Legislation would create fund for Palestinian-Israeli people-to-people partnerships
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-17) and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) introduced the Palestinian Partnership Fund Act of 2018 (HR7060). This legislation would help create the conditions on the ground necessary for an eventual end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The bill would establish a Palestinian Partnership Fund to facilitate and finance joint economic ventures and people-to-people exchanges between Israelis and Palestinians. Additionally, the legislation would instruct the Administration to make every effort to seek additional contributions for the Fund from Middle Eastern and European countries and the rest of the international community.
Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced companion legislation (S.3549) in the Senate.
“I have always believed that a two-state solution is the only framework that would lead to two states for two peoples,” Lowey said. “But this dream will only be realized through efforts on the ground to stimulate economic development and community ties between Israelis and Palestinians. This legislation would be a critical step in the reconciliation process necessary for there to one day be a democratic, Jewish State of Israel and a democratic, Palestinian State living side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recognition.”
“We often hear about the ‘the road map for peace in the Middle East,’” Fortenberry said. “The challenge is laying the proper foundation for the road. Building on previous U.S. efforts at reconciliation, this bipartisan bill is a genuine attempt by the United States to regenerate our historic role in finding creative and imaginative pathways to secure a sustainable peace. This starts by recreating new and better economic and interpersonal linkages for prosperity and interconnectedness between the region’s peoples.”
Several organizations support the Palestinian Partnership Fund, including the Alliance for Middle East Peace, the American Jewish Committee, and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. — From Congresswoman Nita Lowey
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Salinity and temperature changes can degrade body’s defenses against multiple sclerosis
A new Tel Aviv University study finds that certain environmental conditions may precipitate structural changes that take place in myelin sheaths in the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin sheaths are the “insulating tape” surrounding axons; axons carry electrical impulses in neurons.
The research demonstrates that myelin sheaths undergo structural transitions when triggered by changes in local environmental conditions, such as salt concentration (salinity) and temperature. These transitions, according to the study, render the body vulnerable to autoimmune attacks that can lead to MS.
The research was led by Prof. Roy Beck of TAU’s School of Physics and Astronomy and conducted by Rona Shaharabani, a doctoral student in Prof. Beck’s lab, and Maor Ram-On, a doctoral student in Prof. Ronen Talmon’s lab at the Technion Institute of Technology. It was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS).
Physiological conditions are regulated in the body itself, but temperature and salinity are subject to localized external changes. The results presented in the study suggest that even minor changes in these conditions may trigger multiple sclerosis.
“The myelin sheaths undergo structural transitions at the molecular level when affected by different environmental conditions. These small modifications create structural instabilities that allow the immune system to attack neurons,” says Shaharabani.
The researchers used X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) to track and measure the myelin sheaths in healthy and diseased animal models. They found that healthy lamellar membranes spontaneously morphed into different pathological structures of nano-scale tubes called inverted hexagonal shapes.
“These results highlight that local environmental conditions are critical for myelin function. These conditions should be considered as alternative possibilities for early diagnosis and as a means of avoiding the onset of demyelination,” says Shaharabani. “Since we believe that these structural modifications result in myelin membrane vulnerability to the immune system attacks, it can help explain the causes of MS and perhaps pave the way for a treatment or a cure.” — From Tel Aviv University
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Inaugural Shabbat services Oct. 26 for San Diego Outreach Synagogue
San Diego Outreach Synagogue (SDOS), a new independent Jewish congregation led by Cantor Cheri Weiss and the Outreach Band, will hold its inaugural Shabbat celebration on Friday, October 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Nobel Recreation Center, 8810 Judicial Dr. (behind the San Diego Public Library) in north University City.
There will be a musical Shabbat service followed by a light vegetarian dinner at no cost. RSVP required for dinner at 858-280-6331 or email: Cantor@sdo-synagogue.org. For more information about SDOS, go to www.sdo-synagogue.org —From San Diego Outreach Synagogue
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Im Tirzu seeks standing in Lara Alqasem court case
Ahead of Wednesday’s High Court of Justice hearing that will determine the fate of BDS activist Lara Alqasem, the Zionist organization Im Tirtzu submitted a request to join the hearing as a respondent. The request, submitted by Im Tirtzu’s legal advisor Attorney Ben-Zion Adoram and the Director of its Legal Division, Attorney Yaakov Cohen, comes as a counterbalance to the legal action taken by Hebrew University in defense of Alqasem.
“The leaders of Hebrew University seem to have forgotten that they should be working on behalf of the State of Israel and not on behalf of its enemies,” said attorneys Adoram and Cohen.”Tomorrow we will present our case as a counter to the leaders of Hebrew University who opted to support a person who promotes the deligitimization of Israel – the very place where its students come from and which funds it.
