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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONGRATULATES
San Francisco, CA -- June 14, 1999 -- At their quarterly Board of Directors meeting today, the New York-based Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) formally congratulated Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak on his victory in last month's election in Israel. In a statement issued today, the JCPA also expressed gratitude to Benjamin Netanyahu "for his many years of devoted service to Israel and the Jewish people." In support of Barak's commitment to the peace process with the Palestinians, as well as with Libya and Syria, JCPA Chair Steven Schwarz said, "Differences between the parties must be resolved through direct, bilateral negotiations based on the Oslo Accords and U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338." Additionally, the JCPA Board of Directors recounted efforts made recently by the Palestinians and Arab states to revive UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (the 1947 Partition Plan) and to convene a conference of the signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention for the purpose of examining Israeli activities in the administered territories. Schwarz, expressing his concern over these developments, said, "these actions can only serve to undermine the peacemaking environment." Leaders of the JCPA said they are committed to working closely with the new Israeli government and are optimistic as Barak has indicated his strong desire to promote greater unity and harmony between Israel and Diaspora Jewish communities. ### The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community and serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations. |
