Polish mayors pledge themselves against anti- Semitism
Mayors of Polish cities, attending the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC’s) Central Europe conference in Warsaw on combating hate, have issued a joint statement urging implementation of a policy of “zero tolerance for prejudice, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.”
The statement, signed by the mayors of Bialystok, Gdańsk, Poznań, and Warsaw, prioritizes “promoting democratic values and acting for our civil rights,” vows to “use available legal instruments to ensure that crimes motivated by racial or religious hatred are not underestimated,” pledges to “raise public awareness among city citizens, employees of municipal institutions and municipal law enforcement bodies,” and encourages other Polish mayors to join in the statement.
The AJC conference, “No to Hatred; Cities Facing Ethnic and Religious Prejudice,” explored “specific actions taken by the authorities of several largest Polish cities to build tolerance, solidarity and respect among their residents and how they counteract the attitudes and acts of hatred motivated by prejudice,” said AJC Central Europe Director Agnieszka Markiewicz.
Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, addressing the opening session, emphasized that the biggest challenge to combating hatred is the widespread insensitivity to aggressive behavior that results from prejudice: “We all got used to it,” said Gronkiewicz-Waltz, adding that while Europe is not yet in a situation akin to the 1930s, “that is exactly why it is necessary to respond to even small signs of hatred in order to prevent the return of the time of ovens.”
Bialystok Mayor Tadeusz Truskolaski, Gdańsk Mayor Paweł Adamowicz, Poznań Mayor Jacek Jaśkowiak, and Warsaw Deputy Mayor Włodzimierz Paszyński participated in a panel discussion about their experiences combating anti-Semitism and other forms of hate in their communities.
The conference took place at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and was co-sponsored by the City of Warsaw. The 100 attendees included diplomats, members of Poland’s Parliament and city councils, and representatives of the Jewish community and other ethnic and religious minorities.
During the conference, Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs, attributed the growing sense of insecurity among Central European Jews to a rising crescendo of public hate speech and the still-unmastered trauma arising from the difficult history of the Holocaust.
Other speakers at the conference included POLIN Director Dariusz Stola and Israeli Ambassador to Poland Anna Azari.
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White supremacists groups increasingly active on college campuses
White supremacist groups continued to escalate their propaganda campaign targeting U.S. college campuses, with incidents increasing by 77 percent during the 2017-2018 academic year, according to new data released today by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
From Sept. 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018, ADL’s Center on Extremism documented 292 cases of white supremacist propaganda on college campuses — including fliers, stickers, banners, and posters — compared to 165 during the 2016-17 academic year. Since Sept. 1, 2016, ADL has recorded 478 propaganda incidents, targeting 287 college campuses in 47 states and the District of Columbia
“College campuses and their communities should be places for learning, growing and the future, not close-minded racism and hate-filled rhetoric from the past,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said. “We’re concerned to see that white supremacists are accelerating their efforts to target schools with propaganda in hopes of recruiting young people to support their bigoted worldview.”
The propaganda messages range from veiled white supremacist language to explicitly racist images and words that attack minority groups, including Jews, Blacks, Muslims, non-white immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. Some recent examples focus on the baseless perception of danger posed by undocumented immigrants traveling toward the Mexican-American border.
Identity Evropa (IE), a group focused on the preservation of “white American culture” and promoting white European identity, was responsible for nearly half (230) of the 478 incidents. Patriot Front — which was formed within the last year — was responsible for 70 incidents.
Campuses in Texas and California were the most frequent targets of white supremacist propaganda, with 67 and 58 incidents, respectively, since September 2016. Those states are home to the most concentrated and active memberships for both IE and Patriot Front. Florida and Washington state followed with 24 incidents each.
