An Open Letter to William Daroff & Conf. of Presidents

Earlier this week William Daroff CEO of the distinguished American organization comprised of presidents of 52 legacy Jewish organizations gave an interview to Zev Stub of The Times of Israel ahead of the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations mission to Israel later this month. Daroff who I consider a friend and for whom I hold nothing but respect, posted the article on his FaceBook feed with the invitation “let me know what you think”. I did. And William responded in the same spirit of friendship and respect.

The advice offered to Israelis in Daroff’s TOI interview, elaborated in his comment to me, are worth a deeper exploration for the disconnect this singularly influential group of diaspora leaders demonstrates via his words and their inaction.

The theme of Daroff’s interview was summarized as “a return to unity”, said Daroff, “My big focus now for the American Jewish community is to try to continue this unity (which now means working together on these issues and speaking with commonality of purpose and agreement) and to impress upon our Israeli brothers and sisters to put unity at the top of their priorities,” he added.

I found that rather cheeky advice.

Daroff underlined a disconnect in this statement/thinking/advice from Israel’s and Jews around the world reality of the past 3 plus years bordering on offensive hypocrisy.

The publicly stated mission of the Conf. is to “work publicly and behind the scenes to address vital issues including Israel’s security and vitality”. Yet Daroff states in his FaceBook comment to me, “It is my view that it is not the role of Diaspora Jewish leadership to determine Israel’s internal political outcomes.”

As an Oleh who began his professional career in Washington, DC at AIPAC, I agreed with Daroff’s reticence to publicly weigh in. However, when American Jews are being murdered and violently attacked due to misperceptions of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, alongside significant public anti-Israel and sometimes antisemitic demonstrations the situation has been altered in a dramatically negative direction. It goes without saying, Jews are unsafe everywhere and anywhere including the United States where all 52 Conference presidents serve as visible leaders. And while I agree diaspora organizations will never “determine Israel’s internal political outcomes” staying silent in meetings with Israeli political leaders is simply not a viable option, especially if you’re publicly advocating for Israeli unity.

The underlying causes of Israeli disunity are not a hidden mystery. Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets for more than 3 years to protect Israel’s democracy from Netanyahu and his government of unqualified extremists and misfits who are intent on gutting the independent judiciary.

Bibi’s government is currently involved in efforts to ensure an independent commission of inquiry over the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion will never be created.

Israelis demand and deserve thorough accountability, following the catastrophic failures which resulted in the death of over 1,000 Israeli civilians, hundreds of young Israeli soldiers and the suffering of hundreds of families who had loved ones violently abducted from their homes at gunpoint by Hamas terrorists. The only way that even has a chance of happening is via an independent commission of inquiry empowered to investigate and take statements under oath from Israel’s political, military and intelligence service leadership.

Yet Daroff insists, “Israelis themselves are debating the need for an independent commission of inquiry.” This sounds like a Netanyahu talking point. If there’s one thing uniting Israelis, it’s the need to feel safe in their homes which requires learning the lessons from October 7^th and ensuring nothing like that cataclysm will ever happen again.

Isn’t this the “behind the scenes” message which should be at the top of the Conference and Daroff’s message? The diaspora Jewish community should feel confident that Israel will never find itself defenseless from terrorist invasion and will handle self-defense and diplomacy that builds international support and doesn’t tear it down.

If you can’t or don’t speak truth to power, you are outliving your relevance. In that spirit the next time William Daroff posts a picture of himself alongside Netanyahu with the description of how “honored he is” to meet with Israel’s prime minister he can add how receptive Israel’s prime minister was to hearing the message, or not.