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AJC Mideast Briefing: Iran Elections Will Change Little
Whoever wins the June 7 elections - and it seems President Ahmadinejad will be re-elected - the pursuit of nuclear weapons will be a high priority for Iran. "From Saudi Arabia, which fears for the future of Mecca and Medina, to Morocco, which last month threw out the subversive Iranian embassy, it's becoming clear this is not Israel's problem alone," writes Eran Lerman, director of AJC's Israel/Middle East Office. READ BRIEFING
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Coming up
Wednesday, June 3 at 12 noon
Development Commission
Saturday- Sunday,
August 29-30
Mexican-American Emerging Leaders Workshop
America's Table
Friday, Nov. 20
Board Meetings
Sept. 17; Jan. 21; March 18 and Apr 22.
Annual meeting May 20 in the evening.
Executive Committee
Sept 3; Nov. 5; Jan. 7 and
March 4
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AJC brings together diplomats, Congressman to discuss foreign policy
Ten diplomats participated in a conversation with Congressman Gene Green, a member of the House International Affairs Committee, on the Administration foreign policy objectives at the Chapter's office this week. Diplomats from China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom discussed immigration reform, cap and trade legislation, the Middle East and energy related issues.
Houston one of four cities
AJC receives $500K Ford Foundation grant for immigration reform advocacy
The Chapter has been active in the immigration reform agenda and will be increasing its activity and visibility on the issue with this week's grant to AJC from the Ford Foundation. The Chapter is one of four AJC cities, (the others are Chicago, New Jersey and Phoenix) that were selected to make an impact across the nation in strategically-determined local communities. The enhanced activity will focus on building relationships between the local AJC chapter and Latino immigrant advocacy organizations, and identifying common objectives; building relationships and creating a dialogue with local civic leaders; providing skills training to Latino immigrant advocacy organizations; developing local plans for action, continued engagement, and follow up.
Delegation visits with Congressman Olson
The Chapter visited with Congressman Pete Olson in his Sugar Land office to discuss America's Table, (AJC Thanksgiving program that the Chapter initiated with Congressman Al Green four years ago), energy, immigration reform and the Middle East. Participants in the discussion with Congressman Olson and his chief of staff John Wyatt were David Barish, Mark Friedman, Fred Zeidman, Randy Czarlinsky and Barbara Shepard.
AJC Praises Foiling of Terror Plot
"Our highest praise goes to the New York Police Department and FBI for the arrests of four men who had planned to bomb the Riverdale Temple and the Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx," said AJC after a major terrorist plot was uncovered in the New York area. The four men, influenced by radical Islamist teachings, had also planned attacks on military planes at an Air National Guard base in Newburgh, N.Y.
AJC Applauds Sentencing in Holy Land Foundation Case
"The sentencing of Shukri Abu Baker is a victory for the innocent victims of Hamas terrorism and for the rule of law in the United States," said AJC after a U.S. District Court sentenced the head of the Holy Land Foundation to 65 years in prison for his role in financing Hamas. "The court has made clear that the United States will not abide terror sponsorship under the guise of religious charity. Cutting off funding is key to crippling terrorist networks."
Condemning Edinburgh Film Festival's Israel Boycott
AJC urged Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) organizers to reverse their rejection of a grant from the Israeli Embassy in London. The grant was to enable an Israeli filmmaker to travel to the festival in June. "From Sudan to Sri Lanka, we are faced with terrible wars and horrendous human rights abuses, yet only Israel, which is in a struggle for its very survival, is selected for a boycott," said AJC. The money was returned to the Embassy following a sustained campaign by pro-boycott activists, including film director Ken Loach. READ NEWS RELEASE
Congratulating Judge Sotomayor on Supreme Court Nomination
AJC congratulated Judge Sonia Sotomayor, an alumna of AJC's Project Interchange, on her nomination by President Obama to fill the Supreme Court seat of retiring Associate Justice David Souter. AJC noted that Sotomayor brings a personal history with which the Jewish community can identify, rising out of a South Bronx housing project to a record of distinguished accomplishment in the law-as a prosecutor, a lawyer in private practice, and a federal jurist at both the trial and appellate levels. "We look forward to the Senate's full and careful review of Judge Sotomayor's record, as it considers whether or not to confirm her nomination," said AJC. Richard Foltin, AJC's legislative and national affairs director, attended the White House announcement of the nomination. READ NEWS RELEASE
AJC Blames Libya for Human Rights Activist's Death
"With the passing of Fathi al-Jahmi, the world has lost a vital and courageous voice for human rights," said AJC. "Responsibility for his death lies squarely with the Libyan government, which imprisoned him and denied him access to medical treatment for his illnesses." Imprisoned in Tripoli for the last seven years, prominent Libyan dissident and democracy activist al-Jahmi died on May 20 in a Jordanian hospital to which he had been transferred while in a coma. READ NEWS RELEASE
Executive Director's Blog: The North Korean Threat
"History has shown that North Korea has no scruples about where and what it sells. Iran and Syria are two of its biggest clients," writes David Harris in his Jerusalem Post blog, "Why North Korea Matters." READ AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION. Harris also devoted his weekly national radio commentary on the CBS network to the issue.
AJC Attends Washington Meeting with President Abbas
Jason Isaacson, AJC's director of government and international affairs, participated in a meeting in Washington with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a day before his meeting with President Obama. AJC was among a group of 20 Middle East policy experts who discussed with Abbas hopes to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the critical U.S. role in regional peace.
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Behind the Scenes
AJC is actively engaged in the domestic and international scene as a GLOBAL JEWISH ADVOCACY organization.
Tracy Stein, David Goldstein, VP of Development, and staff met this week to initiate development plans for the coming year.
The Chapter has been involved in the Greater Houston Partnership's Immigration Task Force since its creation. Staff met with the Task Force chair Charles Foster and the recently created Americans for Immigration Reform (AIR) director Beto Cardenas to discuss the Ford Foundation grant and AJC's planned activities.
Richard Shaw, VP of Domestic and Jewish Affairs and Barbara Shepard, attended (as members of the council) the meeting of the Mayor's Advisory Council for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (MACIRA).
Tonight begins the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, the five books of Moses. We will be closed on Friday in observance of the holiday.
Best regards,
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