StandWithUs condemns goals of National Students for Justice conference at UCLA
StandWithUs strongly condemns the stated goals of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Conference, scheduled to take place at UCLA November 16-18. The theme and goals of the conference celebrate blatant violations of free speech and say that, “the reason we can have hope is that Zionism… can be destroyed.”
“Unfortunately this is not surprising coming from SJP, which has been spearheading campaigns of hate on campus for many years now,” said Ron Krudo, Executive Director of Campus Affairs at StandWithUs. “Calls to destroy the movement for Jewish self-determination and deny people who support Israel’s existence the right to speak have no place at any university.”
SJP has a long history of racism and ideological support for terrorism, and works closely with off-campus hate groups. Furthermore, the SJP chapter at UCLA is currently under investigation for disrupting a campus event held by Students Supporting Israel, in violation of the First Amendment.
According to the UC Regents Principles Against Intolerance, “anti-Semitism, anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism, and other forms of discrimination have no place in the University of California.” They also state that, “actions that physically or otherwise interfere with the ability of an individual or group to assemble, speak, and share or hear the opinions of others… will not be tolerated.” According to SJP’s stated themes and goals, their conference will promote blatant violations of these UC policies and values, and should be condemned by UCLA administrators and leaders.
StandWithUs will work closely with our partners to empower students and other members of the UCLA community, as they stand up to hatred and intolerance on their campus. — From Stand With Us
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Exhibit in Dania Beach, Florida, tell of Eichmann’s capture, trial, and execution
The Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Dania Beach, Florida, is presenting an exhibit on the capture and trial of Adolf Eichmann, who led the Nazi effort to murder all the Jews of Europe.
Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann is a landmark exhibition originated and created by Beit Hatfutsot’s team, led by Chief Curator, Dr. Orit Shaham Gover, and including the curator for the Mossad, Avner Avraham. It was produced by Patrick Gallagher and Associates and Cleveland’s Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, the venue of its US premiere. It was presented in Chicago, New York and St. Petersburg, Florida and will continue to travel in the U.S. and abroad.
At the request of Beit Hatfutsot, the Mossad has lifted its veil of secrecy in order to educate the public about the Shoah, the most horrific chapter in Jewish and world history. The exhibition salutes the organizations and individuals in Israel and abroad who acted at great risk. It acknowledges their families and thanks those whose identities must remain a secret.
The evidence exhibited represents the authoritative material gathered during “Operation Finale,” the unprecedented and daring capture of Eichmann, the Nazi official who was responsible for the “final solution,” the murder of millions of innocent people in designated death camps.
The 1961 trial that brought Eichmann to justice is depicted captivatingly in the exhibition. The gripping legal drama, led by Israel’s Attorney General and Prosecutor Gideon Hausner and his team, was heralded as a transformative and foundational event in the history of the State of Israel and the world. It opened up the discourse on the Shoah as the heroic deeds of witnesses in the trial allowed others to raise their voices so that a world who might have been doubtful of the incomprehensible evil, would hear the truth. It was a pivotal milestone in Israel’s history and in the world’s delayed awakening to the magnitude of the Holocaust. — From Beit Hatsufot.
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Israeli developer of ecological piers and wharfs wins U.N. prize for sustainable development
Israeli marine biologist Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, head of Tel Aviv-based ECOncrete, was selected as an awardee in the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge, the first global business competition for women entrepreneurs who are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The WE Empower Challenge honors five female entrepreneurs, one from each of the five UN regions, who are advancing the SDGs through their business practices. The opportunity recognizes their innovative work, provides capacity-building training sessions and high-level advocacy opportunities.
Perkol-Finkel cofounded ECOncrete in 2012 to address the ecological damage done by concrete ports, breakwaters and piers.
ECOncrete’s environmentally sensitive concrete products enhance marine life while increasing the structural stability, longevity and aesthetics of urban waterfronts and coastal structures. The technology features a modified concrete “recipe,” a variegated texture attractive to marine life, and a 3D design to accommodate elements such as tiny holes for little fish to hide in.
Representing the “Western EU & Other” region, Perkol-Finkel will join the other four awardees in a pitch competition hosted by fashion designer, activist and Vital Voices Board Member Diane von Furstenberg, vying for a $20,000 grant.
Perkol-Finkel has a PhD in marine biology and ecology from Tel-Aviv University and was an EU Marie Curie Fellow during her post-doc at the University of Bologna, Italy. — From Israel 21C by Abigail Klein Leichman
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U.S. to seek bilateral arrangements to care for Palestinian children
The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on Friday, August 31:
“The Administration has carefully reviewed the issue and determined that the United States will not make additional contributions to UNRWA. When we made a U.S. contribution of $60 million in January, we made it clear that the United States was no longer willing to shoulder the very disproportionate share of the burden of UNRWA’s costs that we had assumed for many years. Several countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Sweden, Qatar, and the UAE have shown leadership in addressing this problem, but the overall international response has not been sufficient.
“Beyond the budget gap itself and failure to mobilize adequate and appropriate burden sharing, the fundamental business model and fiscal practices that have marked UNRWA for years – tied to UNRWA’s endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries – is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years. The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation. We are very mindful of and deeply concerned regarding the impact upon innocent Palestinians, especially school children, of the failure of UNRWA and key members of the regional and international donor community to reform and reset the UNRWA way of doing business. These children are part of the future of the Middle East. Palestinians, wherever they live, deserve better than an endlessly crisis-driven service provision model. They deserve to be able to plan for the future.
“Accordingly, the United States will intensify dialogue with the United Nations, host governments, and international stakeholders about new models and new approaches, which may include direct bilateral assistance from the United States and other partners, that can provide today’s Palestinian children with a more durable and dependable path towards a brighter tomorrow.”
Preceding culled from news releases. Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com
The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) opposes the Trump administration’s recently announced reduction in aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and defunding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
These irresponsible cuts would imperil the security of Israel and the wellbeing of millions of Palestinians, especially children. These cuts were aimed at humanitarian programs that have saved lives, as well as programs aimed at improving Palestinian governance. They were announced without a clear strategy and demonstrate – yet again – that President Trump is reckless in his diplomacy and foreign policy, especially when it comes to the Middle East.
While the PA is certainly flawed, it performs vital functions of governance, including maintaining an important security partnership with Israel. Meanwhile, UNRWA – which requires institutional reform – provides essential humanitarian assistance, health programs, and education to millions of Palestinians, the Israeli government and security establishment have historically supported U.S. assistance to the PA and UNRWA, because both have played an important role helping to stabilize and secure Israel’s borders with Gaza and the West Bank.
These cuts will destabilize an already weak Palestinian government, to the potential detriment of the United States and Israel. Only Hamas and other terrorists win in such an equation.
We are deeply concerned that the Trump administration’s decision to cut this funding will encourage Palestinian extremism and endanger lives on both sides, and we urge the administration to reconsider its dangerous decision.
The Republican Jewish Coalition released the following statement from Executive Director Matt Brooks on the announcement by the Trump Administration that the United States will discontinue contributions to UNRWA:
The Trump Administration made the correct call on a very difficult decision today. Ultimately, UNRWA is no longer viable because it continues to expand the number of beneficiaries at an unsustainable pace. What should be specifically noted is that the Trump Administration is committed to finding ways of working around UNRWA with other nations and assistance groups, and even directly with the Palestinians, to help the people, especially the children, in a better, more efficient manner. Ultimately, cutting out UNRWA was the best decision for the United States and the people who need the help the most. We applaud the Trump Administration for leading on the world stage.