Mideast Briefing: The Price of Jewish Sovereignty - and Survival
"For Israelis, the celebration of our Independence Day never comes without the ever-recurring experience of the preceding day, Yom Ha-Zikaron, dedicated to the commemoration of those who gave their lives, or fell victim, in our long struggle for sovereignty and survival," writes Eran Lerman, Director of AJC's Israel Office.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 9:45 am at Congregation Beth Israel and at 6:30 p.m. at United Orthodox Synagogues
Executive Committee
meeting
Tuesday, May 19
at 11:45 am
at the AJC
AJC ANNUAL MEETING
May 6-8, 2009
Washington, DC
Chapter Annual Meeting
Thursday evening,
May 21
at Congregation Beth Israel
featuring presentation of the
Helene Susman Woman
of
Prominence Award to Faith Marshall
for information
call
713-439-1202
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El Salvadoran Ambassador to address
Chapter Annual Meeting
Hero of the Holocaust, a presentation depicting the role of Salvadoran diplomat Col. Jose Arturo Castellanos, will be discussed by Ambassador Ricardo Moran Gerracuti at the Chapter's annual meeting on Thursday, May 21 at Congregation Beth Israel. Prior to his presentation, the Chapter's Helene Susman Award will be presented to Faith Marshall. AJC board member Mina Sklar is chairing the evening.
The Ambassador will provide insight into how more than 25,000 Jews were saved during the Holocaust thanks to the Geneva based diplomat, who facilitated one of the most successful operations of World War II. Reservations for the annual meeting may be made by calling AJC, 713 439 1202. The cost for the evening is $25 and includes a kosher dessert reception.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) strongly welcomed the Department of Justice decision to drop the prosecution on espionage charges of two former staff members of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
"The decision to abandon the AIPAC case is a victory for justice and free speech," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Significant doubts arose from the beginning about the legitimacy of charging Keith Weissman and Steve Rosen under the 1917 Espionage Act." Until the charges were brought against the two men, the statute had never been used to prosecute private citizens.
"The Department of Justice has now reaffirmed that the law of the United States protects citizens who engage in the everyday and essential work of political advocacy," Harris said. AJC had urged the Department of Justice to reconsider its prosecution on the grounds that to proceed would compromise basic First Amendment rights.
National Annual Meeting, May 6-9, 2009
Yes, there is still time to register and attend the 2009 AJC Annual Meeting, which opens one week from today. In these perilous times, the challenges we face have only grown. It's all the more important that we come together to draw strength and inspiration from each other - and to take action. Join us in Washington next week. For complete program and registration information, visit www.ajc.org
Italy's Foreign Minister to Keynote AJC Annual Meeting Gala
In an exclusive Jerusalem Post interview, Lisa Palmieri-Billig, AJC's representative in Rome, speaks with Italy's Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, who will address AJC's Annual Meeting on May 7. Frattini's recent efforts led Italy to become the first European country to withdraw from the Durban Review Conference. READ INTERVIEW
Celebrating Israel at 61
Today is Yom Ha'atzmaut, marking the 61st anniversary of Israel's independence. "Democratic Israel has thrived," says David Harris in his weekly radio commentary. "Its population has grown tenfold. Its medical and scientific advances are legendary. Its agriculture has turned desert soil into fertile fields. And it's achieved peace with Egypt and Jordan. But ominous threats from Iran's regime and its allies, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah, persist. They don't hide their goal of a world without Israel. They say so - repeatedly." LISTEN
AJC Meets with Senior Egyptian Delegation
The AJC Office of Government and International Affairs received an Egyptian delegation headed by Dr. Hossam Badrawi, a member of Parliament; Mounir Fakhry Abedel Nour, secretary general of the Al Wafd Party; and Dr. Abdel Monem Said Aly, director of the Al Ahram Center of Political and Strategic Studies. The group included Egyptian diplomats, in Washington for consultations in advance of President Mubarak's planned visit next month. Jason Isaacson, AJC director of government and international affairs, led a discussion on regional political and strategic issues.
AJC Applauds Sentencing of New Yorker for Aiding Hezbollah
AJC welcomed the six-year prison term imposed on a New York businessman, Javed Iqbal, for broadcasting Al-Manar, Hezbollah's television station. Conducting business with Hezbollah, which is designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, is prohibited. "We salute the tenacity of the Justice Department in this important case, which marks the first prosecution of an individual for providing business services to Al-Manar in the United States," said AJC.
AJC Welcomes Sentences for Fort Dix Terrorists
"Vigilant law enforcement thankfully prevented a major terror attack aimed at murdering U.S. military personnel on American soil,' said AJC, welcoming the stiff sentences handed down to the five convicted of planning a terrorist attack at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Four of the five defendants received life sentences, while the fifth will serve 33 years.
New AJC Video Highlights Iranian Nuclear Threat
Point of No Return? Iran's Drive for Nuclear Weapons is AJC's new hard-hitting four-minute video about the Iranian nuclear threat. "Point of No Return? is a wake-up call," said AJC. "The window of opportunity to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions is fast-closing. The video advocates tough new sanctions, particularly against Iran's vulnerable energy sector, as the most immediate measure to confront an increasingly belligerent Iranian regime." VIEW VIDEO
AJC Honors Polish Righteous
AJC took part in a special event honoring Polish Righteous Among the Nations who were in Washington to take part in events marking the Holocaust Day of Remembrance. AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker was a keynote speaker at the Capitol Hill event, which also featured Senator Benjamin Cardin, and Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Marcy Kaptur, Thomas Quigley and Dennis Kucinich. During the event, AJC honored Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Secretary of State in the Polish President's Office, for her lifetime contributions to Polish-Jewish relations.
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Behind the Scenes
AJC is actively engaged in the domestic and international scene as a GLOBAL JEWISH ADVOCACY organization.
Susan Altschuler, Max Blankfeld, Leonard Goldstein, Nat Levy, Rene Karpas, Jack Lascar, and Randy Czarlinsky attended the Israel Consulate's Yom Ha'atzmaut reception.
Members of the Chapter's governance committee are reaching out to prospective new board members. Already on board for 2009-2010 are Steve Brown, Eric Blumrosen, Sandy Dow, Matt Krohn and Tara Sondock.
Plans are underway for the second Mexican-American Emerging Leaders seminar that will be held the last weekend in August. Once again, Amegy Bank and the Mexican Consulate will join with AJC to sponsor the weekend seminar.
The Chapter is working with the James A. Baker Institute for a delegation briefing with Yair Hirschfeld, during his short visit to Houston in May. He is the Isaac and Mildred Brochstein Fellow in Middle East Peace and Security in Honor of Yitzhak Rabin at the Baker Institute, and is currently teaching at the University of Haifa in the Department for Middle Eastern History.
On Wednesday morning, May 27 the Chapter is organizing and hosting a briefing with Members of Congress for diplomats and religious leaders on "The Administration's Foreign Policy".
Best regards,
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