Editor’s E-Mail Box: June 15, 2018 (5 Items)

SAN DIEGO — Following are some of the stories of Jewish interest that hit our editor’s computer mail box at editor@sdjewishworld.com on Friday, June 15. We are interested in local, national, and international news of Jewish interest, and welcome comments from members of the Jewish community about these news items.

State Department concerned about Syrian military actions near Israel

The United States remains concerned by reports of impending Syrian government operations in southwest Syria within the boundaries of the de-escalation zone negotiated among the United States, Jordan, and the Russian Federation last year and reaffirmed between Presidents Trump and Putin in Da Nang, Vietnam in November. The United States remains committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the ceasefire underpinning it.

We reiterate that any Syrian government military actions against the southwest de-escalation zone risk broadening the conflict. We affirm again that the United States will take firm and appropriate measures in response to Syrian government violations in this area.

The ceasefire arrangement and southwest de-escalation zone were initiatives by Presidents Trump and Putin to de-escalate the Syrian conflict, save lives, and create conditions for the displaced to safely and voluntarily return to their homes. A military offensive by the Syrian regime into this ceasefire zone would defy these initiatives, which have been a success to date. It is vitally important that the three nations supporting the southwest de-escalation zone do everything they can to enforce and implement the understandings reached last year. Existing diplomatic channels have successfully monitored and de-escalated the situation in the southwest, avoiding any resumption of fighting for nearly a year. The ceasefire must continue to be enforced and respected.

Russia is duly responsible as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to use its diplomatic and military influence over the Syrian government to stop attacks and compel the government to cease further military offensives. We request that Russia fulfill its
commitments in accordance with UNSCR 2254 and the southwest ceasefire arrangement. – From U.S. State Department

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Tel Aviv gets the Middle East’s first indoor velodrome

Mayor Ron Huldai of Tel Aviv unveiled the new Sylvan Adams National Velodrome on the eve of the international cycling tournament, the Giro d’Italia, which took place in Israel in May. The 70 million shekel ($19 million), 250m track seats 620 spectators and is built from 900 tons of steel, 17,000 connecting plates and 100,000 screws. Three international cycling champions dedicated the brand new track which was certified for Olympic standards. The Velodrome was named in honor of Sylvan Adams in light of his philanthropy and efforts to raise awareness of professional cycling in Israel. Referring to cyclists from Bahrain and the UAE who traveled to Israel for the Giro d’Italia, Adams lauded the ability of “sport to lay the groundwork for being good neighbors and bringing nations together.” As well as thrusting Tel Aviv onto the world stage, these events demonstrated the opportunities donors have to effect real, positive change in Tel Aviv – and beyond. – From Tel Aviv-Yafo Foundation

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Avi Mayer leaves JAFI to become AJC’s global communications director

The American Jewish Committee has appointed Avi Mayer as its new Assistant Executive Director and Managing Director of Global Communications. The announcement was made during the AJC Global Forum, the global Jewish advocacy organization’s signature annual event, which took place June 10-13, in Jerusalem. “In a very short time, Avi Mayer has become one of the most influential voices in the Jewish world. He has also been a close friend to AJC and an important leader in ACCESS, our young lay leadership program,” said Daniel Elbaum, AJC Senior Associate Executive Director. “We are delighted to have him join AJC as the first Israeli member of our senior management team.” Mayer comes to AJC after serving as The Jewish Agency for Israel’s spokesman to the international media, during which time he also served as a personal spokesman for Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he has worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs; the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C.; Hillel International; and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He also served in the Israel Defense Forces as a military spokesman to the foreign press. In 2016, JTA ranked him as the third most influential person on “Jewish Twitter,” directly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. –From American Jewish Committee

 

Robert Singer: U.N. has ‘disproportionate obsession with Israel’

The World Jewish Congress denounces the United Nations General Assembly’s approval of a disproportionate and biased resolution condemning Israel over alleged excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, which passed 120 countries in favor, 8 against, and 45 abstaining on Wednesday evening.

“The World Jewish Congress is deeply disturbed by the UN’s disproportionate obsession with Israel, and its repeated one-sided moves and resolutions that unilaterally accuse Israel of excessive force while failing to take Hamas or other Palestinian entities to task for violence and incitement,” said WJC CEO Robert Singer.

“We applaud the efforts of US ambassador Nikki Haley to add an amendment to the resolution condemning Hamas, and the majority of states that actually voted in favor of such, and regret that the lack of a two-thirds majority prevented this importance clause from being adopted.

“The US efforts in this regard prove that even when certain states work to bring truth and justice to the floor, the UN continues to be held hostage by those who only want to criticize Israel and have no real interest in ensuring balance and fairness.

“We appreciate Ambassador Haley’s expressed criticism for these obvious failings, and urge other allies of Israel, of democracy, and of human rights to follow suit in recognizing that it is Hamas, and not Israel, that is to blame for the escalation on the Gaza border,” Singer said. — From World Jewish Congress

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Orthodox Union lobbies against Israel boycotts, for religious institutions security aid

A delegation of 100 Orthodox rabbis and communal leaders from across the country – from California and Kentucky to New York, Pennsylvania and Florida – converged on the nation’s capital Wednesday for the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center’s 22^nd annual Leadership Mission to Washington, D.C.

During the day-long event, the participants met with top administration officials at the White House, heard from several U.S. senators, met with U.S. representatives and their staff to advocate for the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (H.R. 1697/S.720) and to increase funding for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program NSGP), which awards religious schools, synagogues and other houses of worship grants of up to $150,000 apiece to improve building security. (The OU Advocacy Center spearheaded the NSGP in 2005 together with the Jewish Federations of North America and other coalition partners and bipartisan leaders in Congress.)

Starting their day at the White House, OU delegates met with U.S. Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman to discuss U.S. policy toward Israel; Domestic Policy Council Director Andrew Bremberg to discuss school choice and other key issues; and Homeland Security Adviser Rear Adm. Douglas Frears to discuss programs to keep synagogues and schools safe.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) kicked off a lunch event on Capitol Hill where he and Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.),  Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) delivered impassioned speeches in support of legislation such as the Israel Anti-Boycott Act; expanded NSGP funding; the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem last month. The senators also spoke in support of other policies to protect Israel, such as the Taylor Force Act to stop U.S. aid from being used as reward money for terrorists and their families.

U.S. Representatives who met with groups of OU delegates included Carlos Curbelo, Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) , Ron DeSantis (R-Fl.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.); Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) Jamie Raskin (D-Md.); and Albio Sires (D-N.J.).

The Mission’s closing session featured an award presentation to Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) for his lead sponsorship of legislation passed in February that codifies a new era of fairness for disaster-stricken synagogues, churches and other houses of worship by making them eligible for federal disaster relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center spearheaded the coalition pressing for the bill’s FEMA provision.

The OU delegates were then addressed by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who announced the creation of the Justice Department’s “Place to Worship Initiative,” a religious liberty proposal focusing on protecting houses of worship and other religious institutions rights to “build, expand, buy, or rent facilities” under the provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA. Read more about the initiative here.

Sessions also announced that the Justice Department had filed a lawsuit against the borough of Woodcliff Lake, N.J. for violating RLUIPA by preventing an Orthodox Jewish congregation from expanding its facility. –From Orthodox Union

 

 

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Preceding culled from news releases.