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MIDEAST BRIEFING:
Israel's Political Identity as a Jewish State: Why Does It Matter?
Dr. Eran Lerman, Director Israel/Middle East Office
As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu prepares for his meeting with President Barack Obama, and his first visit to Washington (where he is due to arrive on May 18) during his second turn in office, he faces a new-old issue that has reared its head in the Israeli-Palestinian context.READ BRIEFING
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Executive Committee
meeting
Tuesday, May 19
at 11:45 am
at the AJC
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
Wed., May 27 at 9:30 am
"The Administration's Foreign Policy" with Congressman Gene Green in conversation with diplomats and religious leaders
Thurs., May 28
AJC delegation discussion with Congressman Pete Olson
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Israeli military, political insiders discuss Mideast regional framework with AJC Houston
Israeli General (Ret.) Baruch Spiegel and James A. Baker Institute Rabin  Fellow Dr. Yair Hirschfeld, right, met with small Houston AJC delegations to outline Israel's hope for a regional structure that would lead to peace and security for Israel.
Gen. Spiegel, who served in various capacities with IDF on the Golan, West Bank, Gaza, was also responsible for peace and security negotiations with Jordan leading up to the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan in 1994. He now serves as an advisor to President Peres for regional affairs.
After visiting Washington last week to discuss an Israeli proposal for a ground up economic platform with the Administration's National Security Council director General James Jones, both men said this is the best option for the Palestinians in the West Bank under a Fatah led Palestinian Authority.
Hirschfeld, who participated in the original Olso process, said creating a regional framework is Israel's only option. Both men said the Israel-Palestinian issue is no longer a bi lateral issue. When you introduce Hamas, Hezbollah, the very fluid situation in Iraq, Iran's desires for Iraq, one million Iraqis living in Jordan and Syria respectively, the issue is just not the West Bank and Gaza.
Participating in the discussions with Hirschfeld and Spiegel from the AJC were: David Barish, Helene Zadok, Dena Palermo, Tracy Stein, Jack and Susan Lapin, Mina Sklar, Ann Kasman, and Iris Fisherman.
AJC Joins Hands with Pope in Nazareth
 Rabbi David Rosen, AJC international director of interreligious affairs, joins with Pope Benedict XVI and a group of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Druze religious leaders in Nazareth, Israel, to sing a song of peace. "It illustrated dramatically that religion does not have to be the problem but the solution and that it is up to politicians to engage religious leaders in the search for peace," Rabbi Rosen said. Photo: AP.
Anti-Semitism in Europe
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini Keynotes Gala
"Our friendship with Israel and its people is a key plank of our foreign policy," Italian Foreign Minster Franco Frattini declared in a keynote address at AJC's 2009 Annual Gala. Minister Frattini, who made a special trip from Rome to attend the event, discussed Italy's commitment to combating all forms of anti-Semitism and to advancing Arab-Israeli peace, and its decision to opt of the Durban Review Conference. READ or WATCH. Houston board participants attending the meetings in Washington included; Bobby Lapin, Carol Nelkin, Ben Samuels and Tracy Stein.
Following AJC's annual meeting in Washington, Deidre Berger spoke at three  Houston area synagogues during Shabbat about the grassroots rise of anti-Semitism on the European continent. Berger, AJC's Berlin director, said she believes the merging of populations after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall faciliated the current anti-Semitic climate. She spoke before a total of 600 people at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Congregation Beth Israel and United Orthodox Synagogues.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Addresses Annual Meeting
The Hon. Eric H. Holder, Jr., addressing the Annual Gala, delivered high praise for AJC's history of leadership on behalf of civil rights, its legislative advocacy efforts and other aspects of the domestic policy agenda. Holder spoke about upholding the rule of law and challenges the Justice Department faces in confronting the threat of international terrorism. LISTEN
British MP John Mann Receives Jan Karski Award
At the Annual Gala, AJC presented its Jan Karski Award to British MP John Mann for his visionary leadership in fighting hatred and promoting mutual understanding. "I have the privilege to serve and make things happen," said Mann. "That's why I headed the interparliamentary inquiry on anti-Semitism. I thank AJC for the support you've given." Mann, a Labour Party Member of Parliament since 2001, is chair of the UK Parliamentary Committee against Anti-Semitism.READ
Under Secretary Stuart Levey Receives Public Service Award
AJC presented its Distinguished Public Service Award to Stuart Levey, U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury, for his singular role in mobilizing governments and banks around the world to penalize Iran for its support of terrorist organizations and its pursuit of a nuclear capability. "Stuart Levey has been doing his utmost to narrow Iran's options, create unavoidable stumbling blocks for Iran's leaders, and make Tehran's defiance of the will of the international community ever more costly," said David Harris. LISTEN
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Behind the Scenes
AJC is actively engaged in the domestic and international scene as a GLOBAL JEWISH ADVOCACY organization.
The Chapter's annual meeting takes place next Thursday night, May 21 with a dessert reception at 6:30 pm and our program at 7 pm featuring the election of officers, the presentation of the Helene Susman Award to Faith Marshall and an a presentation by the El Salvadoran government on WWII El Salvadoran diplomat Col. Castellanos.
The Chapter's International Affairs Commission worked with the Consulate of Spain to present a proposal to Holocaust Musueum Houston for an exhibit of "Visas for Freedom". The exhibit opened this week and tells the story of six Spanish diplomats during the Holocaust. When escape routes were few for the Jews of Europe, it was paradoxically the close diplomatic ties which Spain maintained with Germany throughout the war that enabled some ambassadors and consuls to offer protection. AJC International Affairs VP Jack Lascar assisted in advocating for the exhibit and attended the opening evening.
The Chapter's past presidents met this week. Participants included Carol Nelkin, Bobby Lapin, Don Brodsky, Ben Samuels and David Barish.
Reacting to U.S. Election to Human Rights Council
"America must not simply become a lonely voice of dissent in a chamber crowded with the world's tyrants," said AJC, congratulating the U.S. on its election to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, while urging a sustained American-led effort to reform the flawed institution.
Our thoughts and prayers are with David Goldstein and his family on the passing of his mother.
Best regards,
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