On March 27, Governor Murphy issued a statement saying that "a ceasefire by all parties will end immediate hostilities, help pave the way for meaningful stability in the region, and set us on a path to a two-state solution, which will ensure long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire Middle East.” 

Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ together with Jewish organizations across the state sent a version of the below statement to the Governor to express our disappointment and encourage members of the community to do the same.

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Governor Murphy, we feel betrayed by your statement earlier today calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

While we appreciate your condemning Hamas and acknowledging the urgent need to bring all the hostages home, we find your announcement surprising and completely tone-deaf.  Since October 7th, the Jewish community in New Jersey has been under siege due to the 400% rise in antisemitism in our schools, universities, and municipalities.

In your statement, you mention ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis. By calling for a ceasefire today, you are endangering the survival of the only democracy in the Middle East and ignoring the root causes of the war. 

Furthermore, conflating a two-state solution with a ceasefire is dangerous, enables antisemitism to soar, and heightens division among the very people who elected you to lead our state.

Governor Murphy, we are disappointed that you had ample opportunity to share your concerns with the Jewish community and instead chose to unilaterality publish a statement.

New Jersey is now the first in the nation to issue such a statement in favor of a ceasefire.

It is disheartening to learn that you do not understand the devastating local impact of this war on the Jewish community.

We will stand with Israel and the Jewish people, now and forever.