 | AJC News Update AJC Israel Fund Tops One Million Dollars Just two weeks after the AJC Israel Emergency Assistance Fund opened, we have received more than $1.1 million dollars in donations. We thank all who contributed so generously. If you haven't already done so, please consider making a donation now. We've already begun distributing the money received (see news brief on solidarity vans below). Our Israel office is coordinating the project in cooperation with local municipalities and relief groups. Other grants from our fund will be made in the coming days. As a reminder, consistent with past practice, all funds received will be distributed for their intended purpose. AJC will absorb the administrative costs.
 Join AJC’s Second Solidarity Mission to Israel, September 4-7 Please join us for our Second Solidarity Mission to Israel (the first took place last month), which will begin in Jerusalem on Monday, September 4, and end on the evening of September 7. Further information can be obtained from Shula Bahat at bahats@ajc.org. It will be a very special trip, allowing us to express our solidarity with Israel and Israelis in a meaningful way, while learning more about the situation so that we can become still better and more informed advocates.
Take Action Now – Send Letters in Support of Israel  More than 1,500 letters have been sent via the AJC Advocacy Center to President Bush, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja regarding Israel’s defense against the Hezbollah barrage of rockets and missiles. Did not send letters yet? Make your voices heard today. Our Advocacy Center makes it easy, and it will take only a minute to help Israel. Take Action Now.
AJC "Solidarity Vans" Bring Supplies to Bomb Shelter Families in Israel  When American Jewish Committee representatives arrived at bomb shelters in northern Israel to deliver baby supplies and children's toys to families living underground, the outpouring of gratitude was potent. "Israelis in northern communities have been cut off from the world, living underground in shelters since mid-July, emerging for fresh air infrequently as they dodge endless Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks," said Rabbi Ed Rettig, of AJC's Israel Office, who has been personally delivering packages to shelters. “There is precious little time for these families to emerge from the shelters to walk around or let their children play outside," said Rettig. "When the air raid siren sounds, we had less than 60 seconds to run to the bomb shelter for safety." Rettig and volunteers have delivered packages to families in Safed and Naharriya, and later this week will bring items to Israeli Arab communities in Akko and Tamra in the Galilee. AJC also is purchasing 500 first-aid kits that will bear the logos of AJC and Magen David Adom for delivery to bomb shelters in communities across Israel’s north.
AJC Pro-Israel Advocacy in Europe Jason Isaacson, director of AJC’s Office of Government and International Affairs, was in Brussels this week for meetings with European officials regarding the Hezbollah war against Israel. He met with a number of foreign ministers, including from Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, as well as with senior foreign ministry officials from Finland, Denmark, Italy and Belgium. These officials were in Brussels for a meeting of the EU. Isaacson urged the necessity of full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, the unacceptability of an armed terrorist state-within-a-state in southern Lebanon, and the case for solidarity with democratic Israel as it defends its citizens, and Western values, against Jihadist attacks subsidized by Syria and Iran. While in Brussels, Isaacson also met with U.S. and Israeli officials, as well as with the EU Middle East envoy, Ambassador Marc Otte, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Victoria Nuland, and the German and Maltese ambassadors to the EU.
AJC Comments on Mel Gibson Apology “In the Jewish tradition, we are very receptive of repentance, but complete repentance is measured by actions, not just words, over time," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris, reacting to Mel Gibson’s statement of apology. “Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade when arrested for DUI last weekend was both outrageous and hurtful," said Harris. "While we appreciate his statement of apology, more importantly, we look forward in the months and years ahead to Gibson matching his contrition with his own deeds."
AJC Stunned by Fatal Shooting Attack at Seattle Federation The entire AJC community was shocked by the shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. AJC national leaders have been in contact with the AJC Seattle Chapter leadership, as well as with Federation leaders to express concern and support. AJC extended condolences to the family of the woman who was murdered and wishes a speedy recovery for the five who were wounded in the shooting spree inside the Federation building. The incident was, tragically, another reminder that we must remain vigilant regarding office and personal security. In a letter to Richard M. Fruchter, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, David Harris expressed AJC’s dismay and grief at the tragedy. “We mourn the death of Pam Waechter, a devoted Jewish civil servant who was well known to us at AJC, and pray for the full recovery of those wounded in the attack,” Harris wrote.
Letter to Secretary General Annan on Hezbollah’s War AJC wrote to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to express deep concern over the situation resulting from Hezbollah's aggression against Israel on July 12. In the letter, AJC President E. Robert Goodkind and Executive Director David A. Harris expressed regret for the death of four UN observers in Lebanon, but took issue with Annan's statement that this was a deliberate Israeli attack. "We strongly suggest that no conclusion be drawn before the investigation is completed," they wrote. The AJC letter reviewed Hezbollah's record as a leading international terrorist organization. "The United States regards Hezbollah as a terror organization and placed it on its terror list. We believe it is high time for the UN to do the same," stated AJC. Read letter.
Letter to Secretary Rice Praises U.S. Support of Israel In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, AJC expressed gratitude and admiration for her leadership in the meeting in Rome of the U.S., UN, and European and Arab countries regarding the Hezbollah-Israel conflict. "We could not be more proud of our Government for its stance in support of Israel, as our ally defends itself against demonic forces that threaten regional and international peace and security," wrote AJC President E. Robert Goodkind and Executive Director David A. Harris. Read letter.
