JCRC Statement
February 17, 2026
The following is a statement from Guila Franklin Siegel, chief operating officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, on the National Association of Social Workers' decision to oppose a motion that would expel the Israeli Union of Social Workers from the International Federation of Social Workers.
“We applaud the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for taking a stand against antisemitism. The push to expel the Israeli Union of Social Workers (IUSW) from the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) is a thinly veiled attempt to isolate and demonize Israeli and Jewish professionals who have dedicated their careers to supporting mental health, even while facing considerable antisemitic backlash themselves. The decision is a testament to tireless advocates like the Jewish Social Work Consortium and the more than 11,000 people who recently signed a petition urging NASW to speak out.
“It is now time for the IFSW member organizations to join the NASW in firmly rejecting this deeply misguided motion. At a time when antisemitism and other forms of hatred continue to run rampant in the U.S. and around the world, the field of social work has never been more important. These honorable professionals deserve our respect and support, not exclusion. JCRC will always have their back.”