“This is a sacred preemptive defensive war to protect Western civilization,” stated Morton Klein, of the ZOA.
By JNS Staff
(June 12, 2025 / JNS) Major U.S. Jewish groups released statements on Thursday night in support of Israel’s strike on Iranian military and nuclear sites.
“Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, carried out in violation of international agreements and in defiance of the International Atomic Energy Agency, poses an immediate, existential threat to Israel and a grave danger to global security,” the leadership of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations stated.
“Its underground enrichment efforts and repeated calls for Israel’s destruction have made clear that the regime’s intentions are not peaceful,” the leaders stated. “In the face of this mounting peril, Israel has taken necessary and justified defensive action to protect its citizens and ensure its survival.”
“As sirens sound and families across Israel seek shelter from the threat of incoming fire, our prayers are with the people of Israel,” they added. “We express unwavering solidarity with all those under threat and salute the courage of Israel’s leaders and defense forces as they confront this danger with strength and determination.”
The American Jewish Committee stated that the Israeli military had carried out “precise, defensive action to deny Iran’s ability to existentially threaten Israel and harm millions of people.”
“We stand with Israel in its right to self-defense and in anticipation of any Iranian military or proxy response,” the AJC said. “Iran supports worldwide terrorism. It violates the human rights of its people. It desperately pursues nuclear weapons, and it has sworn to destroy Israel.”
“All nations should stand against the Iranian regime,” it added. “The world should stand with Israel.”
AIPAC stated that “America must stand with our ally at this critical moment as it takes action to protect its families and the world from a nuclear-capable Iran.”
“The administration and Congress should ensure that Israel has the resources and support needed to defend itself from any Iranian response,” the pro-Israel group said. “Israel’s action to cripple Iran’s nuclear program is a service to all civilized people.”
The Jewish Federations of North America stated that it stands “in unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel—as we have throughout our shared history—praying for their immediate safety, strength and well-being.”
The Federation also said that future generations would be protected “as Israel defends itself from Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and other threats posed by the Iranian regime.”
Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, stated that his organization “supports Israel’s necessary preemptive military action against Iran’s violating international law and illegally developing nuclear weapons and threatening the entire world.”
“Since two months of U.S. negotiations to stop the terrorist Islamic Republic of Iran from developing nukes failed miserably, Israel, with the support of the United States, was compelled to powerfully attack Iran nuclear facilities,” Klein said.
The ZOA leader noted that the Iranian regime has repeatedly and openly called for the death of America and of Israel.
“As Nobel peace prize winner Elie Wiesel repeatedly warned, ‘If they say they’re going to kill you, believe them,’ so Israel had no choice but to take military action to protect America, Israel and the West,” he said. “This is a sacred preemptive defensive war to protect Western civilization. We all must support Israel in their courageous, lifesaving actions.”
This article was originally published in JNS and can be viewed here.