IfNotNow

IfNotNow IfNotNow is an American Jewish activist organization founded in 2014 that organizes protests, civil disobedience, and advocacy opposing certain United States and Israeli policies regarding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The group emerged amid debates around the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Israeli settlements, and United States diplomatic posture toward Israel and Palestinians. IfNotNow positions itself within a lineage of American Jewish political activism that includes movements associated with Selma-era civil rights, anti-war demonstrations against the Vietnam War, and later protests tied to the Iran–Contra affair and the Iraq War.

History

IfNotNow developed from a series of student-led actions and online organizing in North American Jewish communities in response to the 2014 Gaza War and ongoing settlement expansion in the West Bank. Founders and early organizers drew inspiration from earlier Jewish activist formations connected to Adalah, Jewish Voice for Peace, Tikkun Olam, and campus groups sympathetic to Students for Justice in Palestine. Early public actions included demonstrations during events connected to prominent political figures and institutions such as protests at appearances by John Kerry, Benjamin Netanyahu, and at campuses affiliated with Brandeis University and Columbia University. Over subsequent years IfNotNow staged high-profile demonstrations targeting officials linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and media institutions including The New York Times and NBC News. The group expanded during periods of heightened international attention on Israeli policy, including the 2018 and 2021 escalations in the Gaza Strip and debates after announcements relating to the Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem relocation.

Mission and Goals

IfNotNow articulates a mission to end American Jewish support for what it describes as an occupation of the West Bank and the blockade of the Gaza Strip, and to shift American Jewish institutional politics regarding Israel and Palestinians. The organization frames its goals in terms of altering mainstream Jewish organizational stances associated with entities such as AIPAC, Anti-Defamation League, Reform Judaism, and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The group often references international legal and diplomatic landmarks like the Geneva Conventions and United Nations resolutions, and situates its demands alongside advocacy for a negotiated settlement involving parties such as Palestinian Authority leadership and Israeli political figures including Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett. IfNotNow emphasizes generational change within communities connected to institutions like Hebrew Union College and Yeshiva University.

Activities and Campaigns

IfNotNow employs direct-action tactics including sit-ins, synagogue disruptions, and demonstrations at political fundraisers, drawing on precedents set by groups such as Act Up, Students for a Democratic Society, and Black Lives Matter. Campaigns have targeted prominent politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Mike Pompeo, as well as journalists and donors associated with outlets like The New York Times and Fox News. The organization has coordinated with coalitions including Democracy for America and progressive Jewish groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and reform-oriented organizations connected to J Street on shared events opposing settlement expansion. Notable actions include demonstrations at ceremonies involving the Anti-Defamation League, protests during commemorations tied to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and coordinated days of action aligned with international events such as BDS Movement campaigns and United Nations debates on Palestine. IfNotNow has also engaged in electoral work, endorsing or opposing candidates in primaries and general elections and partnering with labor and student organizations including SEIU and campus chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Hillel International affiliates.

Organizational Structure and Funding

IfNotNow describes itself as a decentralized movement with local chapters in metropolitan areas including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C.. Leadership practices incorporate a mix of volunteer grassroots organizers, designated staff, and advisory boards; the group’s structure is influenced by models used by organizations such as MoveOn.org and Indivisible. Funding has come from individual donors as well as progressive philanthropic networks including foundations and donors who have historically supported organizations like Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, and progressive arms of Jewish philanthropy. Financial transparency and tax status have been discussed in public reporting in the context of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) rules that also apply to advocacy groups such as American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch. IfNotNow’s approach to staffing, field operations, and fundraising echoes organizing strategies used by national grassroots movements and digital-first campaigns associated with entities such as ActBlue.

Criticism and Controversies

IfNotNow has faced criticism from established Jewish organizations including AIPAC, Anti-Defamation League, and some denominational bodies like Orthodox Union and Union for Reform Judaism, who have accused it of undermining communal consensus and of aligning with tactics used by groups supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. Critics have argued the group’s protests at memorials and synagogues mirror confrontational tactics associated with polarizing episodes in American activism, drawing references to incidents involving Occupy Wall Street and clashes seen during demonstrations by Black Lives Matter. Supporters counter that IfNotNow follows traditions of Jewish dissent linked to figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights-era organizations. Debates over IfNotNow’s positions have surfaced in coverage by outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, and among policy forums including events at Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign Relations panels. The organization continues to be a polarizing actor within American Jewish and broader progressive politics as discussions about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict persist.

Category:Jewish organizations based in the United States