First Lady and Senate hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton met today with about 100 members of the Orthodox Jewish community at the national headquarters of the Orthodox Union (OU) in New York City.

Background:

Mandell I. Ganchrow, M.D., President of the Orthodox Union, had sent Mrs. Clinton a letter in June – soon after the First Lady announced her decision to consider a bid for the senate. On behalf of the thousands of Orthodox Jewish New Yorkers represented by the Union, Dr. Ganchrow felt that as a potential candidate for the senate seat being vacated by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan – who has been among the most staunch supporters of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal undivided capital and has consistently voted in favor of moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem – Mrs. Clinton must clarify her views on these critical issues.

Mrs. Clinton answered Dr. Ganchrow’s letter. In her reply, the First Lady stated that she believes Jerusalem to be the eternal indivisible capital of Israel. But whether she would – as New York’s senator – vote to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem remained unclear. Mrs. Clinton wrote that she would welcome an opportunity to meet with Union representatives, some time during the coming months, for further discussion.

In response (in early July), Dr. Ganchrow extended an invitation for Mrs. Clinton to meet with

Union leadership and efforts were made to schedule a date. Today’s meeting is the culmination of their correspondence, a copy of which appears below. (December 14 was tentatively chosen before Mrs. Clinton’s trip to the Middle East.)

Today’s Meeting:

The frank exchange of ideas between Mrs. Clinton and OU representatives included discussion on a variety of issues including moving the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the commutation of Jonathan Pollard’s sentence to time served on humanitarian grounds, the case of Ari Halberstam – the yeshiva student killed in a 1994 terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge, tuition tax credits and physician assisted suicide.

Photos available upon request.

For more information, please call (212) 613-8221.

Following are the questions asked of Mrs. Clinton at the meeting.

Jerusalem:

In light of your foregoing comments, a new bipartisan bill has been introduced by Representatives Thomas Reynolds and Anthony Weiner of New York that would ensure that the United States take certain steps toward recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

It would designate the American consulate in Jerusalem under the supervision of the United States ambassador to Israel, Jerusalem would be recognized as the capital of Israel in all official United States government documents, and for the purpose of registration of birth issuance of a passport of a U.S. citizen born in Jerusalem the country of birth would now be recorded as Israel.

Would you support Reynolds-Wiener which would enact these important but up until now neglected steps towards recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?

Palestinian Incitement:

Mrs. Clinton, in your book, It Takes A Village, you discussed the many elements and societal forces that shape a child’s character. When media in the Palestinian Authority continue to spew hate against Israel and the Jewish people, when children’s programming on Palestinian television still encourages jihad and holy war against Israel, when textbooks in Palestinian schools denigrate Israel and the Jewish people, what does that say about the village in which Palestinian children are being raised? You have heard the outrage voiced by the Jewish community when Mrs. Arafat viciously accused Israel of poisoning the Palestinians.

You have heard the outcry of our community that criticized your lack of reaction to her invidious accusation.

What do Palestinian children think when they hear Mrs. Arafat say what she says? What will Palestinian children in that village think when the only apology issued by their leadership was a political one regarding embarrassing the First Lady instead of a retraction? No apology was made for what was essentially a blood libel against Israel. Why did you not renounce these remarks for the vicious lies that they represent?

This issue is essential to whether or not any peace process in the Middle East is likely to succeed.

Clemency for Pollard:

We have long been on record supporting the commutation of Jonathan Pollard’s sentence to time served on humanitarian grounds. This issue has galvanized the entire Jewish community – with every organization and religious movement supporting his commutation.

While we do not condone the violation of the laws of the United States, we do however contend that a hallmark of American justice is its consistent effort to make the punishment fit the crime. Mr. Pollard’s punishment is grossly disproportionate to his crime. This can readily be seen in comparison to the sentences given to others who have committed similar crimes.

Mr. Pollard wrongly disclosed secret information to one of the United States most trusted allies. He has already served more than the sentences imposed on the above-mentioned offenders. He has also publicly expressed his regrets for his actions and demonstrated profound remorse. What is your position on the commutation of Jonathan Pollard’s sentence to time served on humanitarian grounds? What will you do to expedite his release?

Hammas at the White House & Arab Boycott:

We are deeply concerned over about the fact that Arab-American groups that have been hosted in the White House have ties to the radical Islamic groups which support terrorism.

These Arab-Americans groups, including the Council on American-Islamic relations and Muslim Public Affairs Council, cloak themselves under a moderate cover and have met with other Administration officials in the White House including yourself. They have justified or championed Hammas and Hizbollah and have made anti-Semitic declarations.

These groups have also now resuscitated economic warfare against Israel in spite of the fact that peace negotiations are going on by demanding that American companies such as Disney, Burger King, Benetton, NASDAQ and others not open offices in Israel in an attempt to circumvent the negotiations.

Will you publicly repudiate the views of these groups and will you ensure that they are not again invited to the White House?

Illegal Palestinian Construction:

The Clinton administration often criticizes Israel for engaging in even small amounts of Jewish housing construction in the Judea Samaria areas even when that construction is legal and permitted by the Oslo accords.

Yet the administration has never criticized the Palestinian Authority for sponsoring great amounts of illegal Arab housing construction throughout Judea/Samaria as well as Jerusalem. This includes illegal construction at the Temple Mount, Jerusalem’s holiest places, which has included the dumping of large amounts of archeological material, according to the Israeli government.

Why should there be a double standard in which Israeli construction is condemned as an "obstacle to peace," while Arab construction is never called an "obstacle to peace"? Do you agree that Arab construction is also an obstacle to peace? If you are elected to the Senate, will you speak out about the illegal Arab construction?

