 | AJC Launches TV AD Campaign on Hezbollah 
"Can We Close Our Eyes to the Truth about Hezbollah?" is AJC's new television ad. The 30-second spot is airing on CNN and FOX in the greater New York and Washington, D.C. regions, and also is available on our website. The site also has a special section full of AJC analyses and important background on Hezbollah. TV ads are an important part of AJC’s communications efforts to advance our advocacy agenda. This ad's central message is that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, since its inception, has been a threat to the United States and Western nations, not just to Israel. Click to view ad.
Costa Rica’s Disappointing Decision to Close Embassy Costa Rica’s decision to close its embassy in Jerusalem and move it to Tel Aviv is deeply disappointing. “Costa Rica has long been a stalwart supporter of Israel and courageously set an example for the world by maintaining its embassy in the country’s capital city of Jerusalem,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris, adding that AJC has visited San Jose regularly over the years to demonstrate its appreciation for Costa Rica’s principled stance. “Given the fact that Costa Rica is a shining light of democracy in Latin America, this action against another democracy, Israel, is particularly painful,” said Harris who, upon learning the news, began contacting high-level Costa Rican officials to voice concern. Read statement.
Missed Opportunity: Mike Wallace Interviews Iranian Leader Mike Wallace’s interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, broadcast on 60 Minutes, was regrettable. "It was a journalistic coup for the venerable CBS news show 60 Minutes, but, alas, veteran correspondent Mike Wallace wasn't up to the task," David Harris wrote on the New York Sun op-ed page. "The Iranian leader outfoxed, outwitted, and outflanked Mr. Wallace." Known as a tough interviewer, Wallace this time around proved inexplicably passive, perhaps hypnotized by his own unexpected fascination with the Iranian leader. As a result, he failed, among other things, to press President Ahmedinejad over his long trail of damning quotes on Jews and Israel, or to challenge the Iranian leader on his support of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations, and his ambitious program to develop a nuclear weapon.” Read AJC statement. Read Harris op-ed.
AJC Israel Emergency Assistance Fund Nears $1.6 million 
Or Hadash Synagogue Completes Shelter with AJC Support Thanks to AJC’s Israel Emergency Relief Fund, 150 children in Haifa found refuge in the newly completed bomb shelter at Or Hadash synagogue as Hezbollah rockets rained down on the city. “Our people have held on,” said Rabbi Edgar Nof of Or Hadash. “We continue to be a center for the whole community, although much of our work has been forced to move underground.” A child care program run by synagogue staff and parents was set up in the bomb shelter, and many of the children drew pictures that portrayed how they felt living under constant attack. “Watching Rabbi Nof and his team usher the children into the shelter and take care of them was inspiring,” said Rabbi Ed Rettig, of AJC’s Jerusalem office, who has spearheaded AJC’s efforts to provide support to Israelis. “Rabbi Edgar Nof is a tower of strength,” said Rabbi Rettig. “He stayed in Haifa the whole time, providing leadership to his community, addressing the needs of the members of his congregation and the broader public in his neighborhood.” Read news release.
Israeli Praises AJC’s Relief Efforts AJC has received many messages of thanks for the support provided to Israelis by our Israel Emergency Assistance Fund. One message read: “I just read your article about the AJC donating first aid kits to the communities in northern Israel, and wanted to thank you for that and for your support. My mother lives in Carmiel, one of the towns where Katyushas are falling everyday and residents have to basically live in the shelters. She told me that the day before they had received a box with donations for their shelter, including a first-aid kit! For them this was another proof that they are not alone in this fight and that the Jewish people both in Israel and the Diaspora are behind them. You do not know how important your actions are for the people living there. They really appreciate it.” For information on AJC’s first-aid kits project, click here.
Catholic Relief Services Donates to AJC for Israel We were very pleased to receive a gift of $25,000 for the AJC Israel Emergency Assistance Fund from Catholic Relief Services. “Your expression of our common humanity and the importance of interfaith cooperation carry special meaning for us at this difficult time. Please know how grateful we are,” wrote David Harris in a thank you letter to CRS. “We shall look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership with CRS in seeking the repair of our broken world.”
German Foreign Minister Cancels Syria Visit AJC today sent a letter to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressing appreciation and admiration for his principled position to cancel his scheduled trip to Syria. The foreign minister’s decision came in response to the belligerent anti-Israel rhetoric of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Read letter.
New AJC Booklet Details Syria’s Terrorist Threat to Israel Syria: Brokering Hate on Israel’s Border reviews how the Syrian government plays a significant role – through money, weapons, training, and, particularly, as a middleman between Iran and various terrorist groups – enabling Hezbollah, Hamas and other radical organizations to attack Israel. Beyond acting as a facilitator of international terrorism, the Syrian regime, led by President Basher Assad, also has a proven corrupt, anti-Western, and anti-Semitic track record. Syria: Brokering Hate on Israel’s Border, prepared by Maxine Kaye, senior assistant to AJC’s executive director, is available in a PDF on our website, or can be ordered from Dan Larson at larsond@ajc.org. It is an invaluable educational and advocacy tool that clarifies the persistent threats Damascus poses to Israel and the region.
