August 6, 2001 Vol. 3, No. 24

This Week in New York…

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Director of Community Relations and Special Projects at bga@thejcpa.org

STANDING TOGETHER --

SOLIDARITY RALLY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

MAKE PLANS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE REPRESENTED! Join your fellow pro-Israel activists as we show our support. "Standing Together" - Solidarity Rally with the People of  Israel will take place Sunday, September 23^rd at 1 p.m. along Second Avenue, beginning at 47^th Street, in Manhattan.  Tens of thousands of Jews and other supporters of Israel are expected to attend the rally, along with regional and national leaders and Israeli officials. JCPA is a cosponsor of the rally, and is working with member agencies across the country to bring delegations of Israel activists to New York to stand in solidarity. We’ll bring you program updates when information is available. There are only 47 more days until the rally! Contact the JCPA today to learn what your community can do!

Got a question about the Rally? Call the Rally Hotline at 212-983-4800, ext. 160.

Solidarity Now! Tip of the Week: This week’s highlight comes from Detroit. The Jewish Community Council has arranged with the Detroit Jewish News to place a “box” with a brief hasbara piece accompanying their main Israel story each week. Here’s an example:

THE ISSUE

Palestinian leadership has been pressuring the U.S. and European governments in recent weeks to approve a plan for international observers to monitor the cease-fire with Israel.  Israel resists this plan and has been criticized for its position. 

BEHIND THE ISSUE

While the idea sounds fair and workable, upon examination, Israel would be disadvantaged by the arrangements.  Israel’s army is accountable to a democratic, civilian-led defense ministry which would allow open access for the monitors.  The Palestinian Authority, however, is secretive and non-democratic, with the multiple militias and guerilla-like factions under the command of Yassir Arafat often ignoring or even assisting Palestinians who are planning terrorist actions.  Monitors would not be able to operate freely there.   

This Week in Washington...

Contact Reva Price, JCPA Washington Representative, at rprice@thejcpa.org

Summer Vacation:  The corridors of power are a bit more empty now that Members of Congress departed Washington for points north, east, south and west. The Senate is scheduled to return on September 4^th, and the House on September 5^th.  A daunting “to-do” list awaits legislators: in a version of Congressional Beat-the-Clock, the Senate will have to pass eight more appropriations bills and adopt all 13 conference reports during the 17 work days of September to complete the appropriations process before the September 30^th end of fiscal year. The Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which includes foreign aid to Israel, also awaits completion.  The House is a bit further along in its process, but there are already whispers about continuing resolutions to keep the government running until all 13 spending bills are passed.  Neither chamber has even begun work yet on the two largest spending bills (Defense and Labor-HHS-Education) which account for two-thirds of the full discretionary budget. 

Still Pending: The education legislation now in Conference Committee has several hurdles to clear, with one particular “sticking point” - a provision in the House version which would require school districts to certify to the Department of Education that none of their policies violate a student’s right to pray on school grounds.  If a district does not do so, the district could lose federal funds.  Current law threatens the loss of federal funds only if a district violates a court order.  There is a fear that the threat of loss of funds might make school districts go too far and stop protecting a student’s right not to be coerced into participating in organized prayer.  Also on the docket for the returning Congress will be legislation to increase the minimum wage and Hate Crime legislation. In a series of events across the country elected officials, civil rights leaders, victims and their families, will join together to support passage of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (formerly known as the Hate Crime Protection Act.)  As you will recall, the legislation passed last year by a vote of 57-42. Events will take place today in Columbus, August 7 in Chicago, and on August 12 in Pittsburgh.  For more information, see the coalition website at www.unitedagaisnthate.org

Hats Off: NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia has reported that 98 United States Senators have signed a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing concern about popular anti-Semitism in the Russian Federation.  Congratulations to all who worked so hard to get such overwhelming support.  On August 3, Senate Resolution 145 passed recognizing the 4.5 million immigrants helped by HIAS. Sponsored by Senators Kennedy and Brownback, the initiative was sought in honor of HIAS’s 120th anniversary, making the organization the oldest international migration and refugee resettlement agency in the United States. 

Anne Marie Stoute
Executive Assistant
212/684-6950 ext. 207
212/686-1353 (Fax)
amstoute@thejcpa.org