Sanctions Against Iran:

Mrs. Clinton how do you view use of sanctions against Iran particularly in view of the dominance of the hard liners in their government and their lack of change in both their foreign and domestic policies. This is particularly important to us in view of their failure to release the thirteen Jews that were arrested and imprisoned before last Passover. They continue to be held without bail and without notice of when a trial may take place, nor do we know if the trial will be open. Would you favor ending unilateral gestures that the United States has made including certain sales of certain materials as well as the lack of opposition to new arm deals until we see evidence of a real change in Iran?

Israeli MIA Soldiers:

We have played a leading role in the passage of H.R. 1175, legislation in favor of enhanced efforts on the part of the State Department in seeking a resolution to the problem of the Israeli soldiers Missing In Action. The new legislation calls on the Secretary of State to raise the matter of the Israeli soldiers Missing in Action on an urgent basis with the appropriate governing officials of Syria, Lebanon, with the Palestinian Authority and with other governments in the region. This law also states that American policy toward and assistance to these governments and authorities should take into consideration their willingness to assist in locating and returning these soldiers. One of these soldiers, Zachary Baumel, is an American citizen whose family is very close to our organization. These soldiers have been missing for seventeen years and we believe that this bill is an important achievement in the search to resolve this issue of vital human rights. We know that you have met in the past with families of these MIA’s. Will you strongly support the implementation of this bill? Will you be willing to ask the Secretary of State and other administration officials to make sure that the issue of the Israeli MIA’s is always included in these talks and is high on the agenda?

Alisa Flatow Judgment:

Mrs. Clinton, my name is Stephen Flatow. My daughter was killed in a terrorist attack while she was a student in Israel in 1995.

With encouragement from your husband’s administration, I commenced a lawsuit under the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following a two-day trial in March 1998, my family was awarded $247.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Since March of 1998, I have been battling to collect on my judgment. My opponent in this battle has not been the Iranian government but the Clinton Administration in the courtroom and the congress. Our two most recent attempts at legislative redress were met by the Administration with threats of presidential veto and forced our supporters to back away in order to preserve pending budget bills.

In addition, just last Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth had to void several of our attachments of Iranian assets due to current restrictions under U.S. law. Judge Lamberth’s opinion, while sympathetic to us, indicates the court’s hands are tied because existing law is in conflict with the goal of the Anti-Terrorism Act to punish state sponsors of terrorism.

My question is this: If elected to the Senate, will you support legislation that will put teeth into the Anti-Terrorism Act by giving victims of terror the ability to levy on the assets of state sponsors of terrorism in this country?

The Halberstam Case:

Ari Halberstam was killed in a terrorist attack by radical Islamic extremists on a busload of yeshiva students on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994. The Department of Justice and the FBI have classified this as a case of "road rage" which we consider an outrage and an insult. Overwhelmingly, the evidence points to conspiracy and an act of terrorism but repeated attempts and communications with the Department of Justice and the U.S. attorney have yielded no satisfaction on this to date. Do you support reclassifying the attack on the yeshiva students on the Brooklyn Bridge in which Ari Halberstam was murdered as an act of terrorism? What will you do to make sure that this act is reclassified in order to demonstrate America will not tolerate terrorist acts of any sort?

Religious Accommodation:

A key issue for religious Americans is the need for religious accommodation in the workplace. Too many religious individuals are asked to choose between their career and their conscience. Observant Jews, as well as devout Christians and others often need flexible work schedules in order to observe religious holidays. Observant Jews, as well as devout Muslims and Sikhs, are required to wear religious articles of clothing – even in the workplace.

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act (S.1668) – sponsored by a bi-partisan group of senators, including Senators Lieberman and Moynihan – would ensure that employers respect and accommodate the religious observances of their employees. It would require employers – absent an undue difficulty or financial expense – to accommodate their employees by, for example, allowing them to adjust their work schedules in order to observe religious holidays. This legislation is strongly supported by the entire Jewish community as well as a broad coalition of religious groups. Do you support this measure, will you help us promote it and how?

Religious Liberty Legislation:

President Clinton has often stated publicly that one of his proudest moments as president was when he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. As you are likely aware, RFRA was struck down by the Supreme Court on the grounds of congressional overreaching. The legislation was redrafted in line with the Supreme Court’s opinion in narrower form as the "Religious Liberty Protection Act." This measure – again supported by a broad coalition of religious groups, liberals and conservatives – has been passed by the House and awaits Senate action. While its goal is to restore the highest level of constitutional protection to the free exercise of religion, RLPA has become the subject of controversy, with gay rights groups baldly asserting that it will harm their interests. What are your views on this legislation?

Education Equity for Parochial School Families:

We all agree upon the critical importance of ensuring all children receive a high quality education and that America has a long way to go toward realizing this goal. While we can agree to politely disagree about a range of innovative education reform initiatives, such as school vouchers – whose constitutionality and viability are the subject of some dispute – what are your views on tuition tax credits, tax free education savings accounts for all K-12 families, and other measures – already upheld as constitutional, and supported in the Congress in the past by either Senator Moynihan or Lieberman – designed to yield greater choice and equity for those who send their children to parochial schools?

Federal Supplemental Assistance for Parochial Schools:

What is your view toward federal financial assistance for parochial schools for support services such as obtaining computers and software; a program currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court which this Administration’s Department of Justice has defended?

Assisted Suicide:

What is your view of the legislation (passed by the House and led by Sen. Lieberman in the Senate) that would ban physician assisted suicide while encouraging aggressive pain treatment by doctors?

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Comments? Requests? Questions?

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Department of Public Relations Sharyn Perlman, Director Main Office: 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212-613-8321 Fax: 212-564-9058 E-mail: media@ou.org

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