Dear Mr. Trump,
Dear Madam Vice President,
American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) is the premier umbrella network of Christian leaders collectively representing tens of millions of Americans who are profoundly concerned about a range of issues that directly impact our ally Israel and, therefore, the interests of the United States. Our members are dedicated to the proven principle that supporting the Jewish State is an extraordinary benefit to the United States, and we embrace the efficacy of no daylight between our two nations.
During this historic presidential election, one key issue facing the United States is our relationship with Israel—our closest ally in the Middle East, now caught in an existential battle with terrorist forces. Members of ACLI and the vast majority of Americans support Israel, and it is our responsibility to make sure that the next president of the United States reflects the will of the people and stands in friendship with the nation and people of Israel.
We respectfully ask that you adopt the following Six Guiding Principles which provide a great benefit to the United States of America and ensure critical assistance to our close ally Israel.
- Combat Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and unrelenting actions as the world’s leading state sponsor of global terrorism.
The US State Department again recently designated Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism—destabilizing the Middle East in particular by financing, arming, and training terrorist groups operating around the world. Internally, the Iranian regime’s ongoing, brutal human rights violations continue to oppress its own people. In 2023, Iran executed 798 of its citizens, a 37 percent increase from 2023. Its abuse of Christians and other religious minorities continues unabated. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in May 2024 that Iran has increased its stockpile of enriched uranium and is now near weapons-grade levels. Iran’s rulers are also shipping rockets, ballistic missiles, and armed drones to regional terror militias and even to our adversary Russia for use against Ukraine. Iran also has armed and trained the Houthi militia that is threatening maritime shipping in the Arabian and Red seas. We request that you commit to counteracting Iran’s ongoing terrorist activities, human rights violations, destabilizing weapons shipments, and nuclear quest by implementing robust and extensive sanctions against the clerical regime in Tehran.
- Ensure the defeat of Hamas, the return of all hostages, and the assurance that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal invasion of Israel, killing over 1,200 civilians and taking more than 250 hostages. The atrocities targeted women, children, and the elderly, including even Holocaust Survivors. Throughout the ensuing conflict, Hamas officials have falsely blamed Israel for endangering Palestinian civilians while using them as human shields and Hamas militiamen have seized international aid to support their military infrastructure and maintain control over the people of Gaza. It is time to admit that the accepted solutions to the Palestinian–Israeli conflict have failed. We ask you to commit to full support of Israel’s right to self-defense and to liberating Gaza from Hamas. This must include military aid and full diplomatic support. The only solution for Gaza is governance by local communal leaders willing to live peacefully with Israel. Additionally, we ask that you make every effort to secure the safe return of the hostages seized by Hamas, including American citizens, and pressuring not only Hamas but all others complicit in their abduction.
- Intervene to ensure that the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah’s incessant attacks on Israel are stopped and that Lebanon is freed from its grip.
We urgently bring to your attention the crisis along Israel’s northern border. Over the past year, Hezbollah, operating from Lebanon, has launched over 8,000 rockets, anti-tank missiles, and explosive UAVs targeting both Israeli civilians and military installations. This relentless aggression has forced the evacuation of over 90,000 Israeli citizens from their homes near the Lebanese border. Regrettably, this massive internal displacement has been overlooked by international bodies such as the UNHCR and the UN Special Rapporteur on internally displaced persons. While Israel has thus far managed to prevent a full-scale conflict with Hezbollah, this precarious situation is unsustainable. Israel’s advanced intelligence capabilities have proven crucial in averting larger attacks, as evidenced by the preemptive strike that recently thwarted a significant Hezbollah missile assault on central Israel. However, the ongoing threat demands immediate and resolute action. We implore you to use the full weight of your office to intervene decisively. We urge you to take all necessary measures to compel Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terrorist groups to cease their daily attacks on Israel. Should these aggressions persist, we strongly advocate for the implementation of stringent punitive measures against Hezbollah and its allies. Furthermore, we respectfully request that you exert diplomatic pressure on the UNHCR to formally recognize and address the plight of the 90,000 internally displaced Israeli citizens.
- Ensure an end to the international lawfare against Israel and peace through direct negotiations between Israel and its regional adversaries.
Under the pretense of working for peace, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have all engaged in various forms of lawfare against Israel that, if enforced, would weaken Israel and strengthen enemies who seek Israel’s destruction. For example, in January 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide in its war with Hamas—an order that demonstrates ignorance or denial of the extensive efforts already taken by the IDF to safeguard all civilian life. In May 2024, the ICC requested arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity for leaders of Israel and Hamas—an action that suggested moral equivalency between Israeli leaders fighting to protect civilians from further attack and terrorist leaders responsible for the massacre of Israelis on October 7. And in June 2024, the UNSC adopted Resolution 2735, proposing a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza—a proposal that ignored Hamas’ atrocities and its continued rejection of all such deals, thereby placing responsibility for an end to the war on Israel.
If there is to be peace between Israel and those who seek its destruction, it must be the result of direct negotiations between the parties involved rather than through the misguided and ineffective efforts of international organizations. Therefore, we request that you commit to opposing any attempted solutions imposed by outside parties and instead work to ensure their support for Israel as it defends itself against enemies’ intent on Israel’s annihilation.
- Commit to combating antisemitism in all its forms in the United States and throughout the world.
Jewish people in the United States and throughout the world are facing an ominous wave of contemporary forms of antisemitism, often related to attacks against Zionism. There has been a significant increase in acts of violence and incitement to violence. This kind of Jew-hatred is also coming from within the ranks of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israeli intelligence links at least 190 UNRWA staff to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, some of whom participated in the October 7 massacres. Since its creation, UNRWA has encouraged hatred of Israel, and there is ample documentation of UNRWA schools indoctrinating Palestinian Arab children to hate the Jewish people. Palestinians must teach their children the way of peace rather than Jihad and martyrdom. Therefore, we ask that the US Administration defund UNRWA permanently. Another form of antisemitism is the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. It is a global initiative designed to stigmatize, isolate, and harm Israel politically and economically. For example, false parallels are often drawn between Israel and apartheid South Africa, with a common accusation that Israel is today an apartheid state despite all evidence to the contrary. We request you to commit as president to combating any efforts to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel at the local, state, or federal level.
- Ensure colleges and universities combat antisemitism and provide a safe and secure learning environment for Jewish students by imposing sanctions, loss of funding, and other restrictions for failure to do so.
Rising hostility against Jewish students on American universities and college campuses has been well-documented for over 20 years. Since October 7, 2023, this hostility has heightened and includes mental and physical harassment, threats, and acts of discrimination, including unlawful restrictions to access university facilities and services. This antisemitism on college and university campuses also includes (but is not limited to) campus-wide BDS activities, including Israel Apartheid Week. Antisemitism on campuses originates from extremist university professors, militant student groups (often funded by sinister sources), and outside malign actors. The lack of investigations, prosecutions, and disciplinary action against perpetrators by campus administrators only fuels the problem. The Executive Branch of the US government must enforce current legislation, including Title VI of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX policies. The president must propose and support new legislation that will deport international students or professors who engage in antisemitic, anti-Israel, and anti-American hate speech and hostilities. Federal funding to schools that fail to establish and enforce policies that protect Jewish students and their advocates on campus must be revoked.
We respectfully urge you to commit to pursuing and enacting these policies, which will result in strengthening Israel, the United States, and our mutually beneficial friendship. We look forward to hearing from you in response to this request.
Most respectfully,
American Christian Leaders for Israel