William Daroff, the CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, decried the reaction to October 7 in the United States and expressed shock at the lack of empathy among people presumed to be allies – in an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
“We in America felt a deep shock on October 7 when we saw the devastation caused by the Hamas terror attack. And then we were struck again when we saw the response in America a few days later,” Daroff said.
“Many of the people we had stood with as allies, people we had lobbied with on Capitol Hill, were not there. They were not supporting us. They were denying the devastation of October 7.”
Jewish community can ultimately only count on itself
Daroff touted the longstanding connection his umbrella group has to the United States, which he said was exemplified by this year’s 50th CoP annual convention to Israel.
“This highlights the strong bond between Americans and the Israeli people,” he added.
Daroff met with leaders of major Jewish organizations and key figures in Israel, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Isaac Herzog. In all of these meetings, his message has been clear: “We continue to this day to ensure that American Jewish leaders are engaging and dialoguing with Israeli officials and the people of Israel.”
He noted that since October 7, the missions to Israel have been more focused on individuals, especially those closely impacted by the attacks. “We have been engaging with people from the North and the South. The bond has grown stronger since October 7.”
He explained that the sheer lack of statements from organizations on university campuses, where Jews have been subjected to attacks and harassment since October 7, has made him realize that while the American-Jewish community has many non-Jewish allies when push comes to shove, it can only rely on itself.
“We are only as strong as we are unified. I believe that the onslaught Israel has faced and the challenges Jews in America and around the world have endured have brought us closer together as a Jewish community. Our souls are more connected than ever,” said Daroff.
Queried by the Post about the relationship between the Jewish community and US President Donald Trump, he said, “In the current Trump administration, many of the people in leadership roles, particularly in relation to US-Israel relations, are individuals the Jewish community has worked with for years.
“These include figures like Marco Rubio, John Ratcliffe, and Mike Huckabee. They have all been very pro-Israel and supportive of our community. Many of us have already established relationships with Trump’s officials, which is a different dynamic compared to when President Trump first took office eight years ago.”
He noted that Jewish organizations have been working incredibly well together since Hamas’s terrorist attacks. “I’ve never seen an environment where American Jewish organizations are collaborating so effectively on these issues. I think that October 7 helped focus our attention as Jewish leaders on what really matters.”