The High Court of Justice responded that it will issue a decision tomorrow at the start of the hearing regarding Im Tirtzu’s request. — From Im Tirzu
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Lawfare Project warns University of Michigan it may be subject to anti-discrimination liability
The Lawfare Project, a U.S.-based think tank and litigation fund that fights anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli discrimination, has warned the University of Michigan (U-M) that it may be subject to liability under federal anti-discrimination law as well as other provisions of federal and state law following its unsatisfactory response to several major incidents of anti-Semitism on its campus.
On Sunday, October 14, The Lawfare Project delivered a memorandum to U-M administrators, including President Mark Schlissel, following reports that American Culture Professor John Cheney-Lippold and Lucy Peterson, a graduate teaching assistant for a political theory course, both denied Jewish students letters of
recommendation to study abroad on the grounds that their destination was Israel.
Another student revealed last week that, as a condition for receiving her degree from U-M’s Stamps Art School, she was required to participate in a lecture which included the presentation of slides that equated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Adolf Hitler. After U-M President Schlissel responded that this slide was one of “nearly 200 slides” in the presentation, another image from the same lecture was revealed that depicted Jews as pigs, drinking from bottles of money, and holding a wand with a Star of David.
The newly revealed imagery, according to the student, “comes from the playbook of Hitler and Goebbels, and invokes history’s most classical––and most genocidal––anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.” The Lawfare Project agreed, declaring that “the Jew-hatred inherent in this presentation cannot be whitewashed by pointing to the number of other, ‘non-Jew-hating’ slides in the lecture.”
“Today The Lawfare Project urged the University of Michigan to take appropriate steps to respond to recent disturbing incidents of blatant anti-Semitism on campus,” said Larry Hill, Chairman of The Lawfare Project. “We are monitoring the situation at U-M very carefully, watching to see what the University Administration says and does moving forward. There is no academic benefit to the use of imagesinvoking the most hateful and conspiratorial anti-Semitic canards, and no free speech right to impose one’s own political agenda on students under one’s control and tutelage. U-M has a moral and legal responsibility to address discrimination on campus, and we hope it will take swift action to fulfill that obligation.” — From the Lawfare Project
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House committee investigates USAID contribution to Islamic Relief Agency
An investigative report by the Middle East Forum has prompted the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to initiate an investigation into a 2014 decision by the Obama administration.
The U.S. Treasury Department listed the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA, aka the Islamic Africa Relief Agency), a Sudanese organization in 2004 a “Specially Designated Terrorist Organization.” It did so because ISRA provided “direct financial support” to Osama bin Laden; “was responsible for moving funds to the Palestinian territories for use in terrorist activities”; and “serve[s] as a conduit to Hamas.”
The Forum’s Sam Westrop exposed in National Review that in 2014, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) approved a $200,000 grant to the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA) in Sudan through World Vision, Inc.
The project was temporarily suspended in November 2014 after USAID and the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) were alerted to ISRA’s terror links.
However, after confirming ISRA’s status as a sanctioned entity, the Forum uncovered that OFAC nonetheless authorized a $125,000 transfer to ISRA in May 2015 after “close collaboration and consultations with the Department of State.” This done, Charles Wanjue, a USAID official exulted: “Good news and a great relief, really!”
The Forum’s findings resulted from a successful Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against USAID, countless hours poring through documents, and working with an investigator in Khartoum.
“The Office of Foreign Assets Control’s role in the award of taxpayer funds to an organization involved in supporting terrorism raises questions,” said Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK), chairman of Oversight’s Subcommittee on National Security. Rep. Russell has requested details from U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and USAID Administrator Mark Green on USAID’s vetting procedures for grant recipients, a list of all USAID grants to groups suspected of involvement with terrorism, and copies of all documents and communications relating to ISRA.
“It is disturbing that the federal government would knowingly authorize payment to a designated Osama Bin-Laden funding charity,” said Cliff Smith, director of the Washington Project. “We welcome this investigation, which is necessary to hold government officials accountable and ensure such an outrage is not repeated.” — From Middle East Forum
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U.S. Rep. Susan Davis condemns attacks on Ammar Campa-Najjar
Democratic congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar is the grandson of one of the Palestinian terrorists involved in the slaying of Israel’s athletes at the Munich Olympics. His grandfather, in turn, was slain by Israel. Republican Incumbent Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) has been attacking Campa-Najjar as a security risk. In response, Congresswoman Susan Davis, a Jewish Democrat who represents a neighboring San Diego County district, released the following statement in support of Ammar Campa-Najjar.
“As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and someone who has endorsed Ammar, I condemn these baseless attacks against him. Ammar has repeatedly distanced himself from the acts of his condemned grandfather who was killed 16 years before his birth.
“Ammar has passed FBI security checks and 70 national security leaders have denounced the false and incendiary attacks on him. Ammar has openly engaged with and addressed his grandfather’s past with members of the Jewish community.
“These kinds of attacks based on bigotry and fear have no place in any campaign.”
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com