American Jewish Congress cautions against hasty U.S. exit from Syria
The American Jewish Congress issued the following statement on Wednesday: “It was announced that President Trump is considering a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. The reason given is that the terrorist organization ISIS no longer holds territory in Syria, thus the primary objective of a U.S. military presence there is completed. Yet ISIS is far from the only Syria-based danger to America’s interests and allies. Before reaching a final decision on the matter, the Trump Administration should consider the threats still posed from Syria’s borders.
“Israel shares a northeastern border with Syria. Since the Syrian Civil War began seven years ago, the threat facing Israel from that border has risen. The shifting power vacuum created by the war offered opportunities for several dangerous forces to gain a foothold. One was ISIS; another was Iran. It is now abundantly clear that Iran has installed forces in Syria in a fresh bid for regional hegemony. Like Lebanon, Syria offers a new front for terror and violence against Israel, a country it wishes to wipe from the map. Just this spring, an Iranian drone entered sovereign Israeli territory from Syria – the first ever direct attack on Israel by Iran. Additionally, Hezbollah, a terrorist organization backed and armed by Iran, has now established a presence in Syria as well.
“The situation in Syria remains immensely complex and unstable. It is important that U.S. decision-makers fully consider the implications a fast and full withdrawal could have for Israel, for other American allies, and for containing the violent regional aspirations of the Iranian regime.” — From American Jewish Congress
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Sanders, Feinstein oppose including anti-BDS measure in year-end appropriations bill
U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Dianne Feinstein (D-California) have asked the U.S. Senate leadership to refrain from including the Israel Anti-Boycott Act in the year-end appropriations bill. In a letter to Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Chuck Schumer (D-New York), they wrote:
“We ask that you not include the “Israel Anti-Boycott Act,” (S. 720) in any year-end appropriations bill. We believe including this bill would violate the spirit of cooperation and commitment that Senate appropriators have made to oppose controversial riders on appropriations bills.
“While we do not support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, we remain resolved to our constitutional oath to defend the right of every American to express their views peacefully without fear of or actual punishment by the government.
“As the ACLU has repeatedly stated in its opposition to S. 720, this bill would violate Americans’ First Amendment rights. Federal district courts in Kansas and Arizona have similarly considered state laws that target political boycotts of Israel and found them to violate the First Amendment. For example, in Jordahl vs. Brnovich, the court held in granting a preliminary injunction, “The type of collective action targeted by the [law] specifically implicates the rights of assembly and association that Americans and Arizonans use ‘to bring about political, social, and economic change.”‘ The courts’ reasoning in both those cases applies with equal force to S.720.
“Furthermore, the bill would prohibit and penalize certain constitutionally-protected political activity aimed solely at Israeli settlements in the West Bank, thereby extending US legal protection to the very settlements the United States has opposed as illegitimate and harmful to the cause of lsraeli-Palestinian peace for more than 50 years. Whether one opposes such targeted measures or not, criminalizing acts such as the mere furnishing of information on companies that do business in the settlements would represent a significant and heavy-handed departure from five decades of bipartisan opposition to the settlement enterprise. At a time when the Netanyahu government is pursuing policies clearly aimed at foreclosing the two-state solution, it is deeply disappointing that Congress would consider penalizing criticism of those policies.
“We deeply respect the passionate and distinct views that members of the Senate bring to issues affecting U.S.-Israel relations, Israeli and Palestinian recognition, and Middle East peace. As the world’s oldest deliberative body, we are happy to debate S. 720 on its merits as freestanding legislation. However, we respectfully ask that you reject any effort to include this controversial legislation in a must-pass, year-end appropriations bill.” — From Americans for Peace Now
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Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi says Israel should help free Arabs imprisoned for selling land to Jews
The Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Jerusalem, Aryeh Stern, issued an unprecedented halachic ruling that Israel has an obligation to help free Palestinians who have been imprisoned for selling land to Jews.
In a letter sent to Lt. Col. (res.) Baruch Yedid, head of the Arab Affairs desk at the Zionist movement Im Tirtzu, Rabbi Stern wrote that the obligation for freeing imprisoned Jews also applies to Palestinians who were jailed for selling land to Jews.
Stern’s letter came in response to the recent abduction of Issam Akel, a resident of Jerusalem who was arrested by the Palestinian General Security Service on the suspicion that he had sold land to Jews.
“In the Talmud and Jewish law we learned that poor non-Jews need to make a living just like poor Jews, and so too this is the ruling according to which non-Jewish prisoners should be freed just like Jewish prisoners; it is already known that the commandment to free prisoners is one of the most important commandments,” Stern wrote.
“Large efforts must be made to free the abducted [Issam Akel], because he is suspected of selling property to Jews, and anyone who is involved in this plays a part in the commandment to settle the Land of Israel. Efforts to secure his release will encourage others not to be deterred or refrain from selling land, because they’ll know that they will be protected from anyone who seeks to harm them.”
Yedid welcomed the letter, saying that it was a historic and brave move by Rabbi Stern.
“For the first time, a significant figure in the rabbinical institution is intervening on behalf of the Palestinians who have become targets for the Palestinian Authority in the capital,” said Yedid.
“We hope that these words will lead to action and that the rest of the authorities in Israel will act in this spirit and put an end to Palestinian lawlessness in Jerusalem. The authorities must provide protection to Israeli residents and assert de facto sovereignty,” Yedid concluded. — From Im Tirzu
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Europol, U.S. confer on combating Hizballah
On December 17-18, the United States and Europol convened the seventh meeting of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group (LECG) on countering Hizballah’s terrorist and illicit activities in Europe. Governments from the Middle East, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America participated in this session, along with Europol and INTERPOL.
Hizballah continues to plot terrorism and raise money around the world, and countering the threat of Iran-backed terrorist groups is a top priority for the Administration. The LECG remains a crucial vehicle to improve international cooperation on combating Hizballah’s terrorist and criminal schemes.
Officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, and Treasury, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Counterterrorism Center, and Drug Enforcement Agency also participated in this meeting. The LECG will convene again in Europe in 2019. — From U.S. State Department
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Please send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com