APN today released new policy language on the recently increasing growing public criticism of Israel, including the efforts to boycott Israel, divest from it and sanction it (known as the BDS movement). The purpose of the new document is to clarify the often foggy discussion over this issue in America's pro-Israel community and to make clear what APN supports and opposes. the full text of the policy is included after the break.
Today World Jewish Congress President Ron Lauder published an open letter taking President Obama to task over his Middle East policy. Which is his prerogative - everyone is entitled to their opinion. But Lauder goes a step too far when he claims to speak not only for himself but for Jews everywhere. Lauder - as a Republican American Jew - is by definition part of a small minority of American Jews (the vast majority of American Jews are Democrats and voted for Obama), and part of an even smaller number of Jews the world over (who are not invested in American partisan politics).
Lauder all but accuses Obama of being anti-Israel - of acting in ways that have caused the "deterioration of diplomatic relations" between Israel and the US. But that's not all. Lauder, still speaking on behalf of Jews everywhere, demands answers.
Christian Friends of Israeli
Communities (CFOIC) - a US non-profit organization dedicated to supporting
settlements, and especially settlements in the West Bank heartland - is raising
funds these days using a very simple message: help us block the two-state
solution.And we are not talking small
money here: according to CFOIC's tax filings, in 2008 the group sent $1.1
million in cash support for West Bank settlers (as well
as for settlers removed from Gaza).
CFOIC's latest fundraising pitch (click here
to view/download a copy), sent out in an email this morning, ends with the
following exhortation:
"Today even many who support Israel's
right to exist and to have safe and secure borders have adopted the two-state
solution concept. But even if the whole world should choose this as the
answer, as all major governments have, God's children must never compromise.
Our only real choice is to stand firm on the word of God! I choose to stand with the residents of Judea
and Samaria. Will you join me? Even
in these tough economic times, by making a generous contribution to support the
people of Judea and Samaria,
the people who are standing on God's word by living on His land, you, too, are
choosing to stand on His word and to be blessed!Stand with Israel
and Donate Now..."
For more fun from CFOIC, check out their "Save Israel" video...
The ADL's ad in yesterday's New York Times (August 4, 2009) was troubling. My colleague, Ori Nir -- who has known ADL National Director Abe Foxman for years -- wrote a heartwrenching post in response, concluding that:
In Friday's Legislative Round-Up I highlighted a new letter being circulated in the Senate by Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and James Risch (R-ID). The letter, which is the top item on the "Take Action" page on the AIPAC website,
focuses exclusively on President Obama's call for Arab states to take
steps to normalize relations with Israel, making no mention of the
president's call for Israel to stop settlement activity (and implying
that steps Israel has already taken - like removing some checkpoints
and PM Netanyahu's belated support for the two-state solution - are
sufficient demonstration of Israel's commitment to the peace process).
This morning, APN sent a message to every Senate office urging
Senators to refrain from signing the letter unless and until it is
amended to also reflect the real steps to achieve peace the President
Obama has asked Israel to take. Full text of the APN letter to the
Senate after the jump.
Israeli leaders say they're bewildered by the Obama administration's "obsession" with West Bank
settlement growth. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was recently quoted asking/grumbling "what do they want from
me?" His aides told reporters and American Jewish leaders that Washington's position on settlements is "childish",
"stupid" and "delusional" and that the Obama team should "come to its senses."
Two quick updates on the MOT project: First, the latest (ridiculous) effort
by the Simon Wiesenthal Center to justify the project. And second, a promising new development in efforts to stop the
project: Jewish-Muslim cooperation.
Earlier today we published our latest edition of Settlements in Focus, "Top 5 Bogus Excuses for Opposing a Settlement Freeze."
The response has been tremendous -- clearly, many many people are sick of spin and want real facts.
This response is very encouraging. Also encouraging is the experience of the past two weeks, during which I
brought Hagit Ofran - the head of Peace Now's Settlement Watch and the foremost expert on West Bank settlements -
and Danny Seidemann of Ir Amim - the foremost expert on everything related to Jerusalem land and settlement issues
- to meeting on Capitol Hill and in the Obama Administration. From these meetings - more than 30 on the Hill
and with Administration officials - it was clear: this Administration is absolutely serious about
Israeli-Palestinian peace. And this Administration is resolute in its demand for a total settlement
freeze. And Democrats in Congress are firmly behind President Obama.
So that's another very encouraging sign.
And here's one more: today's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal
by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. It's a powerful statement, expressing hope for and commitment to
Israeli-Arab peace, and making clear that if Israel takes serious steps toward peace (perhaps a settlement freeze?)
the Arab world stands ready to reciprocate. It is just one more encouraging sign of the times.
Now that Nethanyahu's speech is behind us, we can prepare for the upcoming Washington visit of Avigdor Lieberman,
Netanyahu's foreign minister.
Lieberman is arriving Tuesday night and will meet here with Secretary Clinton (on Wednesday) National Security
Advisor Jones (on Thursday) and with congressional leaders.
Lieberman is a man on a mission. His goal: to improve Israel's image abroad. Last Tuesday, I kid you not, Lieberman
was quoted as telling the Knesset's Security and Foreign Affairs Committee that Israel "cannot continue with a
successful foreign policy without changing the way we are perceived" internationally. He lamented: "We have a
fundamental problem: we are not perceived well."
Could it be that Mr. Lieberman, Israel's number one PR agent, has something to do with this image problem?
For those who need a reminder, here is my colleague Lara Friedman's compilation of Lieberman's greatest hits:
8/23 
