American Jewish Committee

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Dear AJC Friend, Shabbat Shalom. Welcome to the latest edition of AJC Dispatch, bringing you everything you need to know about Israel and the Jewish world from the past week.

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For years, American Jewish Committee (AJC) has called for an open discourse about Holocaust crimes committed by Nazis and their collaborators to preserve history’s enduring lessons and safeguard the future of the Jewish people. That mission continues after a Polish judge this week rebuked two Holocaust historians for naming a former Polish mayor as complicit in the murder of Jews more than seven decades ago.

WATCH: AJC’s Arabic-language video series, ‘An al-Yahud (“About the Jews”), has been viewed by tens of millions of Arabic-speakers around the world. The fifth installment focuses on the The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a century-old antisemitic forgery that has taken root in the Arab world.

Top Stories

‘If Only Israel’ Syndrome

The Times of Israel | 4-minute read

In this column for The Times of Israel, AJC CEO David Harris challenges the misguided notion that “if only Israel” would do X, Y and Z, peace with the Palestinians would be within reach. “Israel doesn't need still more lectures on the importance of peace,” Harris writes. “Rather, it needs genuine partners, starting in Ramallah.” READ MORE

What Everyone Needs to Know About Poland’s Punishment of Holocaust Historians

AJC Global Voice | 3-minute read

A Polish judge has ordered two Holocaust historians to apologize for a lack of accuracy in using survivor and witness testimonies alleging that a former Polish mayor was complicit in the murder of several dozen Jews more than seven decades ago. The case against the historians was yet another chapter in the story about stifling the discussion about Poles’ participation in Holocaust crimes. READ MORE

AJC: Conditions of Abraham Accords Must Be Honored

Newsweek | 4-minute read

It is in America’s best interest to secure and stabilize the Middle East and North Africa, which is why, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson writes for Newsweek, the Biden Administration should endorse the bargains behind the Abraham Accords. READ MORE

More News

ICC Says It Can Investigate Israel’s Alleged War Crimes in Palestinian Territories

Axios | 4-minute read

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled that it has jurisdiction over issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The pre-trial decision, opposed by the U.S., Canada, Israel, Germany, and others, clears the way for the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged war crimes in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. READ MORE

AJC responds: “AJC deeply regrets the decision of the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber, adopted by two in favor to one against, that the Court’s territorial jurisdiction extends to Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. We welcome the State Department’s expression of ‘serious concerns’ about the Court’s attempted over-reach.” (View on AJC Global Voice)

Biden Seeks to Rejoin UN Human Rights Council

The Washington Post | 3-minute read

President Biden has instructed the U.S. State Department to return to the United Nations Human Rights Council as an observer, reversing a decision by the Trump administration three years ago to withdraw over the council’s unfair treatment of Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the withdrawal did nothing to fix the council’s flaws, “including its disproportionate focus on Israel.” READ MORE

AJC responds: “We seek a UNHRC that condemns the world's worst violators and ends historic bias against Israel, starting by removing agenda item 7 — tall orders demanding principled, tough diplomacy.” (View on Twitter)

UC Irvine Students Adopt BDS Legislation

The Jerusalem Post | 3-minute read

Claiming that their actions were “in no way related to Judaism,” the student government at the University of California, Irvine called on the university to divest from companies that work with Israel. Jewish groups slammed the bill that branded Israel an “apartheid state.” READ MORE

AJC responds: “You can't just SAY that the antisemitic thing that you're doing isn't antisemitic. That isn't how this works… An appalling display of ignorance, UC Irvine.” (View on Twitter)

AJC analysis: AJC’s 2020 report on the State of Antisemitism in America found that 80% of American Jews view the BDS movement as antisemitic or having antisemitic supporters. (View on AJC Global Voice)

What you may have missed this week!

Advocacy Anywhere is AJC’s online platform bringing you top-quality content during the pandemic. View the Advocacy Anywhere page for information on past and future programs:

Despite a devastating third wave of COVID-19, Israel continues to lead the world in vaccinations and is poised to inoculate every single resident over age 16 by the end of March. Dr. Asher Salmon, Head of International Relations for the Israeli Ministry of Health, discusses how this happened and what the rest of the world learn from Israel’s speedy rollout. Watch
Lord John Mann, the United Kingdom Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism and a leading proponent of the IHRA working definition, and Rola Brentlin, Head of Special Projects for Chelsea Football Club, discuss the English Premier League's adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and its significance. Watch

People of the Pod

AJC’s weekly podcast analyzing global affairs through a Jewish lens

The Real Danger of QAnon; Telling the Jewish Story in Arabic

This week, we’re in conversation with Joel Finkelstein, cofounder and director of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a nonpartisan, multidisciplinary research group of experts who study online disinformation, and Pamela Paresky, a senior scholar at the Institute who focuses on the psychology of thriving in a liberal democracy. Both have been sounding the alarm about the dangers of the antisemitic conspiracy theory movement QAnon and they join us to discuss what we can expect next from the movement and how we can take steps to stop it. Then we hear from AJC Managing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer on storytelling and AJC’s Arabic video series, Manya Brachear Pashman on President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Seffi Kogen on the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. LISTEN NOW

Tidings

Florida Vaccinates Holocaust Survivors (The Forward)
Soccer Sale Sacked (TOI)
And The Genesis Prize Goes To ... (The Forward)

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*The articles highlighted above do not necessarily reflect AJC’s positions.

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