J Street and New Jewish Narrative React Following US Attack on Iran

J Street and New Jewish Narrative (NJN) fear that the Trump Administration’s unauthorized attack on Iran on Saturday risks a dangerous escalation into a new, broader Middle East war of choice. We hope that this war can be swiftly brought to an end. 

We have long recognized the danger posed by the Iranian regime – to its own people, to its neighbors, to Israel and to the world – as well as by the regime’s nuclear program. We have always asserted that the Iranian regime cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. And we have maintained that the best way to achieve that goal was through diplomacy, not military action.

We worry deeply now that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump have – in resorting to the use of force before diplomacy had been fully exhausted – raised the risk of escalation and of harm to Israelis, Iranians and Americans.

We are also extremely concerned that the President has circumvented Congress’s constitutionally-mandated role in authorizing an operation of this kind. We call on Congress to vote this week on War Powers Resolutions introduced in both the Senate and House regarding this conflict and to require answers from the President regarding the strategy and endgame for the attack before giving its approval. We agree that without Congressional approval, the attack and the fighting that follows is being conducted without constitutional authority.

While we recognize that Israel, and now the US, have had tactical success in attacking elements of the Iranian nuclear program, we fear the potential for escalation and the lack of a clear endgame or strategy underlying the attack that has been launched. Long-term success in limiting Iran’s nuclear program is what we’d secured while the Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA) was in effect from 2015 to 2018.

Our thoughts are with family and friends in Israel, Americans serving in the Middle East, and all civilians across the region who are in harm’s way.