Controversy Surrounding J Street and Jeremy Ben Ami

Jeremy Ben Ami has faced criticism after overcoming opposition from J Street, a group that received backing from George Soros. For years, he has been vague about whether his organization accepted funds from billionaires.

Ben Ami appears to be tapping into the anxieties of Palestinian leadership, including Mahmoud Abbas, while also endorsing measures that seem radical in their opposition to Israel. J Street presents itself as “pro-Israel, pro-equality,” yet its acceptance of the Israeli symbol seems questionable. Past controversial reports, like the debunked 2009 Goldstone Report, have cast Israel in a negative light during operations that were purely defensive against Hamas.

In the current climate, claims made in a post on Substack from Israeli soldiers describe their involvement in delivering essential aid, while also mentioning allegations of civilians being shot for trying to access food. There seems to be a disconnection between reported facts and the narrative pushed by some media outlets and Hamas.

Rather than presenting solid evidence, Ben Ami cites sources he considers reputable, but he fails to address vital aspects distinguishing the serious crime of genocide from the harsh realities faced in wartime. Interestingly, he has mentioned being inspired to write following Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning celebrating the destruction of Jerusalem’s sacred temples.

In 2010, Ben Ami was involved in a fundraiser for J Street coinciding with Tisha B’Av.

Later that same year, he had to concede that his organization received financial support from Soros, after previously denying this for years. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Ben Ami had implied there was no involvement from Soros in the founding of the organization. However, reports indicated that he eventually had to acknowledge the truth when pressed.

It was later revealed by various sources that both he and J Street misrepresented their financial backers.