July 10, 2000 Vol. 2, No. 23

This Week in Washington...

For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative at rprice@thejcpa.org or Guila Franklin Siegel, Associate Director, Domestic Concerns at gfsiegel@thejcpa.org

House Scheduled to Consider Foreign Aid Bill: With Israeli Prime Minister Barak, President Clinton and Yasser Arafat set to gather at Camp David later this week, the House of Representatives will be returning from their July 4^th recess to take up the pending Foreign Operations spending bill. The $13.3 billion bill contains $2.8 billion in military and economic aid to Israel. Signs of annoyance regarding the proposed Israeli sale of Phalcon airborne radar equipment to China are evidenced by House Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Sonny Callahan’s (AL) support for an amendment which would delay payment of $250 million to Israel until Israel cancels the proposed sale, or until the Pentagon informs Congress that the sale would not threaten U.S. security. A similar amendment failed in Committee, but it should be noted that the bill does include non-binding language expressing the hope that Israel not proceed with the sale. A debate on the issue while the discussions continue at Camp David could cause an embarrassing situation for the Israelis. In recent years, foreign aid funding has been clouded by inclusion of "Mexico City" language, and Representative Nita Lowey (NY) is expected to offer an amendment to end restrictions on family planning assistance which has been such a contentious part of this legislation.

Permanent Residence Status for Syrian Jews: The House is scheduled to vote on legislation on Tuesday which would grant permanent resident status to nearly 3000 Syrian Jews now living in America. You will recall that the Jewish Community worked diligently in the early 90’s to gain permission for nearly 4000 Syrian Jews to leave and come to the United States. Those who chose to come to stay in the United States were given temporary non-immigrant visas and allowed to apply for asylum. The asylees then must apply for permanent residence status in order to work and live in the US. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Rick Lazio (NY) will be included as part of the non-controversial suspension calendar.

Contact Legislators on AMIA Bombing Resolutions: Next week marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the AMIA -Jewish Community Building in Buenos Aires which killed 86 people. With the perpetrators still at large, resolutions are pending in each house of Congress urging the government of Argentina to bring those responsible to justice. The Senate resolution also refers to the bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires in 1982. The perpetrators of that attack must be found and prosecuted as well. Please contact your legislators and urge them to pass both of these initiatives next week. (See JCPA Action Alert , July 7, 2000)

This Week in New York...

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Senior Community Consultant at bga@thejcpa.org

Thousands Call for Release of Iran 10: A podium rich with political and religious leaders resounded with demands that Iran release the 10 Jewish men convicted in the Shiraz show trial during a lunch-time rally held near the Isaiah Wall and the United Nations in New York City. The crowd of thousands braved the strong mid-day sun and joined the speakers in demanding that Iran continue to be isolated diplomatically and economically. Hats off to the NY JCRC, NY-UJA Federation, UJC, the Conference of Presidents and the JCPA for bringing together such large numbers on such short notice for such a critical issue. Similar events took place today (and are set for this evening) all across the country, and indeed, in Jewish communities around the globe.

Mazel Tov: A belated congratulations to the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, selected for New Detroit’s "Closing the Gap" Award in late June in recognition of Council’s work to improve relationships between Detroit and the suburbs, and build coalitions among ethnic groups around issues of common concern.

Heads Up: A report detailing the meetings held in Israel during the recent Minkoff Institute 2000 will be available shortly.