 | AJC Supports Israel’s Quest to Secure Return of Kidnapped Soldier AJC, outraged by the terrorist attack and kidnapping carried out by elements of the Palestinians’ governing party, expresses its solidarity with Israel as its forces seek the return of the kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit. “After months of rocket fire directed against Israeli civilians from territory under the complete control of the Palestinian Authority, which has utterly failed to impose basic order, and after a vicious attack carried out by terrorists including those of Hamas, the very faction responsible for the Palestinians’ governance, Israel had no choice but to act decisively in defense of its citizens,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. Read full statement.
 Mideast Briefing: Recalling a Happier Fourth of July In his weekly analysis, Eran Lerman, director of AJC’s Jerusalem Office, reflects on the Israeli military in 1976 that rescued hostages at Entebbe, and compares it to the situation in Israel today. “Some things have changed,” writes Lerman. “The terrorists now are not the radical left-oriented PFLP and their German radical allies; they are a mixed crew of Islamists, with an indirect role played by the Iranian regime and their proxies in Lebanon and Syria… And yet the basic dilemmas are the same. Should Israel negotiate with terrorists?” Read full briefing.
AJC Supports Efforts to End to Iranian Nuclear Threat AJC’s Board of Governors has adopted a resolution expressing support for the international community’s efforts to end the Iranian nuclear threat through negotiations, and endorses the basic principles that President Bush and Secretary of State Rice articulated in setting forth the new international proposal. Read statement.
AJC Urges President Bush to Create Blue Ribbon Commission on Energy AJC is urging President George W. Bush to establish a bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission on Reducing Energy Dependence. “To confront the clear and present danger of our nation’s dangerous dependence on imported energy requires fresh thinking and new initiatives at the highest levels of our government,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris, who, together with AJC President E. Robert Goodkind, proposed the Commission in a letter to President Bush. The Commission would seek to improve fuel conservation and efficiencies in energy use, develop alternative sources of energy, and diversify foreign oil sources. Read press release.
AJC Meets with U.S. Political Figures An AJC leadership delegation met with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the House Minority Leader, and discussed U.S.-Israel relations, Hamas, Iran, the need for enhanced energy independence, the ongoing crisis in Darfur, and the debate on immigration reform. The delegation also met with Robert Joseph, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, regarding Iran, North Korea and other proliferation-related matters; Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch concerning the Gaza situation, U.S.-Israel relations, Russian involvement in the Middle East, Iran and Syria; Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron regarding strategies for responding to anti-Semitism in the Islamic world and Europe; and the recently-appointed Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, Gregg Rickman, to learn more about the parameters of his job and to offer AJC expertise in dealing with anti-Semitism around the world.
AJC Concerned Over Saudi Stance In a letter to United States Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, AJC President E. Robert Goodkind and Executive Director David A. Harris expressed serious concern over comments made by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the U.S. regarding his country’s adherence to the Arab boycott of Israel. “Saudi Arabia's continued enforcement of the primary boycott is in direct violation of its commitments under the World Trade Organization,” they wrote.
AJC Welcomes Supreme Court Ruling on Military Commissions AJC welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, which found the use of military commissions established to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to be illegal under both U.S. law and the Third Geneva Convention. “Even in times of national emergency, it is imperative that the courts continue to uphold the rule of law,” said AJC President E. Robert Goodkind.
AJC Honored in Communications Contest AJC’s 2005 Annual Report has received an honorable mention in the Apex 2006 Awards for Publication Excellence. The Awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence.
AJC Sends Letter to President of Poland AJC Executive Director David A. Harris sent a letter to Polish President Lech Kazcynski expressing concern regarding the appointment of Roman Giertych as Minister of Education and Piotr Farfal as Deputy Chairman of Poland’s Public Television, both of whom have a history of expressing anti-Semitic views. “We are most concerned that despite the enormous improvement in Polish-Jewish relations and the exceptionally positive relations between Poland and the State of Israel, the impression these appointments may create could undo much of the progress that has been made thus far,” wrote Harris in his letter.
Construction Begins at AJC Vocational Center in India  The foundation has been laid for the AJC Vocational Center in the southern Indian village of Chennai. The two-level structure is expected to open in the Fall and serve a community of thousands devastated by the 2004 tsunami. Jason Isaacson, director of AJC’s Office of Government and International Affairs, visited the site with local officials and AJC India representative Priya Tandon. “The building will be a handsome addition to the neighborhood, and a lasting emblem of our friendship with India,” Isaacson said.
AJC Supports Israeli Humanitarian Mission in Indonesia  Volunteers from the Israeli Flying Aid Team (IFA), an AJC-supported non-governmental organization providing aid to people affected by disasters in developing countries, has returned from an earthquake-stricken area of Central Java, where its activities had to be unreported until now because of potential threats from radical Islamists. IFA’s work in Indonesia was co-sponsored by AJC, and included providing children with post-traumatic stress disorder treatments, in addition to serving 5,200 people two hot meals daily – in accordance with local tastes and customs -- from a field kitchen run voluntarily by an Israeli chef. IFA’s efforts in the eight Muslim villages hitherto overlooked by aid teams won approval from Indonesian government officials, as well as the local Muslim leadership, who asked for IFA's help in reconstructing a mosque destroyed by the earthquake. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
AJC Director of Special Projects wins Montblanc de la Culture Award Rebecca Neuwirth, AJC director of special projects, was presented with the Montblanc de la Culture Award, which honors those who have worked extensively behind the scenes in the arts world. Neuwirth was cited for her founding of, and work with, High5 Tickets for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that provides teenagers with tickets to artistic events at discounted prices.
