 | JBI Report on Hezbollah Destruction in Israel The extensive damage to lives and property in northern Israel wrought by Hezbollah’s barrage of rocket attacks is documented in a new study published by AJC’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights. The report, “lsrael Under Rocket Attack: A Profile of Displacement and Destruction,” presents the first comprehensive overview of Israel’s displaced population and the impact of the war on them, and calls upon the international community to assist the Israeli people. The report was prepared by Frances Raday, professor of Labor Law at the Hebrew University and director of the Concord Research Center for Integration of International Law in Israel. Download report.
 AJC Mideast Briefing: Does Syria Hold the Keys? Without risking the life of a single Syrian soldier, President Bashar al-Asad has repositioned himself as a key player, writes Eran Lerman, director of AJC’s Israel Office, in his weekly analysis. Lerman provides a cogent assessment of how Syria fares in the region and on the international stage in the wake of Hezbollah’s four-week assault on Israel. Lerman argues against proposals to reopen peace negotiations with Syria, and says the world now must “focus like a laser beam” on the Iranian nuclear challenge. Read briefing.
AJC Israel Emergency Assistance Fund Tops $1.7 million  Thank you to all who have generously contributed to our fund to assist victims of the rocket attacks. Thus far, AJC has been able to purchase two ambulances for Magen David Adom, deliver hundreds of first-aid kits to bomb shelters in the north, hundreds of packages of toys and baby supplies to Jewish and Arab communities in the north, and provide aid to displaced families relocated to Eilat. In the coming days we expect to announce the purchase of medical equipment for damaged hospitals in the north as well as search and rescue vehicles. The damage has been extensive (see the JBI report item above), so the needs are great, reports Rabbi Ed Rettig, associate director of AJC's Israel Office, who has been coordinating our relief efforts. DONATE NOW.
AJC Radio Message: Everyday Solutions Made in Israel Good news about Israel often is neglected or lost amidst the focus on news surrounding conflict in the Middle East, says David Harris in his national message broadcast on the CBS radio network. “Every time you log onto your computer, chances are Israeli technology is helping you. Every time you use your cell phone or voice mail, chances are Israeli technology is there too. And every time you enter a hospital for a procedure, chances are Israeli technology is probably there as well,” says Harris, who reminds listeners that Israel continues to be a pioneer in technology, science and medicine. Listen.
El Salvador Thanked for Embassy in Jerusalem AJC sent a letter to El Salvador President Antonio Elías Saca González recognizing his courageous and principled statement regarding the Costa Rican decision to move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and thanking him for maintaining his nation’s embassy in Israel’s capital city. President Saca stated that his country will not follow the Costa Rican move. AJC voiced last week deep disappointment with Costa Rica’s decision.
Effort to Get UN to Recognize Terrorism as Human Rights Violation UN Watch, AJC’s affiliate in Geneva, led a coalition of 13 non-governmental organizations calling on the UN Human Rights Council to recognize terrorism as a human rights violation. Iran sent one of its diplomats to respond after UN Watch named it as a sponsor of terror. Pablo Kapusta, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fellow at UN Watch, delivered the speech on behalf of the coalition. Click for full text and Iran´s reply.
Central American Group Honors AJC Institute Director Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Latin America and Latino Institute, will be honored on Friday by the Central American Coalition of Nevada with the Friend of Central America award, given in recognition of AJC’s work with immigrants from Central American countries. AJC has sponsored a series of advocacy workshops for leaders in those communities across the U.S. Guests of honor at the ceremony in Las Vegas will include top business and civic leaders in Nevada; U.S. Senator Harry Reid; Manuel Zelaya, President of Honduras; Vivian Fernandez de Torrijo, First Lady of Panama; and, Julio Palacios Zambrano, President of the Central American Parliament.
In the Media The New York Times published a letter by AJC President E. Robert Goodkind regarding an op-ed article advocating talks with Hezbollah. Read letter.
The Jewish Standard (New Jersey) published an op-ed article by David Harris on the Mike Wallace interview with Iran’s president. The New York Sun last week published a similar piece. Read.
The Chicago Jewish News ran a cover story feature article on the Chicago Coalition for Interreligious Learning: Catholics, Jews and Muslims Working Together, a three-year-old initiative of AJC’s Chicago Chapter led by board member Esta Star.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted Sherry Frank, director of AJC’s Atlanta Chapter, in an article on Andrew Young’s apology for remarks he made regarding Jewish, Korean and Arab shop owners.
The Kansas City Star quoted extensively Judy Hellman, special projects coordinator for the AJC office in Kansas City, on Andrew Young’s remarks, and on her own efforts to advance intergroup relations.
The Los Angeles Times published a column by Max Boot, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, on the Syrian threat to Israel. Boot referenced AJC in the opening of his piece. Boot recently visited Israel on a Project Interchange mission for leading military and security analysts. This was his second column since the trip.
Yahoo News quoted Sherry Weinman, president of AJC’s Los Angeles Chapter, in an online story about the impact of the war on Jewish and Lebanese communities in the U.S.
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