AJC Dispatch

Spotlight

This week on People of the Pod, Colorado Governor Jared Polis joins us to talk about the state’s approach to fighting the coronavirus and the emergence of antisemitism during the pandemic. Then, Dr. Kurt Graham, Director of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, joins us to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and shares what we can learn from President Truman’s leadership during a crisis. Listen now

Must-reads

Coronavirus, Conspiracies, and Antisemitism
The Jerusalem Post / 3-minute read
The basic antisemitic motif was the same during the Black Plague, World War II, and after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Jews have been accused of possessing demonic powers, evil intentions, and aspirations of world domination. AJC CEO David Harris writes in The Jerusalem Post that the outlandishness of these scenarios does not matter for Jew haters. The COVID-19 crisis has spurred conspiracy theories once again. But the visibility of digital platforms and the crippling consequences of this global crisis make these delusions more dangerous. Watch AJC’s U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism Holly Huffnagle and other antisemitism experts discuss how to combat these hate-filled myths and provide an analysis on the current state of global antisemitism. Read more

Auschwitz Museum Denounces Nazi Slogans at Stay-At-Home Protests
Forbes / 3-minute read
Residents pushing their states to reopen sooner have incorporated Nazi phrases and imagery into their rallies. For example, in Illinois, a woman hoisted a sign bearing the slogan visitors first see when they enter the front gate of Auschwitz. “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB” referred to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who is Jewish. A protester in Cleveland held a sign with the emblem of a rat dressed in Jewish garb labeled “The Real Plague.” And a demonstrator in Lansing, Michigan carried a sign reading “Heil Witmer,” referring to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. AJC CEO David Harris tweeted a picture of the Illinois protester and called the sign “Shameful. Shocking. Sickening.” Colorado’s Jewish Governor, Jared Polis, talked about the offensive accusations on AJC’s podcast People of the Pod. Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of AJC Detroit/Jewish Community Relations Council, wrote in the Detroit Free Press that the protesters take away something that benefits all of a society — civil discourse. Read more

Overwhelming Bipartisan Support for Arms Embargo on Iran
Haaretz / 3-minute read
An overwhelming majority of Congress – 387 out of 435 members – have signed a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging him to renew the Iranian arms embargo imposed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. Signatories also called for a continuation of the UN travel restrictions “on those Iranian individuals involved with dangerous proliferation activities.” The embargo and other restrictions are due to lift in October. Since its organization in the 1980s, Hezbollah has promoted Iranian interests in regional and international arenas as a proxy of the Islamic Republic. Last week, Germany joined more than a half dozen other countries, including the United States, in banning all activities of Hezbollah, the long arm of Iran. Join AJC’s campaign urging the European Union to designate all of Hezbollah as a global terrorist organization. Read more

Good to Know

Natan Sharansky Devotes ‘Jewish Nobel’ Winnings to Fight COVID
JTA / 2-minute read
Natan Sharansky, former refusenik, Israeli government minister, and chairman of The Jewish Agency, has announced that the winnings from his Genesis Prize, commonly called the “Jewish Nobel,” will go to organizations fighting the coronavirus pandemic and supporting individuals most affected by it in Israel, the U.S. and seven other countries. The Genesis Prize Foundation also announced a new competition to reward Israeli innovations aimed at stopping the pandemic. On the day of the announcement, AJC hosted a live conversation with Sharansky and AJC Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer. Read more

Israel Prepares to Test Citizens for COVID Immunity
The New York Times / 3-minute read
As the Israeli government lifts public health restrictions and allows citizens to return to the streets, it also is preparing to test 100,000 citizens to find out how widely the coronavirus has spread. The findings will determine whether and how hospitals and health clinics in the Jewish State should prepare for a resurgence of the virus, possibly during flu season. Since the global health crisis began, Israel’s national task force conscripted hundreds of scientists, engineers, doctors, executives, government officials, and military officers to coordinate the nation’s response. Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Ministry reports that the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) has identified an antibody that neutralizes the coronavirus. AJC CEO David Harris tweeted: “Once again, #Israel, a global hub of research & development, offers hope for a medical breakthrough... Here’s to more progress that could help us all!” Read more

Panel Named to Review Posts, Hate Speech for Facebook
The New York Times / 3-minute read
Facebook, Inc. has named 20 esteemed experts in constitutional law, human rights, and journalism to an independent oversight board to review company policies on content and determine whether questionable material on the Facebook and Instagram platforms should be allowed or removed. The board, which is expected to double in size, expects to start reviewing cases this summer. Appointees include Emi Palmor, former director general of the Israeli Justice Ministry. A day after the board members were introduced, AJC hosted a live conversation with Peter Stern, Director of Content Policy Stakeholder Engagement for Facebook, about what the platform is doing to counter hate speech and address the ever-present misinformation around the coronavirus. Read more

Tidings

From Jojo Rabbit to Star Wars (JTA)
Water for Gaza (The New York Times)
Pandemic Personals (The Forward)

The articles featured here do not necessarily reflect AJC’s positions.

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