| APRIL 2, 2009 |
| AJC pays tribute to
Fred Zeidman
National Institute of Human Relations Award
dinner co-chairs
Ambassador
Arthur Schechter Ambassador
Ned L. Siegel
and Roger Sofer
_______
for information please call
713 439 1202
________
|
U.S. Policy on Iran:
An Israeli Perspective
 |
The Iranian issue is not necessarily an Either/Or situation: either a full-scale military strike, at high costs (whose success or failure may well be a matter of statistics) - or doing next to nothing and signaling "acceptance of the inevitable". As the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis taught us, there is a range of "robust" options in between. READ BRIEFING
Mideast Briefing: Gilad Shalit
One of the most painful questions Israel has faced in recent years is the fate of IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit, abducted by Hamas from within Israeli territory back in June 2006 and held ever since-in breach of all human and legal norms-without the right to be seen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or any other agency, and with very limited signs of life, beyond a few letters passed through indirect channels, being provided to his family. This has become, for all Israelis-and more specifically, for all Israeli mothers-a highly emotional question, an ongoing national and personal agony.READ BRIEFING
|
|
Past President's Council
meetings
May 14
"Anti-Semitism in Europe Today"
with
Diedre Berger
AJC's director in Berlin
Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at Congregation Beth Yeshurun
Saturday, May 9 at 6:45 p.m. at United Orthodox Synagogues
Crucial Issues Series
in collaboration with
World Affairs Council Houston:
"Latin America and the infilitration of terrorist organizations"
on
Wednesday,
March 4
with
Doug Farah
Program 6:30 pm
at the
Omni Houston Hotel
Board Meetings
April 23
Executive Committee
March 5
AJC ANNUAL MEETING
May 6-8, 2009
Washington, DC
|
|
|
|
|
Peace process in Iran's shadow
Oded Eran, who served for three decades in Israel's foreign ministry and including Ambassador to Jordan and the EU, briefed the Chapter board last week saying Israel would have a right wing government and the real issue will be how the relationship is built between President Obama and the new prime minister. Looking at Oslo, Camp David and Annapolis, Eran said both leaders will need to determine what can really be achieved in the region. Even if Israel says Jerusalem is on the table, refugees is on the table, there is no one to talk to on the other side that has the support to conclude a deal, he said. He reminded everyone while the Palestinians want a corridor connecting Gaza and the West Bank, none has existed.
Anti-Semitism spreads across Europe
The global economic downturn and the Gaza conflict have increased visible anti-Semitism across the European continent. The Chapter's discussions with diplomats and Cardinal DiNardo have included this heightened concern for European Jewish communities. The Chapter will present two Shabbat discussions on "Anti-Semitism in Europe Today" with Diedre Berger, AJC's Berlin director, on Friday evening, May 8 at 6 pm and Saturday evening, May 9 at 6:45 pm with Congregation Beth Yeshurun and United Orthodox Synagogues respectively.
Berger lectures in the U.S. and Europe on a wide variety of subjects including; transatlantic affairs, European relations with Israel, anti-Semitism, the promotion of pluralism and democracy, and German-Jewish dialogue. Prior to joining AJC in 1999, Berger was a journalist for more than 20 years, with the bulk of her career spent as a correspondent and producer for National Public Radio. She also reported for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the Christian Science Monitor, Monitor Radio, Radio Netherlands, the Los Angeles Times and Israel's Maariv.
AJC Participates in International Parliamentary Conference on Anti-Semitism
An AJC delegation participated in the London Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism, an historic gathering hosted by the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism. More than 125 parliamentarians from around the world, and 75 non-governmental experts, gathered for intensive discussions on the growing global threat of anti-Semitism. "What was most striking in the deliberations was the broad consensus that anti-Semitism has reached new heights and poses a clear and present danger," said David Harris, who chaired a session on internet hate. The AJC delegation also included Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC's director of International Jewish Affairs, who recently was appointed the Special Representative on anti-Semitism for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); Emanuele Ottolenghi, director of AJC's Transatlantic Institute in Brussels; and Ken Stern, AJC's expert on anti-Semitism. The conference is the subject of David Harris's national radio commentary on the CBS radio network. LISTEN
AJC Expert in U.S. Delegation to Durban Review Consultations
Felice Gaer, director of AJC's Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, served in a senior role with the official U.S. delegation attending the consultations in Geneva to plan for Durban II, the review conference of the World Conference Against Racism scheduled for April. Gaer serves as Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
AJC Applauds Argentina's Decision to Expel Holocaust Denier Bishop
AJC applauded the decision of Argentina's Interior Ministry to expel Richard Williamson, a conservative Catholic Bishop and Holocaust denier. READ RELEASE
|
|
Behind the Scenes
AJC is actively engaged in the domestic and international scene as an advocacy organization.
Barbara Shepard participated in the Houston Police Advisory Commission discussions last week with other ethnic and community groups.
The Chapter continues its Israel Advocacy with an additional focus on teens and the campus as we continue to meet with Rice University Owls for Israel and Jewish high school educators.
Tracy Stein, Helene Zadok and Randy Czarlinsky met with El Salvador Consul General Luis Carranza to discuss his government's desire to bring Ambassadors here to highlight formally the effort of the late El Salvadoran diplomat who saved 25,000 Jews in WWII.
Susan Altschuler, chair of the International Affairs Commission, is coordinating efforts to have diplomats at board members' home for Passover.
Best regards,
|
|
|
|