“It’s always important for university administrators to respect and protect free speech, but it’s equally vital that they take the necessary steps to counter the hateful messages of these groups,” Greenblatt said. “These steps can include educating faculty and students on the parameters of their First Amendment rights, and also improving training for campus officials charged with responding to bias incidents and hate crimes.” — From Anti-Defamation League
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Consultant sues Hadassah World Zionist Organization for U.S. $20.9 million in Israeli court
The Free World Ltd, an Israeli consulting firm owned by David Spector, is suing Hadassah World Zionist Organization (HWZO) for $20.9 million in an Israeli court, saying that much is owed the firm for its work in 2014 to save HWZO’s ownership of the famed Hadassah Medical Center following a financial crisis.
In his suit, Spector quoted a letter from Marcie Natan, then the National President of Hadassah WZOA, as saying: “Dear David, it is we who thank you — for your strength and your vision for achieving a working agreement that would keep HWZOA as the owners and with control of the board. I am still pinching myself trying to realize that we have reached this point.”
Ellen Herskin, the current national president of Hadassah World Zionist Organization commented: “Mr. Spector/Free World are making false statements and claims to obtain charitable funds from Hadassah to which they are neither entitled nor deserve. Free World was paid for its services on Hadassah’s behalf. Spector’s claims are without any merit and Hadassah will defend itself vigorously in the courts of law where Hadassah has no doubt that Free World/Spector’s claims will be proven false.” – From Free World Ltd and Hadassah
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Man whose life saved by United Hatzalah has emotional reunion
Itai Shukrun, a healthy 35 -year-old from Kiryat Atta with no previous cardiac issues, suddenly collapsed at home last week. Worried family members called United Hatzalah emergency services and the organization’s Dispatch and Command Center sent an alert to the closest responders in Itai’s vicinity.
United Hatzalah ambucycle volunteer Yisrael Menachem, raced to the location and was the first responder to arrive at the scene in just a few moments. Menachem immediately recognized that Itai had no pulse and was not breathing. Without losing a moment, he attached a defibrillator and began chest compressions. Itai received numerous shocks from the defibrillator while Menachem continued with a full-scale CPR as other volunteers arrived to join the effort.
A mobile intensive care ambulance team came sometime later and joined the fight to save Itai’s life. Itai was transported in critical condition to Rambam medical center in Haifa where he underwent continuing treatment. Towards the end of the week, Itai awoke and was doing so well that he was released from the hospital.
On Monday, the United Hatzalah volunteers who fought to save his life were invited by Itai and his family for a moving and emotional reunion, during which, the volunteers told Itai how the drama unfolded from their perspective. Itai and his family expressed their gratitude to the volunteers for their help in saving Itai’s life. — From United Hatzalah
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Shaqued Morag is the newly appointed executive director of Israel’s peace movement Shalom Achshav (Peace Now), it was announced by the organization’s American partner, Americans for Peace Now (APN).
In a note she posted Thursdayy on her Facebook page, accepting the position, Shaqued wrote that “Peace Now is a part of the Israeli fabric, and its messages echo in the heart of the public discussion and in the hearts of many” in Israel and abroad. She continued, “we, the citizens, anyone who views himself or herself as a part of the peace camp, bear a great responsibility to fight for our future – because we don’t have another country.”
Shaqued Morag (33) comes to Peace Now after several years in Meretz, both as a legislative assistant at the Knesset and as an assistant to the party’s national leadership. She has been active in Israeli progressive nonprofits. She brings to Peace Now new energy and a network of contacts in Israel’s civil society and in Israel’s political arena. – From Americans for Peace Now
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Roskam, Vargas move Israel Anti-Boycott Act through House Foreign Affairs Committee
The Israel Anti-Boycott Act – bipartisan legislation authored by Representatives Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) to combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel in International Governmental Organizations (IGO’s) – advanced through the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
This legislation mandates the President update the Federal Code of Regulations to prohibit the compliance of boycotts or requests for boycotts imposed by international governmental organizations against Israel—similar to prohibitions already in place with respect to boycotts imposed by foreign countries. With recent reports indicating the United Nations Human Rights Council will continue its push to publish a blacklist of companies operating in Israel or Israeli controlled territories, this legislation will protect these American companies from being used by foreign countries and international governmental entities to further or support unsanctioned foreign boycotts.
