| 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
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for information please call
713 439 1202
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MIDEAST BRIEFING: The Reconstruction of Gaza: Continuation of the Struggle by Other Means?
Dr. Eran Lerman, Director, Israel/Middle East Office, writes
"War is nothing more than the continuation of politics by other means," READ BRIEFING
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Past President's Council
meetings
May 14
"Anti-Semitism in Europe Today"
with
Deidre 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
April 23
AJC ANNUAL MEETING
May 6-8, 2009
Washington, DC
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Iranian-Latin America terrorist/drug pipeline
The third and final segment of the Chapter's Crucial Issues Series with the World Affairs Council Houston concluded this week with nearly 400 people hearing leading Latin American analyst Doug Farah assess the growth of Hezbollah and Iran throughout the region. Citing two trends in the 21st century, the first towards global integration and growing interdependence, and the second trend - global disintegration -- poverty and ethnic rivalry, he explained how times have changed since there were two superpowers who placed limits on their proxies.
Farah said 19 of the 43 terrorists groups are tied to drug traffiking. The alignment of the groups, he said, is not out of love, but out of need. The pipeline for the drugs is through Venezuela, Columbia, Central America and with the other end of the pipeline being Iran. The only issue that all these groups have in common and agree on is their unabashed hatred of America, he added. Farah also noted that Hezbollah has a significant presence in Latin America and has web sites in every country. "Someone is setting up an infrastructure beyond what we think," Farah said.
AJC Criticizes Nomination of Jean Ziegler for UN Human Rights Office
AJC criticized the decision of the Swiss government to nominate Jean Ziegler, a frequent apologist for regimes with poor human rights records and a bitter foe of Israel, for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. During his visit to Houston in December, UN WATCH director Hillel Neuer cited Ziegler's relentless and biased attacks on Israel.
Venezuelan Jewish Community Hosts AJC Leadership Delegation
An AJC leadership delegation visited Caracas to express support for the Venezuelan Jewish community, following recent attacks on two synagogues amid a growing climate of intimidation fostered by the Chavez government. CAIV, the Jewish community's umbrella organization and an AJC international partner, hosted the visit. The itinerary included meetings with leaders of the Jewish community, the ambassadors of Brazil, France, the Czech Republic, which holds the EU Presidency, and Canada, which represents Israeli interests since the Chavez government broke relations with Israel. The delegation also visited with officials at the U.S. Embassy.
Welcoming U.S., Italian, Canadian Decision to Disengage from Durban Review
"President Obama has courageously - and appropriately - concluded that the Durban Review Conference does not merit U.S. involvement unless it totally reverses its current direction, away from the Israel-bashing festival which so many of us are expecting," said AJC. AJC applauded Italy for its principled decision not to participate in a conference that seems determined to repeat, if not exceed, the disgrace of Durban in 2001. "We call on other members of the international community to join the United States, Canada, Italy and Israel in disengaging from this discredited process." The Chapter has sent letters of thanks to the Canadian and Italian Consulates in Houston thanking them for their government's position.
Praising Admiral Mullen's Remarks on Iranian Nuclear Threat
AJC urged the international community to redouble its efforts to confront Iran's nuclear program after Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated his belief on CNN that Iran has amassed enough uranium for a nuclear weapon. "Admiral Mullen says that an Iranian nuclear weapon is 'a very, very bad outcome for the region and for the world.' He is absolutely right," said AJC.
Thanking Argentina for New Action in AMIA Case AJC praised Argentine Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman's seizure of five properties owned by a former Iranian official in connection with the 1994 bombing of the AMIA building in Buenos Aires that resulted in 85 fatalities. This action is part of an effort by the Argentine government to compensate the families of victims of the attack.
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Behind the Scenes
AJC is actively engaged in the domestic and international scene as an advocacy organization.
A special thanks to Amy Goldstein, Joe Kaplan and Russ Robinson. They have joined Ambassador Arthur Schechter and Roger Sofer, co-chairs of the Chapter's April 2nd dinner honoring Fred Zeidman, whom along with Chapter leadership, are reaching out to the community to urge them to participate in the evening.
Sandy Block is chairing the Helene Susman Award committee. The award will be presented at the Chapter's annual meeting.
The United Methodist headquarters in Washington, DC, is hosting a month-long exhibit that portrays the founding of Israel as a catastrophe. The display, which is titled "60 Years of Dispossession," chronicles what Palestinians call the "Nakba" -- the Palestinian word for "catastrophe." A Chapter delegation including Nat Levy, Rabbi Steve Morgen and Barb Shepard will meet with Methodist officials in Houston next week.
Best regards,
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