INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS - NOVEMBER 1999 Jerusalem: A new bill has been introduced by Representative Thomas Reynolds (R-NY) and Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) that would ensure that the United States take certain steps toward recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This important bill would enact three provisions in recognition by the United States of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It would designate the American consulate or any other diplomatic facility in Jerusalem under the supervision of the United States ambassador to Israel. Second, Jerusalem would be recognized as the capital of Israel in all official government documents. In addition, for the purpose of registration of birth issuance of a passport of the U.S. citizen born in the city of Jerusalem, the country of birth would now be recorded as Israel. Up until now, these important elements have been neglected, suggesting that the status of Jerusalem is somehow still in question. The OU/IPA has contacted all the representatives in the House asking them to support H.R. 2785 which would enact these important steps towards recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. We are asking all OU members to write to their Representatives and urge them to support H.R. 2785 in light of the many challenges to Jerusalem that Israel still faces. Justice for Victims of
Terrorism Act: The OU/IPA recently expressed strong support for the Justice for Victims of
Terrorism Act introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in support of the
enforcement of certain anti-terrorism judgments. At a hearing before the Senate Judiciary
Committee, OU member Stephen Flatow, father of Alisa Flatow of blessed memory who perished in a bus bombing
perpetrated by a suicide bomber in Israel in 1995, testified in support of this
legislation that would allow the seizure of frozen Iranian assets to award the judgment
that the Flatows won against Iran.Despite the success of the lawsuit, the administration
has refused to free up the frozen Iranian assets to award to the Flatow family. The IPA believes that this important bill would help against the
battle of international terrorism. States
that foster, fund and train terrorists who continue to use terror as a means of obtaining
their political objectives should be made to pay the price.
These terrorist forces have as their spiritual parents the Islamic radical
movements that emanate from Iran and participate in the Iranian jihad against Israel and
the United States. Their purpose is to
instill terror and fear in the hearts of Israelis and fellow Jews. The Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (S. 1796)
will be an important channel that can help isolate and undermine states and groups that
carry out acts of terrorism. We urge you to write your Senators and ask them to support S. 1796, the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act
so that countries which support and encourage terrorists will have no place in the family
of civilized nations. Anti-Boycott Activities: Given the recent rash of high-profile campaigns by American-Arab and American-Muslim organizations threatening a boycott against corporations doing business in Israel, including Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, we have been deeply involved in combating this effort to put pressure on Israel into making concessions in the peace negotiations. The IPA believes that these threats are part of an effort to prejudice the outcome of the peace talks by circumventing the direct negotiations that should be taking place between the parties. Issues that should be resolved in direct negotiations are being fought over in the economic arena. Companies that have been targeted by these Arab-American organizations include Disney, Benetton, Burger King and others. If a true and lasting peace should ever come to the Middle East, it must include the encouragement of trade and investment between Israel and the Arab world. Efforts to try and influence negotiations by the imposition of a boycott are counterproductive to the creation of true peace. In statements to the press, the companies in question and to
administration officials, the OU/IPA reiterated its support of freedom of trade with
Israel and condemned the threat of boycotts against companies carrying on business in
Israel as completely contrary to the spirit of reconciliation and peace. Company heads were called upon not to give in to
threats of boycotts and to stand strong against any efforts to politicize economic
investment and to speak out publicly and forcefully on this issue. In addition, the OU/IPA is asking our members to
contact us with their email addresses to facilitate mobilization for letter writing
campaigns and other efforts to help fight against attempted boycotts. Please call
us with your email address at (212) 613-8123 so that we may be able to enlist your help. Israeli Soldiers Missing in Action: The OU/IPA played an active role in the recent passing of legislation by the
Congress in favor of enhanced efforts on the part of the State Department in seeking a
resolution to the problem of the Israeli MIAs, raising
the issue in meetings with Administration and Congressional leaders. At a recent press conference on Capitol Hill,
Yonah and Miriam Baumel, parents of Israeli MIA Zachary Baumel, thanked the OU/IPA for our
outstanding efforts in facilitating the passage and signing of this new bill into law. The new legislation calls on the Secretary of State to raise the
matter of the MIAs on an urgent basis with the appropriate government officials of Syria,
Lebanon and 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 the
willingness of these governments and authorities to assist in locating and returning these
soldiers. This bill is a significant
achievement in the search to resolve an issue of vital human concern that is long overdue. To help reinforce this new law, the OU/IPA is asking all our
constituent synagogues across America to observe Shabbat
Ne’edarei Zahal during Shabbat Parashat Va’Yeshev, coinciding with Shabbat
Chanukah this year. Parshat Va’Yeshev
describes the heartbreak of Ya’akov Avinu who remained inconsolable for the loss of
his son Yosef and presents a fitting time to undertake activity on behalf of the Israeli
MIAs. Letters and petitions should go to the
President, the Secretary of State and all elected officials asking them to make sure that
the issue of the Israeli MIAs is high on the agenda.
