Jewish organizations around the world condemn mosque massacres in New Zealand
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder has expressed horror and revulsion at the reports of multiple casualties following terrorist attacks on two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand.
Lauder said: “I would like to express my horror and revulsion at the terrorist attacks which have targeted people attending two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand today during Friday prayers. I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims, and to the people of New Zealand. We must redouble efforts to combat hatred and division in our societies, from wherever it emanates.”
Jack Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress, wrote: “Our hearts go out to the victims of the horrific events in Christchurch, New Zealand, where 49 Muslims were murdered in their place of worship. It is difficult to comprehend the degree of hatred that motivates someone to murder innocents as they pray. This is the end result of all hatred. We condemn the hateful ideology that motivated this attack in the strongest possible terms.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris said: “Racist individuals imbued with pure hatred of Muslims have attacked normally peaceful New Zealand. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of today’s unspeakable crime of mass murder. We say as loudly as we can: We stand against hate and xenophobia. We stand against racism. We stand against terrorism. We stand for mutual understanding. We stand for mutual respect. We stand for pluralism. We stand for coexistence and outreach.”One of the attackers detained by police, a man in his 20s, has been charged with murder. Portions of the attacks were broadcast live on social media. A manifesto railing against Muslims and immigrants also was issued.
“We in the United States have witnessed horrific attacks on houses of worship, including churches, mosques, and synagogues. No one is fully protected from violent hatemongers,” said Harris. “We are truly saddened that this same hatred has emerged so violently in New Zealand. The answer must be unity, solidarity, and linked arms against evil.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the “terrorist attack” on the mosques “one of New Zealand’s darkest days.”
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) expressed its deep dismay at the horrific terrorist attacks on Muslims in Christchurch New Zealand, in an act of appalling right-wing racist terrorism.
AIJAC conveyed sincere condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families and all those whose lives have been so severely impacted by this outrage.
“The perpetrators of this monstrous hate crime will unite all decent people in solidarity with the victims,” said AIJAC Executive Director Colin Rubenstein. “Such atrocities will only strengthen our resolve and interfaith commitment to build more cohesive and harmonious societies,” he concluded.
Jeremy Jones, AIJAC Director of International and of Community Affairs added, “The alleged perpetrators asserted that they were acting to build a better world for their children and this is as morally repugnant as it is intellectually offensive. All fair-minded people want to build a world where we are able to exercise freedoms to live, to worship and believe.” – From World Jewish Congress, American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee and Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council
Pitzer College President lauded for stand against BDS
StandWithUs applauds Pitzer College President Melvin Oliver for strongly rejecting a recommendation by the Pitzer College Council to suspend a study abroad program at Haifa University on March 14, 2019. The non-binding motion passed in the College Council with a vote of 68 in favor, 25 against, and 8 abstaining. Shortly afterwards Oliver rejected the motion, stating that, “I am refusing to permit Pitzer College to take a position that I believe will only harm the College.”
“If this motion were truly about ethical standards for study abroad, they would have started with Pitzer programs in Lebanon and China rather than targeting one of the most diverse universities in the only functioning democracy in the Middle East,” said Max Samarov, Executive Director of Research & Strategy at StandWithUs. “In reality, this vote was designed to push a narrow anti-Israel agenda that harms students, violates academic freedom, and fuels more conflict and injustice in the Middle East. By rejecting this discriminatory recommendation, President Oliver ensured that Pitzer will not fall on the wrong side of history.
“Academic boycotts have been widely condemned for undermining academic freedom, the free exchange of ideas, and educational opportunities for students. Furthermore, the campaign against Israel includes an explicit effort to shut down cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. The Pitzer motion only added fuel to this unjust cause and sought to limit the ability of students to interact with and learn about Israelis and Palestinians.
“Equally troubling was the fact that the Pitzer motion targeted democratic Israel, while staying silent on study abroad programs in Lebanon, China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and other states ruled by repressive regimes. In Lebanon, for example, LGBTQ people are criminalized and all travelers with an Israeli passport are denied entry or even arrested. Additionally, Palestinians in Lebanon face severe institutional discrimination. It was clear that the motion was not about applying an equal standard to study abroad programs, but rather engaging in a political attack against the world’s only Jewish state.
“StandWithUs applauds President Oliver and Pitzer students who stood strong in the face of this hateful campaign. We will continue to work together with Hillel, ICC, and our other partners to support the Jewish and pro-Israel community at Pitzer and beyond.”
Meanwhile, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Los Angeles praised Pitzer College President Melvin L. Oliver for his principled stance in affirming that a study abroad partnership with the University of Haifa in Israel will continue despite a vote by the school’s College Council recommending that the program cease to operate.
