Mideast Briefing: The Fatah Bethlehem Conference
"The absence of any empathetic, intellectually serious attempt to figure out what makes Jews tick is a striking aspect of the Fatah conference in Bethlehem," writes Ed Rettig, acting director of AJC's Israel/Middle East Office. "If renewed American peacemaking efforts are to succeed, they must address this self-made Palestinian mental trap of delegitimizing their negotiating partner."READ BRIEFING
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Coming up
Saturday- Sunday,
August 29-30
Mexican-American Emerging Leaders Workshop
Sunday, Aug. 30
10:15 am to 12:30 pm
Diplomatic training and board briefing with Dina Siegel Vann, AJC's Latin American Institute director
Sunday, Sept. 13
media and
advocacy workshop
for Latino organizations
America's Table
Friday, Nov. 20
AJC Consular Corps Chanukah Party
Thurs., Dec. 3
at 7 pm
AJC's Max Nathan Award Dinner
honoring
Joe Williams
Thurs., Dec. 10
at the Omni Houston Hotel
Board Meetings
Sept. 17 at 11:45 am featuring Dr. Steve Murdock, former US Census czar and professor of sociology at Rice;
Oct. 15 at 8:15 am
Jan. 21 at 11:45 am; March 18 at 8:15 am and
Apr 22 at 11:45 am.
AJC NATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING
APRIL 28-30
GRAND HYATT
WASHINGTON, DC
Chapter Annual meeting Mon., May 17
Executive Committee
Sept 3; Nov. 5; Jan. 7 and
March 4
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AJC Briefing: Jewish Property Restitution Remains European Challenge
"Consider the irony. Jews are seeking property restitution because of a genocidal anti-Semitism that swept across Europe seventy years ago. Two generations later, small communities, today a fraction of what they once were, are trying to reclaim some of the properties they once owned. And the price is another wave of anti-Semitism, maybe not life-threatening, but anti-Semitism all the same," writes Rabbi Andrew Baker.READ
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Congratulating Judge Sotomayor on Supreme Court Confirmation
AJC congratulated Judge Sonia Sotomayor on her Senate confirmation to serve as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. "By confirming the first Latina and the third woman to serve on the high court, the Senate has joined with President Obama in breaking new ground," said AJC. Sotomayor traveled to Israel twice with AJC's acclaimed Project Interchange, first in 1986 as a participant in PI's Hispanic Leaders Seminar, and again in 1996 on a PI alumni mission.
AJC Thanks House Majority Leader Hoyer for Support of Israel
In a letter to U.S. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, AJC conveyed "heartfelt appreciation for the strong expressions of support and reassurance you have offered the people and government of Israel in your visit this week, and for your recognition of the significant steps Israel is taking in pursuit of peace." Hoyer met with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas. "We welcome your affirmation that peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians will only derive from direct negotiations between the two parties, and that such negotiations should recommence forthwith," AJC wrote to Hoyer.
Praising Official Israeli Report's Explanation of Gaza Operation
AJC praised the Israeli government for its report on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in Gaza in December 2008. "This comprehensive report demonstrates clearly that Israel had the right and obligation to take military action to stop Hamas' relentless rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli civilians," said AJC. "We deeply regret the civilian losses that occurred during the Gaza conflict, but Israel had the responsibility, as does every state, to defend its civilians from intentional rocket attacks."
AJC Radio Message: Will the UN Confront Iran on Nuclear Weapons?
"When world leaders gather here next month, Iran will be on the agenda. Let's pray they get this one right," says David Harris in his national radio commentary. "Imagine nuclear weapons in their hands," says Harris. "A dangerous world would only become more so." Harris's messages air weekly on The Osgood File on more than 400 CBS affiliates across the country, KTRH-740 AM in Houston, reaching tens of millions of listeners. They also are archived in the online AJC Media Center.
AJC Reminds UN of Flagrant Hezbollah Violations
On this week's third anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for a "full cessation of hostilities" along the Israel-Lebanon border, AJC wrote to all Security Council members to call attention to Hezbollah's flagrant violations of the resolution. AJC has repeatedly raised concerns about the deteriorating situation in southern Lebanon. READ LETTER
Fatah Heightens Tensions, Deals Blow to Peace Prospects
"While much of the world, including Israel, favors a two-state solution, the biggest obstacle remains the Palestinians' own leadership," said AJC, expressing deep dismay with the Fatah Party, headed by Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, which held its first general assembly in 20 years. "Despite hopes for political reform of Fatah, and steps to renew peace negotiations with Israel, longstanding Palestinian obstinacy and rejectionism have been the prevailing messages emerging from Bethlehem." READ NEWS RELEASE
Advocacy for Energy Security Policies
An AJC delegation pressed officials in Washington for action to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The delegation stressed the need to bolster pending climate-change legislation by incorporating provisions that address energy security concerns. They met with officials at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Department of Energy, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
AJC Backs Senate Letter to Obama on Peace Process
AJC is urging all U.S. Senators to join Senators Bayh and Risch in their bipartisan letter calling on President Obama to press for concrete steps by Arab states to advance normalization with Israel and a sustained and successful Middle East peace process. "The Bayh-Risch letter recognizes the responsibility of all states in the region to tangibly support peace," wrote AJC. "What the Bayh-Risch letter highlights is the important role that Arab states must play if Arab-Israeli peace is to be realized - starting now, with the cessation of incitement in the media, in schoolbooks, and from government authorities, and with tangible gestures of acceptance and normalization."
New at AJC.ORG
Visit the newly designed and updated Middle East section on AJC's website. You will find timely multimedia, analyses, briefings, news releases and more on Israel's quest for peace and security, the Iranian nuclear threat, and other issues of top concern to AJC. Watch for more website news as AJC continues to update the website.
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Behind the Scenes
AJC is actively engaged in the domestic and international scene as a GLOBAL JEWISH ADVOCACY organization.
The Max Nathan Award dinner chair Irving Pozmantier, and co chairs Barbara and Mark Brookner, Joy and Joe Kaplan, Eve and Bobby Lapin, and Kay and Fred Zeidman are preparing to reach out to potential Tribute Committee members for the evening honoring Joe Williams.
Jack Lascar, Dena Palermo, Iris Mushin and Tracy Stein met to finalize consular corps teams and for the diplomatic training with AJC director of the Latin American Institute Dina Siegel Vann will brief the board and the consular teams on Sunday, August 30 on Latin America and diplomatic engagement.
Congressman Pete Olson will join Congressman Al Green and AJC - Houston in the 2009 America's Table Thanksgiving Breakfast. This event was inaugurated in Houston 4 years ago by Congressman Al Green and the AJC - Houston chapter.
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