For more information and special materials to help you in your Shabbat
Ne’edarei Zahal program, please call (212)-613-8123. Arrested Iranian
Jews: We continue to receive many calls from OU members and synagogues
asking about the condition of the 13 arrested Iranian Jews. Efforts are continuing on their behalf and
legislation is pending for a sense of the Congress that would maintain strong United
States policy toward the Islamic republic of Iran unless and until that country moderates
its treatment of religious minorities. As the
world-wide effort on their behalf continues unabated and intercession has occurred at the
highest level, OU members and synagogues are urged to continue their recitation of Tehilim
(Psalms) and Tefilot on behalf of the
thirteen arrested Iranian Jews. Public street
demonstrations and direct correspondence targeting the Iranian authorities would be
counterproductive at this time. Since this is
a case of Pikuach Nefesh, it is more important that we direct our activities in an
appropriate and effective manner. Rabbis are
urged to conduct shiurim on the mitzvah of Pidyon Shvuyim and congregants should recite
Tehilim chapters 130,121 and 20 on behalf of the 13 Iranian Jews. Soviet Jewry: Elections recently took place in the Ukraine that, among other
things, served to test the popularity of extremist anti-Semitic parties. The results remind us of the instability which
still characterize the region and still give us cause for concern for the safety of Jewish
communities in the Former Soviet Union. In the weeks before the Ukrainian election, different candidates
and parties disseminated anti-Semitic pamphlets and leaflets. Verbal attacks and vilification in the media were
targeted at many of the candidates, including President Kuchma who was depicted as being
surrounded by Jews. The election campaign
featured the distribution of a lot of defamatory materials, and one extreme instance of
violence, as two grenades were thrown into a crowd on October 2, 1999. Communist and socialist-oriented parties did well and placed
second, third and fourth in the election results. Despite
the strong communist showing, the Ukrainian currency plummeted after the election. Reports from the Jewish community in the Ukraine
conveyed concern about these results, as did our Jewish community contacts in Kharkov. However, President Kuchma won the November 14th
run-off election. The OU/IPA will continue to monitor events in the Former Soviet
Union and its impact on the Jewish community. Voter Registration:
High Priority: The OU/IPA is initiating an intensive campaign for voter registration following up the campaign run in our synagogues on Selichot night. There is an acute need to strengthen and expand this drive as statistics show a decline in Jewish voter registration. We have been noting the ever-increasing efforts of Arab-American groups to influence public opinion and public policy here in the United States. This is a growing phenomenon and one that we cannot afford to ignore. In order to be an effective force in shaping the political
agenda, in making sure that policies are formulated that will impact favorably on our
community, we must make sure that all members of our community, young and old, are
registered to vote. The current trend of
apathy in our community will only defeat and undermine our influence on our country’s
legislative agenda. Crucial issues for the
Jewish community are constantly at stake- anti-Semitism, Israel, Jerusalem, endangered
Jewry, many others- and we must not take anything for granted. American Jews who are not registered to vote are
abandoning a fundamental right to let their voice be heard and to make a difference. For
information and materials on running a Voter Registration Drive in your synagogue and
community please call (212)-613-8123. Do not
let this issue fall by the wayside. Ethiopian Jewry: The OU/IPA continues to be
concerned about the status of education for the Ethiopian Jewish immigrants. Since the great majority of the Ethiopian Jewish
immigrants did not acquire any formal education in Ethiopia, the importance of education
in Israel is compounded. As part of an
organizational coalition to support for the advancements of education for Ethiopian
Jewish children, and particularly since many of these
children attend the government religious school system, we have been in contact with the
Israeli Minister of Education urging that more effort be put into the enhancement of the
education of Ethiopian Jewish children. Many
Orthodox Jewish organizations are sponsoring important projects that help these children
and their schools. The Israeli government
religious school system is very important to the OU/IPA as we wish to see that Ethiopian
Jewish children are allowed to preserve their traditions- this aliyah historically
has largely been comprised of observant olim. Given
this adherence to tradition by the Ethiopian Jews, we have a special stake in their
success. Poor education and lack of support
will result in these Ethiopian Jews becoming youth at risk since problems of alienation,
lack of a sense of identity, and criminal behavior have already surfaced. The OU/IPA will continue to urge the government of
Israel to provide sufficient resources, both governmental and non-governmental, so that
programs that help the Ethiopian Jewish children be successfully integrated into Israeli
society and into the religious community can be implemented.
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