“I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working tirelessly to advance this legislation to combat the insidious BDS movement.” Said Rep. Peter Roskam. “As international bodies seek to wage economic warfare against Israel, it is imperative we stand with our ally, Israel, and combat these one-sided, politically-motivated efforts to weaken and isolate the Jewish State. This legislation would update our anti-Boycott laws to ensure we combat modern boycott efforts targeting Israel.” —From Rep. Peter Roskam
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BDS takes a beating in Spanish courts
The High Court of Justice in Asturias last week confirmed that a city council’s policy of boycotting Israel was unconstitutional. The City Council of Castrillon in Northern Spain passed a motion effectively boycotting Israel, Israeli businesses and companies doing business with Israel in August last year. The Court declared however that this policy was in breach of constitutional civil rights and freedoms of nondiscrimination and equality before the law.
Since the beginning of March, legal action by The Lawfare Project has resulted in seven other courts across Spain annulling or suspending anti-Israel boycotts in the cities of Castrillon, Telde, Montcada, La Roda, Barbate, Artes and Viloria. Since June 2017 Spanish courts have issued 28 such rulings in proceedings sponsored by The Lawfare Project.
Anti-Israel activists have been concertedly working to introduce motions in local councils that would make it impossible for Israelis or companies doing business with them to be considered for public procurement tenders. The motions call to exclude anyone from public tenders who participates, collaborates or obtains benefits from alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law and the
Declaration of Human Rights, but only the Israel and Israelis are targeted.
As a result of Lawfare Project legal actions, however, Spanish courts have consistently ruled that such boycotts, which only single out Israel, are a form of unlawful discrimination.
The Lawfare Project’s Spanish Counsel, Ignacio Wenley Palacios has so far led 58 court victories against the boycott campaign. He said: “After our string of court victories, the boycott campaign doesn’t dare use its name in Spain but hides behind motions passed in city, provincial, and regional councils that use loaded, discriminatory language. Or they run new sub-campaigns such as the “Space Free of Israeli Apartheid”, or petitions for an arms embargo of Israel. In due course, these too will be rejected by the courts, which uphold solid legal traditions of fair play, individual freedoms, and strict accountability of government offices.”
“However much the new, and increasingly mainstream, left maligns Israel Spain has individuals from across the political spectrum who are proud of their Jewish heritage, find this discrimination repellent and celebrate the triumph in Court of basic democratic values such as non-discrimination, equal Justice for all, and free speech,” he added.
Brooke Goldstein, executive director of The Lawfare Project, said: “As Human-Rights attorneys our legal actions in Europe focus on the defense of individual freedoms as the best way to protect Jewish communities. The successes we’re achieving are setting legal precedentsthat not only offer protection to Jewish communities but to every other minority. We’ve been working in
Spain for almost two years. We’ve seen that however the vicious, anti-Israel BDS campaign disguises itself, time and again it is hitting the rocks of the rock solid constitutional guarantees and legal standards of the Spanish courts.” — From the Lawfare Project
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117 At-Risk youth in graduation ceremonies at Yemin Orde youth village
New York resident Susan Claster delivered a deeply personal commencement address to the 117 at-risk youth, as well hundreds more family members, friends, educators and staff members who gathered to attend an outdoor graduation ceremony at the Yemin Orde Youth Village at Mount Carmel, Israel, on June 19. Claster’s husband Mark is a Friends of Yemin Orde board member and travels with her to Israel annually to visit the Village.
Yemin Orde is home, school and safe haven to 430 at-risk youth from Ethiopia, Former Soviet Union, France, Brazil and Israel-born. At Yemin Orde, at-risk youth receive loving-kindness, therapeutic support and an excellent education, whereby their formerly troubled lives are transformed as they thrive and embrace hope for a bright future as productive citizens of Israel.