AJC Provides Advocacy Training for Guatemalan Immigrants AJC’s Latino and Latin American Institute hosted an advocacy workshop for 30 Guatemalan-American community leaders from across the U.S. The intensive three-day program was led by experts in leadership development, community building, advocacy, fundraising and media outreach. The workshop included a visit to Capitol Hill to learn from Latino and Jewish congressional staffers on how to best advance pressing issues in their communities with their Senators and representatives. Co-sponsoring the workshop was the Guatemala Embassy in Washington, D.C., and AJC’s Belfer Center for American Pluralism. This was the second workshop organized by AJC for communities from Latin America. In March 2006, AJC hosted an advocacy workshop for leaders of the Mexican-American community.
AJC Summer Fellows Host Energy Independence Program A panel discussion on the possibility of energy independence in the U.S. featured Richard Foltin, AJC’s legislative director; Professor Arthur Small of Columbia University; and Todd Sigaty of SmartTransportation.org. While Foltin and Sigaty suggested grassroots initiatives such as AJC's hybrid car program as ways to facilitate energy independence, Small said he does not believe energy independence is a realistic goal for the U.S., and that political leaders and advocacy groups should instead seek to purchase fuel from countries that pose no security risk, such as Canada and Mexico, or a manageable security risk, such as Venezuela and Nigeria. The panel sparked a lively discussion among the large audience of young Jewish adults attending the program, which was organized by AJC’s summer fellows and interns.
Harvard Club Evening for Young Jewish Adults “A Summer Evening with AJC” took place at the Harvard Club in New York for college students who are not yet engaged with our organization. Lisa Pruzan, a member of the Executive Board of AJC’s Women’s Campaign, and Larry Shelley, a member of AJC’s Board of Governors, were the featured speakers. David Harris moderated the discussion, in which the speakers focused on choices they had made, including their involvement with AJC, which has infused their lives with deeper meaning. Participants are students at Brown, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn, Princeton, and Syracuse. Given the success of this program, plans are underway to organize a similar event for college students during the winter break.
Promoting Tolerance Program AJC, together with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, organized a seminar, entitled “National Pride and Ethnic Prejudice,” in Sofia Bulgaria, which brought together young political leaders from 12 countries in Central and Eastern Europe for discussions about strategies to combat ethnic hatred and advance efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation. Participants in the seminar will travel to the U.S. in November as part of AJC’s “Promoting Tolerance” program, which will include visits to AJC Chapters in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
AJC Meets New Slovakia Government Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC’s director of International Jewish Affairs, met in Bratislava with leaders of the newly formed Slovak government. Discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Slovak Parliament focused on Slovak-American and Slovak-Israeli relations, and ongoing efforts to combat anti-Semitism in Europe. Slovak leaders expressed their understanding and empathy for what Israel is facing in its battles with Hezbollah and the need for a common front against international terrorism. (Slovakia currently sits on the UN Security Council.) They expressed appreciation for AJC efforts in the past to extend NATO membership to Slovakia and for our current support in securing visa waivers for Slovakians seeking to visit the U.S.
Human Rights in Russia Felice Gaer, director of AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute, testified before the U.S. Helsinki Commission at a hearing entitled "Human Rights and U.S.-Russia Relations: Implications for the Future." The Helsinki Commission, created 30 years ago as an independent agency of the U.S. government, is charged with monitoring the Helsinki Accords. Also testifying were Fritz Ermarth, former Chairman of the National Intelligence Council; Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy; and Tom Melia, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom House. Gaer addressed the rise in religious intolerance and hate crimes in Russia and the Russian Government's challenging of international human rights institutions. Gaer last visited Russia in June in her capacity as Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Working for UN Reform Felice Gaer, director of AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute, was one of eleven independent experts on human rights treaty monitoring who took part in a meeting on UN reform plans together with 30 government representatives and Secretariat officials, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour. The meeting examined the implications of Arbour's proposal to consolidate all seven UN human rights treaty monitoring bodies into a single entity. While Arbour argued efficiency and coherence in the jurisprudence that would be applied to all state parties, most governments opposed the plan because they feared it would strengthen implementation of the treaties, creating something akin to a human rights court. The results of the meeting will be presented to all governments in upcoming meetings of the Human Rights Council.
In the Media The New York Times published a letter by David Harris, criticizing a Nicholas Kristof column on Israel. Read letter.
The Seattle Times published an op-ed article by Rabbi Anson Laytner, director of AJC’s Seattle Chapter, on the shooting at the Jewish Federation. The Seattle Times also published a letter from Dr. Ronnie Stangler, a member of the chapter’s board, who participated in the AJC Solidarity Mission to Israel.
Andrew Doctoroff, president of AJC’s Detroit Chapter, appeared on the FOX News program Heartland to discuss the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
The Orange County Register ran an article about Beverly Jacobs, member of the AJC chapter’s board, and her participation in the AJC Solidarity Mission to Israel.
The Washington Post quoted Kenneth Bandler, AJC’s communications director, in a story about the head of the National Institutes of Health, who is an Arab American, signing an ad calling for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon.
The New York Sun quoted Kenneth Bandler in an article about the shooting at the Jewish Federation of Seattle.
USA Today quoted Rabbi James Rudin, AJC’s senior interreligious affairs adviser, in an article about Mel Gibson’s apology.
TheJTA quoted David Harris in an article about the re-nomination of Ambassador John Bolton as permanent representative to the UN.
The Journal News (Westchester) quoted Kenneth Bandler on the Jewish community’s support for Israel as it confronts Hezbollah.
German TV ARD interviewed Jason Isaacson about U.S. – Israel relations.
Rabbi Marc Dworkin, director of AJC’s Orange Country Chapter, was interviewed about Israel and Hezbollah on KWVE, an evangelical broadcasting in Orange County and Colorado.
The Buffalo News quoted Peter Weinstein, board member of AJC’s Buffalo Chapter, about his participation in the AJC Solidarity Mission to Israel. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment