JERUSALEM (Press Release)–For two days last week (March 11 – 12), Jewish and Israeli community leaders, heads of major organizations, leading figures from academia and government officials past and present met quietly in Glen Cove, Long Island under the auspices of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) to discuss recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the nature of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state from the standpoint of the Diaspora.
A number of important recent events and trends informed the gathering’s deliberations including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s forceful effort to bring an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; the P5+1-Iranian negotiations, which may conclude with a compromise endorsed by the free world and rejected by Israel; possible emerging frictions between Israel and the U.S. administration, which may affect relations between the two largest Jewish communities – in Israel and North America; and, the initiative of Israel’s Ministry of Justice to consider legislation on Israel as a Jewish and democratic state at a time when different ideological groups within Israel hold conflicting views.
Ambassador Dennis Ross, co-chairman of JPPI stressed that the threats and instability rampant in the Mideast have created numerous common interests between Israel and the U.S. and noted that American Jewry has a strong role to play in combating the threat of a nuclear Iran.
Co-chair Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat focused on the need to strengthen pluralism in Israel. “Diaspora Jews are committed to Israel and they should feel accepted no matter what stream of Judaism they practice,” he said at the gathering.
Discussions on the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora regarding Israel as a Jewish and democratic state was prompted by a request by Israel’s Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni to law professor Ruth Gavison to explore a constitutional basis for Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Professor Gavison turned to the Jewish People Policy Institute for help in gauging attitudes about these issues throughout the Diaspora.
JPPI’s preliminary findings found that a majority of the participants in the discussion support preserving Jewish symbols of the state such as “Hatikva” and the Israeli flag, while at the same time they want to ensure that Israeli Arabs enjoy full rights as a minority community.
A copy of the JPPI background paper on this issue can be found here.
President of the Jewish People Policy Institute Avinoam Bar Yosef stressed the great importance of ongoing consultation with the Diaspora. “A government that sees Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people must share the Diaspora’s decisions on issues they hold dear, including the Jewish character of a democratic state,” notes Bar Yosef.
The JPPI preliminary findings that were presented at the Glen Cove meeting is the culmination of a process in which the Institute held seminars in 40 communities worldwide. Participants were asked to examine questions concerning the character of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The process was led Shmuel Rosner and Avi Gil, senior fellows at the Institute.
The full report on World Jewish attitudes toward Israel as a Jewish and democratic state will be submitted towards the end of March.
The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) is an independent policy planning think tank based in Jerusalem. The mission of the Institute is to ensure the thriving of the Jewish People and the Jewish civilization by engaging in professional strategic thinking and planning on issues of primary concern to world Jewry.
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Preceding provided by the Jewish People Policy Institute.
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San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. This is an ideal opportunity for your corporate message or to personally remember a loved one’s contributions to our community. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Jerusalem, March 16…For two days last week (March 11 – 12), Jewish and Israeli community leaders, heads of major organizations, leading figures from academia and government officials past and present met quietly in Glen Cove, Long Island under the auspices of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) to discuss recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the nature of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state from the standpoint of the Diaspora.
A number of important recent events and trends informed the gathering’s deliberations including Secretary Kerry’s forceful effort to bring an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; the P5+1-Iranian negotiations, which may conclude with a compromise endorsed by the free world and rejected by Israel; possible emerging frictions between Israel and the U.S. administration, which may affect relations between the two largest Jewish communities – in Israel and North America; and, the initiative of Israel’s Ministry of Justice to consider legislation on Israel as a Jewish and democratic state at a time when different ideological groups within Israel hold conflicting views.
Ambassador Dennis Ross, co-chairman of JPPI stressed that the threats and instability rampant in the Mideast have created numerous common interests between Israel and the U.S. and noted that American Jewry has a strong role to play in combatting the threat of a nuclear Iran.
Co-chair Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat focused on the need to strengthen pluralism in Israel. “Diaspora Jews are committed to Israel and they should feel accepted no matter what stream of Judaism they practice,” he said at the gathering.
Discussions on the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora regarding Israel as a Jewish and democratic state was prompted by a request by Israel’s Minister of Justice Tzipy Livne to law professor Ruth Gavison to explore a constitutional basis of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Professor Gavison turned to the Jewish People Policy Institute for help in gauging attitudes about these issues throughout the Diaspora.
JPPI’s preliminary findings found that a majority of the participants in the discussion support preserving Jewish symbols of the state such as “Hatikva” and the Israeli flag, while at the same time they want to ensure that Israeli Arabs enjoy full rights as a minority community.
A copy of the JPPI background paper on this issue can be found here.
President of the Jewish People Policy Institute Avinoam Bar Yosef stressed the great importance of ongoing consultation with the Diaspora. “A government that sees Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people must share the Diaspora’s decisions on issues they hold dear, including the Jewish character of a democratic state,” notes Bar Yosef.
The JPPI preliminary findings that were presented at the Glen Cove meeting is the culmination of a process in which the Institute held seminars in 40 communities worldwide. Participants were asked to examine questions concerning the character of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The process was led Shmuel Rosner and Avi Gil, senior fellows at the Institute.
The full report on World Jewish attitudes toward Israel as a Jewish and democratic state will be submitted towards the end of March.
The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) is an independent policy planning think tank based in Jerusalem. The mission of the Institute is to ensure the thriving of the Jewish People and the Jewish civilization by engaging in professional strategic thinking and planning on issues of primary concern to world Jewry.
*
Preceding provided by the Jewish People Policy Institute.
*
San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. This is an ideal opportunity for your corporate message or to personally remember a loved one’s contributions to our community. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com