“You’ve overcome a lot to get to this point – your personal stories of courage and triumph both lift the human spirit and inspire it,” Claster said. Yemin Orde staff member, Racheli Yaso-Ngatuo stood beside Claster and translated her speech into Hebrew as she delivered her remarks. “Over the years I’ve realized that conquering my fears of the unknown does not mean erasing them. The key to overcoming them lies in learning to manage them effectively so that they don’t manage you.”
“I’ve been very fortunate to have a supportive family who has always been there for me as I’ve reached milestones in my life, and I would encourage you to reach out to those special people in your lives for support when you need it,” said Claster. “Whatever the road ahead holds for you – be it the army, college or a career — I want you to know that I am one of the many friends you have from around the around the world who is so proud and excited for you.”
Of the 117 graduating seniors, 38 percent will join the Israel Defense Forces and 47 percent will join a gap-year leadership program (Mechina in Hebrew). Others will either continue their studies or serve in Israel’s national service.
As Shmuli Bing, Director, Yemin Orde Youth Village, handed out graduation certificates, he reminded youth to remain positive and hopeful, despite challenges that may appear on their life journey. “Happiness and success is achieved through effort. Remember to set the right kind of goals for yourself and work toward overcoming obstacles on the way. These obstacles can also teach us and help us grow,” Bing said.
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Jewish Democratic Council of America urges Senate to delay vote on Justice Kenney’s successor
Haile Soifer, exectuive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, has launched a petition drive asking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to refrain from scheduling a vote on Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s successor until after the November election.
In a letter to McConnell, for which she is gathering signatures, she wrote:
“When a Supreme Court seat opened in February 2016, you claimed that that Supreme Court nominees could not be considered by the Senate during an election year. Judge Merrick Garland, an impeccably qualified jurist appointed to the Court by President Obama, was denied a confirmation hearing and a vote for more than eight months as a result of the precedent you established in 2016.
“Today, we demand that you apply this standard — which you established less than two years ago — to the successor of Justice Anthony Kennedy. As you know, Justice Kennedy will step down less than four months before the midterm elections, at the end of July.
“As you so strongly advised yourself, no Supreme Court nominee should be voted on until the American people have the opportunity to have their voices heard at the polls. We implore you to follow your own precedent this election year, and wait until the next Senate is sworn in in 2019 before confirming a Supreme Court nominee.” – From Jewish Democratic Council of America
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U.S. State Department advises against travel to Turkey
The Department of State renewed a travel advisory for Turkey in which it said “Reconsider travel to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk.” Further, it urged Americans to specifically avoid “areas along the Turkey-Syria border and the southeastern provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Sirnak, Diyarbakir, Van, Siirt, Mus, Mardin, Batman, Bingol, Tunceli, Hakkari, and Bitlis due to terrorism.”
The advisory explained: “Terrorist organizations explicitly target Western tourists and expatriates for kidnapping and assassination. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.”
Furthermore, the Turkish government under President Erdogan, has imposed a State of Emergency in which “security forces have detained tens of thousands of individuals, including U.S. citizens, suspected of affiliation with alleged terrorist organizations based on scant or secret evidence and grounds that appear to be politically motivated,” The State Department advisory said. “U.S. citizens have also been subject to travel bans that prevent them from departing Turkey. Participation in gatherings, protests, and demonstrations not explicitly approved by the Government of Turkey can result in detention or arrest.”
Americans who nevertheless travel to Turkey should take the following precautions, the State Department counseled:
Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners, particularly at popular tourist locations in Istanbul.
Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
Stay at hotels with identifiable security measures.
Monitor local media and adjust your plans based on new information.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. — From the U.S. State Department
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Preceding culled from news releases sent to editor@sdjewishworld.com