Editor’s E-Mail Box: December 1, 2018

President George H. W. Bush mourned

“President Bush was an outstanding American, a veteran who courageously served his country in time of war, and a public official who left an impressive record of achievement. While in the Oval Office, he exerted particularly skillful, indeed visionary, leadership during a period of dramatic change in the world,” said American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris. “The overall record of support for endangered Jews worldwide and the quest for Arab-Israeli peace is also part of his enduring legacy.”

Bush served as president from 1989 to 1993, following eight years as vice president under President Ronald Reagan.

As president, Bush impressively mobilized a U.S.-led international coalition, including several Arab countries, to repel Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Following the successful military campaign that forced the withdrawal of Iraqi forces, Bush, seeing a new opportunity, organized the historic 1991 Madrid Peace Conference, which brought together representatives of Arab countries and Israel for promising talks on peace and cooperation in a variety of key areas, including economy and the environment.

President Bush, also in 1991, played a key leadership role in the successful repeal by the UN General Assembly of its infamous 1975 “Zionism is racism” resolution, only the second time in UN history that a resolution was rescinded.

The Bush presidency coincided with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of communism in Eastern European countries, the reunification of Germany and the implosion of the Soviet Union. President Bush brought his decades of experience, including serving as the U.S. ambassador to the UN and China, as well as heading the CIA, to lead the U.S., and the world, in dealing successfully with these extraordinary, and previously unimaginable, transitions to a post-communist era.

Earlier, as vice president, Bush addressed the historic December 1987 rally for Soviet Jewry, when more than 250,000 people gathered in Washington on the eve of the Gorbachev-Reagan summit. AJC’s Washington representative at the time, David Harris, was the national coordinator of the Freedom Sunday for Soviet Jewry. Bush’s participation further catalyzed the movement to free Jews from the oppressive yoke of the Kremlin.

Bush also demonstrated concern for endangered Jewish communities by his direct involvement with efforts to rescue Ethiopian Jews. He was instrumental in helping spearhead the 1985 rescue to Israel of Ethiopian Jews secretly transiting in Sudan. In 1991, as president, he provided invaluable American assistance to Israel’s historic effort that brought 14,000 Jews by plane directly from Ethiopia to Israel.

In the U.S., Bush is remembered for, among other landmark legislative initiatives supported by AJC, signing the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1991.

As with any U.S. administration, there were occasional differences. In particular, the standoff between the Bush administration and many in the Jewish community regarding loan guarantees for Israel, led at the time by Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, created a period of some tension.

Most recently, in 2005, Bush addressed the AJC Global Forum in Washington, together with President Bill Clinton, thanking AJC for our strong support of relief efforts following the devastating tsunami in Asia. The two former presidents led the U.S. response.  — From American Jewish Committee

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The American Israel Public Affairs Committee issued the following statement: AIPAC mourns the passing of President George H.W. Bush — a statesman and patriot — who embodied dedication to America both in war and in peace.

President Bush played a critical role in the extraordinary effort to help rescue Ethiopian Jews and enable them to come to Israel. His administration successfully reversed the despicable “Zionism is racism” resolution at the United Nations.

President Bush was committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a leader who was devoted to America’s security, he understood the strategic value of the U.S. relationship with Israel, and his administration was instrumental in strengthening the military cooperation between the two democratic allies.

We join our fellow citizens in paying tribute to President Bush, who rightfully earned the deep respect of people around the world. – From American Israel Public Affairs Committee

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Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said: “On my behalf and on behalf of the citizens of Israel, I send heartfelt condolences to the Bush family and to the American people over the passing of a great American patriot, President George Herbert Walker Bush. His wise leadership at the end of the Cold War helped steer the world to a peaceful transition and the spread of democracy. The people of Israel will always remember his commitment to the security of Israel, his important contribution to the liberation of Soviet Jewry and his efforts to promote peace in the Middle East at the Madrid Conference.” — From Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office
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The Republican Jewish Coalition said: “The RJC is deeply saddened by the passing of President George H.W. Bush, who was an American hero. He served our country honorably, first as a naval aviator during World War Two, then as a Member of Congress, Ambassador, Director of the CIA, Vice President, President, and later in life as a humanitarian who promoted volunteer work, disaster relief, and many other worthy causes.

“President Bush was a great friend of Israel, the Jewish people, and the RJC. Bush was instrumental in saving the Jews of Ethiopia and bringing them to Israel; he worked directly with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to assist Israel in bringing Jewish immigrants fleeing communism in the Soviet Union to Israel; he led the effort in the UN to repeal the ‘Zionism is Racism’ resolution; and he stood up to the aggression of Saddam Hussein, who threatened the safety and security of Israel and the entire Middle East. We were honored that President Bush chose to work closely with the RJC, inviting us to the Oval Office to discuss issues of concern to the Jewish people, and we are grateful to have had those opportunities.

“In addition to his years of service and philanthropy, President Bush leaves behind a family who are devoted to this country and engaged in public service and philanthropy as well. We are grateful for the service that his children, including President George W. Bush and Governor Jeb Bush, have rendered to our nation. We take solace in knowing that he is reunited with the love of his life, First Lady Barbara Bush, an American hero in her own right. We offer our prayers and condolences to the entire Bush family.” — From Republican Jewish Coalition

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AJC deplores magazine’s attack on Hungarian Jewish leader

The American Jewish Committee (AJC)  condemns the anti-Semitic attack directed at Andras Heisler, President of the Hungarian Jewish Federation (MAZSIHISZ), in the business magazine Figyelő. The story, claiming financial mismanagement in the development of a new Jewish museum, was featured on the magazine’s cover with a montage depicting a shaded photo of Heisler with money falling around him.

“Jews with money is a familiar, disgraceful anti-Semitic trope,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs and a special envoy on combating anti-Semitism for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. “This attack on Hungary’s Jewish community is shameful, especially since Prime Minister Orbán has declared a ‘zero tolerance policy’ on anti-Semitism.”

MAZSIHISZ, an AJC international partner, has vigorously denied the charges made against it regarding the museum project, known as House of Co-Existence, which will portray the long history of Jewish life in Hungary. — From American Jewish Committee

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Preceding items culled from news releases.  Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com