A major Jewish advocacy group, the Orthodox Union, is organizing a demonstration at the White House to protest President Biden's evolving stance on the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The Orthodox Union, representing over 1,000 synagogues in the U.S., plans to deliver 180,000 letters to the White House on April 3, symbolizing 180 days since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
The letters, gathered from the Orthodox Union's extensive network of synagogues nationwide, will urge the President to back Israel's efforts while addressing antisemitism and advocating for the release of Israeli and American hostages. Collaborating with various organizations like the Jewish Federations of North America, Chabad on Campus, and the Anti-Defamation League, the Orthodox Union aims to meet the 180,000 letter goal.
Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Union's Executive Director of Public Policy, emphasized the importance of supporting Israel until the Hamas threat is eradicated. The group's initiative seeks to highlight the urgency of ending the hostages' suffering, bringing them home, and eliminating the Hamas threat.
Initially expressing support for the Biden administration following the October 7 attacks on Israel, the Orthodox Union has grown concerned about the U.S.'s nuanced backing of ongoing Gaza offensives. This unease heightened when the U.S. abstained from a UN Security Council vote demanding an immediate ceasefire, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's determination to proceed with plans to invade Rafah in Gaza, despite opposition from the Biden administration on humanitarian grounds.
