civilians prior to military strikes, delivering over one million tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and facilitating medical evacuations. Additionally, Israel has accepted multiple ceasefire proposals and opened criminal investigations into alleged misconduct by Israeli soldiers. The Jewish Journal underscored the report’s assertion that JVP’s narrative ignores these facts, instead perpetuating disinformation that exacerbates the conflict.

🚨BREAKING: Columbia University has suspended Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a Palestinian activist group. A massive move by an Ivy League School. pic.twitter.com/yBOuwC1Vbh

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 10, 2023

JVP has also been accused of shielding anti-Israel activists from accusations of antisemitism, claiming such accusations aim to suppress legitimate criticism of Israeli policies. However, the report, as covered by The Jewish Journal, alleges that JVP has actively propagated antisemitism. The organization’s “Deadly Exchange” campaign, for example, falsely blamed U.S. police brutality against people of color on exchange programs with Israel, led by Jewish organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The report links this campaign to dangerous conspiracy theories that scapegoat Jews, citing its influence on the 2019 New Jersey deli shooting and antisemitic remarks by public figures such as the Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan and Linda Sarsour.

JVP’s leadership has also faced criticism for their associations and public statements. The Jewish Journal reported that its rabbinical council includes figures with contentious histories, such as a rabbi who met with then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2008 and another who denied Hamas’ role in the October 7 atrocities, instead blaming the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This denial extended to dismissing reports of mass rapes committed by Hamas against Israeli women.

🧵The truth about “Jewish Voice for Peace” (JVP): A new report by StandWithUs uncovers JVP’s ties to terror organizations, Middle Eastern countries like Iran and Lebanon, questionable funding sources, and extremist agendas. pic.twitter.com/IF7JJWaIbu

— Jewish Onliner (@JewishOnliner) January 8, 2025

The report further highlighted troubling connections between JVP and organizations tied to Lebanon and Iran. It noted that one of JVP’s primary Facebook administrators operated from Lebanon, and its communications director had worked for organizations in Beirut for over 17 years. Funding sources linked to Lebanon and Iran have also raised questions about the group’s affiliations and motivations, prompting calls for further investigation.

JVP’s rhetoric has been criticized as divisive and harmful. A California chapter of the organization created a seder plate graphic with Hebrew text written from left to right—contrary to the correct direction of Hebrew writing—raising questions about the group’s understanding of Jewish culture and traditions. The report in The Jewish Journal also noted that JVP did not respond to requests for comment regarding the report’s findings.

Report highlights JVP’s ties to and support for terror. https://t.co/XK4lwpJMyW

— Isi Erez (@admiralswalk) January 12, 2025

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein emphasized the broader implications of JVP’s actions, stating, “This organization fuels hate and shields extremists from accountability, while doing nothing to bring about peaceful coexistence. To help fight rising antisemitism, the public, media, and leaders across our society must finally recognize JVP’s dangerous agenda and reject it.”

As outlined by The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, the findings of this report raise serious concerns about Jewish Voice for Peace’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From promoting antisemitic narratives to aligning with organizations tied to extremism, JVP’s actions appear to conflict with its stated mission of peace and justice. Critics argue that the group’s rhetoric exacerbates division, undermines Jewish self-determination, and shields extremism under the guise of advocacy.