The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations issued a statement on Wednesday expressing support of "Israel's defensive actions against Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure" and gratitude to President Donald Trump for standing behind Israel.

But the signatures of several prominent progressive groups were noticeably absent from this so-called "joint unity statement" signed by nearly 50 member organizations. Notable among them were the National Council of Jewish Women, the New Jewish Narrative — a recently formed merger between Americans for Peace Now, the U.S. arm of the veteran Israeli peace movement, and Ameinu, an offshoot of the Israeli Labor Party — and HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), which works with refugees.

Although the Union for Reform Judaism, the congregational arm of the Reform movement, signed the statement, as did other groups affiliated with the Reform movement, the Central Conference of American Rabbis — which is its rabbinical association — did not.

The Conference of Presidents, which describes itself as a "consensus-based, central coordinating body," represents a wide array of national Jewish organizations that span the religious and political spectrum. Debates about the wording of the statement stretched out for several days, according to sources involved in drafting it. Among those progressive organization that were eventually convinced to sign the statement was the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

"The actions taken by President Donald J. Trump and his administration during this crisis helps protect civilian lives, bolster deterrence, and reinforce Israel's ability to confront one of the most serious threats it has ever faced," the statement said.

"This partnership reflects not only a vital alliance between democracies but also a shared commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation and defending global security."

Noting that "the stakes could not be higher," the statement urged the international community to "hold Iran accountable for its continued defiance, aggression, incitement of antisemitism, fostering of global terrorism and its declared intent to wipe Israel off the map."

"Iran's actions also threaten American lives, American allies, and American national security," it added. "A regime that arms proxies from Gaza to Yemen cannot be trusted with the world's most dangerous weapons."

Asked why his organization did not sign, Hadar Susskind, president and CEO of the New Jewish Narrative, said: "We disagree with much of what was included. Where we do agree is that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But a military strike can, at best, delay that. And more likely it will only build support for hardliners in Iran who want to develop nuclear weapons. Diplomacy, not bombs, is what has proven successful in keeping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."

The other organizations that did not sign the statement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.