“Some will say that I am taking my own position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in choosing not to implement the recommendation of the College Council. I am not. Instead, I am refusing to permit Pitzer College to take a position that I believe will only harm the College,” Oliver wrote in a strong statement issued soon after the vote.
The drive to end the Haifa University partnership was initiated by a Pitzer professor and other Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)-affiliated activists on campus.
“By singling out Israel, the recommendation itself is prejudiced,” wrote Oliver. “If implemented, the recommendation would unnecessarily alienate a large cross section of the College’s constituencies. The reputational harm to the College would be irreparable and as president of his institution, I cannot permit that to happen.”
Calling the College Council recommendation “an academic boycott of Israel,” Oliver wrote, “I categorically oppose any form of academic boycott of any country. We cannot allow our objections to the policies of any nation’s government to become a blanket indictment of the nation itself and, by extension, its citizens.”
AJC has advocated for months for a rejection of the proposed boycott of Haifa University.
“The College Council action was an outrageous attack on academic freedom,” said AJC Los Angeles Assistant Director Siamak Kordestani and AJC Director of Campus Affairs Zev Hurwitz. “The measure threatened to allow a dangerous precedent – that it is acceptable for outside political influence to limit student experiences.”
Oliver has been vigorously supportive of academic freedom since the fall semester, when the attempt to end relations with the Haifa campus began. At the time Oliver also spoke out strongly against ending this academic opportunity for Pitzer students.
“By preventing the implementation of an effort to sever ties with Israel’s most diverse campus, President Oliver demonstrates moral courage, support for true academic freedom, and the preservation of neutrality for Pitzer College on contentious conflicts,” said Kordestani and Hurwitz. — From StandWithUs and American Jewish Committee
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ICC Jurisdiction in Israel settlements case challenged
Top lawyers specializing in cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed a submission questioning the admissibility of cases regarding Israeli settlements. Steven Kay QC and Joshua Kern of 9 Bedford Row chambers in London made the submission with support from The Lawfare Project and UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
The submission emphasizes that the Israeli Supreme Court (sitting as the High Court of Justice) plays an active role ruling on matters relating to Israeli settlements. Because Israel’s own courts already rule on the issue and have issued several landmark rulings on settlements in the past, such cases are not admissible before the ICC. That is because—according to the core principle of “complementarity” under the Rome Statute, which governs the ICC—the ICC is not supposed to rule on issues where there are genuine proceedings before national courts.
The submission by 9 Bedford Row, with support from The Lawfare Project and UKLFI, comes after the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the ICC published its annual report on preliminary examinations in December 2018. The report discloses that the OTP intends to complete its examination of “the Situation in Palestine” as early possible and is now at “Phase 3”, which is the stage in the process when it considers the admissibility of the situation. At this point, therefore, the OTP needs to consider both the gravity and the complementarity of the situation.
Should the OTP decide to prosecute an Israeli settlements case, it could violate the complementarity principle.
Stephen Kay QC of 9 Bedford Row, who filed the submission, said:
“Israel has a functioning, independent, institutional framework which permits investigation of conduct that would be covered by potential settlements cases at the ICC. Under the core ICC principle of complementarity, prosecutors should accept the validity of decisions taken by Israel’s national courts. If they are not prepared to do that, then the burden of proof will be on them to say why.”
Brooke Goldstein, Executive Director of The Lawfare Project, which supported the submission, said:
“An ICC case on ‘settlements’ would totally ignore the fact that Israel’s courts have frequently ruled and continue to rule on these issues. It would be yet another attempt at applying double standards to Israel. Double standards inspire a lack of trust in the international legal system and undermine the sanctity of international law. The Lawfare Project is proud to support this fresh legal approach to challenging lawfare attempts at circumventing the rule of law.”
Jonathan Turner, Chief Executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, said:
“This excellent submission unpicks a number of basic fallacies in claims made by some NGOs in relation to Israel. Further work needs to be done to counter other serious misconceptions.” — From the Lawfare Project
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Please send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com
From Rabbi Joshua Dorsch, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, San Diego:
In the wake of brutal attacks on two mosques in New Zealand, our hearts ache for our Muslim brothers and sisters. An attack on a house of worship, targeting people who have gathered together peacefully in prayer, is tragic, cruel, and an insult to our common humanity.
I have reached out to leaders in the San Diego Islamic community offering our condolences, our love, and support. I inquired as to how I, as a Rabbi, and we as a Jewish community, can be of assistance during this terrible time.
Our hearts and a sense of solidarity go to our Muslim brothers and sisters in their time of grief.
May we know no more sorrow.