Overview
- J Street, in a policy released Monday, urged phasing out the $3.8 billion a year in U.S. military subsidies by 2028 while keeping U.S. sales of defenses like Iron Dome that Israel would pay for.
- The group argued the current grant model — U.S. taxpayer funds that Israel uses to buy from American weapons firms — has become politically divisive and should end.
- Calling the move a fundamental reassessment after the Gaza war and regional clashes, J Street said future sales must comply with U.S. law and cited Rep. Sean Casten’s Ceasefire Compliance Act.
- The position reverses years of J Street backing for Iron Dome funding and reflects a wider left shift, as figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna now oppose U.S.-funded missile defense.
- Pro-Israel organizations, including AIPAC, and some former J Street officials criticized the proposal as damaging to the U.S.-Israel alliance, and Senate votes to restrict parts of U.S. arms sales are expected Wednesday.