TAKE ACTION NOW: End Dangerous Addiction to Foreign Oil!  AJC’s new online advocacy campaign on U.S. energy independence is encouraging visitors to our website and recipients of our email alerts to tell their members of Congress that it is time to end our nation’s dangerous addiction to foreign oil. Importing oil from hostile and unstable regimes, including ones that use oil profits to support terrorist organizations, threatens U.S. national security. This is a moment that cries out for vision and leadership in Congress. We urgently need a comprehensive national energy plan that substantially reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Urge your legislators to co-sponsor the Vehicle and Fuel Choice for American Security Act (S.2025, H.R.4409). Make sure Congress knows we expect them to take action before the legislative session ends in October!
AJC Praises British Anti-Terror Action The wide-ranging and meticulous investigative efforts of British law enforcement officials, disrupting a massive terror plot, were applauded by AJC. As British officials have stressed, the investigation will continue for some time. More arrests, beyond the 24 British Muslims already in custody, are expected. Domestic and international links are being aggressively pursued. “This latest development in global terrorism is another sobering reminder of the ominous danger to peace and security posed by exponents of radical Islam, who seek to wage war against Western nations such as the United Kingdom and United States, as well as against moderate Arab and other Muslim majority countries,” the statement said. Read news release.
AJC Radio Message: Will the Lebanon Cease-fire Work? In his national radio message, David Harris presents the conditions that will ensure that the cease-fire on the Lebanese front is successful. Harris's commentaries on current topics of concern air on the Osgood File on more than 400 CBS stations across the country. All commentaries are available at www.ajc.org. David’s message is scheduled to be on the radio around 7:40 AM and 8:40 AM on Thursday and 7:40 AM on Friday. Listen.
AJC Leadership in Hispanic-Jewish Relations According to the 2006 Annual Assessment of The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, chaired by Ambassador Dennis Ross, “The American Jewish Committee seems to be the forefront actor in the field of Hispanic-Jewish relations, dealing with it nationally for the longest period of time; in many cases, it is the sole actor with regard to Hispanic-Jewish activities and policy development. AJC’s two staffers are themselves Spanish-speaking Jews from countries in Latin America.”
Former AJC Representative in London In a new book entitled Tea with Einstein and Other Memories by William Frankel, published by Halban in London, the author, a distinguished British journalist and Jewish communal leader, devotes a chapter to his 14 years as AJC’s London Correspondent from 1944 to 1958. “The American Jewish Committee, the oldest and most respected organization in the United States for the protection of Jewish interests, had since its foundation in 1906 maintained contacts with the major Jewish communal bodies in Europe,” Frankel writes. “During the war years the lines of communication had been broken and, in 1944, when the successful conclusion of the conflict could be envisaged, the AJC sent a representative to London to re-establish contact with the Board of Deputies and to appoint a British correspondent."
Israel Advocacy for College Freshmen AJC’s Westchester Chapter organized an "Introduction to Israel Advocacy on College Campuses" for 60 local students and their parents at the home of Karen and Jay Kasner. The event provided students entering college in September with an understanding of the effective tools to advocate for Israel on campus. Featured speakers included Jeni Bauser, assistant director of Special Projects in AJC’s national office; Alex Helfand, assistant director of AJC's Westchester Chapter; and Bill Jacobs, chair of the AJC Westchester Israel Advocacy Committee. AJC Executive Director David Harris closed the program by reinforcing the crucial role college students can play as pro-Israel advocates both on and off campus.
AJC Addresses “Greek” Jewish Convention Maxine Kaye, senior assistant to AJC’s executive director, traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, to address over 100 students about pro-Israel advocacy. The conference, “Israel Amplified,” was sponsored by the AEPi fraternity and AEPhi sorority, both active on many campuses across the country. Kaye spoke about her personal experiences of Israel advocacy on campus and her work at AJC. Kaye joined the AJC staff after graduating last year from Barnard College. “I was excited to see so many young people enthusiastic about supporting Israel on campuses across the country,” she said.
In the Media The New York Sun published an op-ed by David Harris on the Mike Wallace interview with Iranian President Ahmanijeded broadcast on 60 Minutes. Read.
The Washington Post published an op-ed by David Bernstein, director of AJCs Washington Chapter, on shifting international attitudes regarding Israel’s war against Hezbollah. Read.
The Jerusalem Post published an op-ed by Hillel Neuer, director of UN Watch, AJC's affiliate in Geneva, on the UN Human Rights Council emergency session that blasted Israel for its actions in Lebanon. Read.
The International Herald Tribune published a letter by David Harris on comments by current president of the European Union calling for EU dialogue with Hezbollah. Read .
In a Los Angeles Times column by Max Boot, of the Council on Foreign Relations, he thanked AJC, which brought him and other strategic analysts to Israel on a Project Interchange seminar.
Sam Fishman of AJC‘s San Francisco Chapter appeared on the PBS program, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, to discuss his visit to Israel with AJC’s Solidarity Mission in July.
Yehudit Barsky, director of AJC’s division on Middle East and International Terrorism, was interviewed about Hezbollah and Iran on USA Radio, WGST-AM (Atlanta), WAOK-AM (Atlanta) and KPAM-AM (Portland, Oregon), and WJR-AM (Detroit) Listen to the WGST-AM interview.
Marc Dworkin, director of AJC’s Orange County Chapter, was interviewed about Israel on Saigon Broadcasting TV Network, which broadcasts across North America. (There are 2 million Vietnamese in the U.S. and over 300,000 in Orange County, the largest population in the world outside of Vietnam.) | |
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