AJC and Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania Sign Agreement AJC and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania (FEDROM) signed an association agreement in Bucharest. The agreement, AJC’s twentieth such international link, and the ninth in Europe, was signed at a dinner hosted by FEDROM President Dr. Aurel Vainer, and attended by Romanian government officials, the Chief Rabbi of Romania, and the Ambassador of Israel. AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker signed the agreement on behalf of AJC. “This agreement is a formal expression of what has already been a close and long-term partnership,” said Jewish community leader Dorel Dorian. Rabbi Baker also met with Romanian President Traian Basescu and Foreign Minister Mihai Ravan Ungureanu.
AJC Takes Active Role in Diplomacy An AJC delegation met this past week privately with a number of key foreign diplomats. These included Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Danny Ayalon, for a discussion on the current tense situation in Gaza and U.S.-Israeli relations; Israel’s Deputy Director-General for Central and Eastern Europe, Mark Sofer, to share impressions of our recent visit to Moscow, Riga and Kiev; and Poland’s Ambassador to the U.S., Janusz Reiter, to express concern about the appointment of two individuals with extremist backgrounds to key public positions. In addition, the delegation was invited by Germany’s Ambassador to the U.S., Klaus Scharioth, to participate in a small farewell dinner for the Deputy Chief of Mission of Germany, Peter Gottwald, who will be going to Vienna to serve as Germany’s Ambassador to UN institutions and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Moreover, the group met with India’s Deputy Ambassador to the U.S., Singh Jassal, to talk about a forthcoming trip of Indian parliamentarians and journalists to Israel under the auspices of AJC’s Project Interchange, as well as the U.S.-India nuclear deal and India's role at the UN in respect to Israel-related issues.
AJC’s Summer Institute for Israel Studies AJC and Brandeis University’s third annual Summer Institute for Israel Studies, a program designed to assist faculty in North American colleges and universities design new courses in Israel Studies, took participants to Israel this week to meet with leading Israeli authors, artists, media professionals, public intellectuals and academics, government officials and representatives of Arab and Jewish communities. Before departing for Israel, participants spent two weeks at Brandeis, where they studied the social, political and economic history of Israel, its ethnic and religious/secular divides, Arab-Jewish relations within Israel and between Israel and states in the region, and international relations. The program to date has attracted 60 participants, and resulted in the creation of 38 new courses in various universities.
Thanks to Scandinavia in Denmark AJC Director of Special Projects Rebecca Neuwirth addressed over 6000 people at the Rebild Festival in Denmark yesterday on behalf of Thanks to Scandinavia, an AJC institute that promotes relations between Scandinavian countries and Jews worldwide. At the festival, which takes place annually on July 4, Neuwirth spoke about the Danish rescue of Jews in World War II, saying that the story holds a special place in the minds and hearts of American Jews.
AJC Co-Sponsors International Conference on the Holocaust AJC joined with the Government of Latvia and the International Task Force on Holocaust Education and Remembrance to sponsor an international conference, “The Holocaust: Remembrance and Lessons,” in Riga, Latvia on July 4-5. The conference, which featured an opening address by Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, paid special attention to the findings of the historical commissions for the three Baltic States. AJC played an instrumental role in the decisions by the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to create commissions to provide an objective and critical report of the events of the Holocaust in these countries.
AJC Leads Central European Leaders on Tour of Israel AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker led a delegation of senior diplomats and parliamentarians from new European Union member states in Central and Eastern Europe to Israel with AJC’s Project Interchange. Participants, who play key roles for their respective countries in the formulation of foreign and security policy for the EU, previously had no direct contact with Israel. During the week-long visit, the group met with Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Knesset Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi, and with the Ambassadors to Israel of five Central European countries; visited the northern border with Lebanon, the city of Sderot, frequently the target of Qassam missile attacks, and viewed the security fence being built around Jerusalem; learned about the absorption of new immigrants in Ashdod; and heard about the social and cultural debates in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
AJC Represented at Religious Leaders’ Conference in Moscow AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs Rabbi David Rosen represented AJC at an International Religious Leaders’ Conference in Moscow that featured a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The gathering of religious leaders included five Cardinals, five Muftis, and four Chief Rabbis.
Pittsburgh Chapter Looks at Interfaith Relations in Middle East The Pittsburgh Chapter’s “Interfaith Relations in the Middle East: Solving a Family Crisis,” featured a keynote address by AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs Rabbi David Rosen. Representatives from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Antioch Orthodox community, and the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh also contributed to a discussion focusing on the role of religion in securing peace in the Middle East.
In The Media Israel office director Eran Lerman was interviewed on BBC World TV regarding the kidnapping of Israeli solider Gilad Shalit.
The Washington Jewish Week quoted AJC Legislative Director Richard Foltin on U.S. Air Force guidelines for free exercise of religion.
The New York Jewish Week quoted AJC Legislative Director Richard Foltin on AJC's opposition to the Pledge Protection Act as a threat to First Amendment rights. The story also noted AJC's work in support of the Voting Rights Act reauthorization.
The Chicago Jewish News published an analysis on the Presbyterian Church USA’s decision to reverse its divestment policy by Chicago Chapter assistant director Jonathan Schwartz, who attended the recent PCUSA General Assembly.
The Sun Sentinel (South Florida) published an op-ed by Palm Beach County Chapter vice president Robert Greenberg on the Presbyterian Church USA vote to reverse its call for divesting from companies doing business with Israel.
UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer was cited by Geneva’s Le Temps regarding this week’s UN Human Rights Council special session to condemn Israel. Neuer was also cited about the Council by the Jerusalem Post, 24 Heures, SwissInfo, Tachles, Liberation, the JTA, and the New York Sun. The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles published an op-ed by Neuer on Magen David Adom. | |
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