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[email protected] | WWW.ZOA.ORG April 20, 2021 Dear Feinstein Center for American Jewish History’s Founders and Advisory Committee Members: We were horrified to learn that Temple University’s Feinstein Center for American Jewish History is sponsoring a program this evening, titled “The Weaponization of Discourse: Israel/Palestine, Antisemitism and Free Speech on Campus.” Given the views of the two speakers who will be featured there, as well as the Feinstein Center’s own description of this program, there is no doubt that the program will be one-sided and hostile to Israel – and potentially harmful to American Jews. It is shocking not only that a center devoted to studying the history of American Jews would sponsor this program, but also that the center would address a serious and complex topic by presenting a single point of view. According to the Feinstein Center’s description, the program will be addressing this among other questions: “[H] ow can definitions, such as that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), become weaponized to shutter criticism of Israeli military occupation and increased state violence against Palestinians?” The description alone is so problematic, because of the falsehoods it promotes. First, the description refers to “increased state violence against Palestinians,” which suggests that there is some formal Israeli government policy or protocol that encourages violence against Palestinian Arabs. No such policy or protocol exists. If anything, Israel is typically defending itself and its civilian population from rocket and missile attacks, stonings, car rammings, knifings, and other forms of Arab violence and terrorism. Second, the Feinstein Center’s description of tonight’s program suggests that using the IHRA working definition of antisemitism will inhibit free speech and prevent criticism of Israel. That’s false. There is nothing in the definition that restricts speech one iota. The IHRA definition merely provides useful guidance as to how antisemitism manifests today, including when it involves Israel. Understanding the many forms of contemporary antisemitism is the first step to fighting this ugly problem. Despite the alleged dangers of the IHRA definition according to the Feinstein Center, this comprehensive and excellent definition is gaining wide acceptance throughout the world. The U.S. government and approximately 30 other countries have already adopted it. U.S. states are adopting it. Cities around the world have adopted it, too. Last October, the Global Imams Council, comprised of Muslim religious leaders from all denominations, adopted the IHRA definition. Even the sports world has begun adopting it. Recently, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the Biden administration “enthusiastically embraces” the IHRA definition, including the examples of antisemitism that relate to Israel. Yet strangely, the Feinstein Center has made the decision to feature only two speakers tonight, both of whom will undoubtedly be critical of the definition. Kenneth Stern has been a vocal opponent, falsely and outrageously claiming that “rightwing Jewish groups” like the ZOA will use the IHRA definition to “hunt political speech with which they disagree, and threaten to bring legal cases” under a federal law called Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Title VI protects Jews – as well as other ethnic and racial groups – from ethnic and racial harassment and discrimination at federally funded programs. But Title VI has been – and must be – enforced consistent with the First Amendment. It cannot be used to silence criticism of Israel. Stern doesn’t just oppose using the IHRA definition so that schools and other societal institutions will better understand how antisemitism is expressed today. He denies it now, but Stern also criticized the policy that finally afforded Jewish students the protections of Title VI, which the ZOA fought long and hard for. He made the same free speech claims he is making now. Stern claims to appreciate that “antisemitism is a real issue.” Yet he repeatedly looks to disparage effective tools to identify and combat antisemitism, as he surely will do tonight. Joyce Ajlouny, the other speaker who will be featured at this evening’s program, is the general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an organization that claims to be committed to peace, justice and inclusivity, but is in fact notoriously hostile to Israel. The AFSC falsely claims that Israel occupies “the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem,” when in fact, most Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria are controlled by the Palestinian Authority, Gazans are controlled by the U.S-recognized terrorist group Hamas, and there is no such entity as “East Jerusalem” but rather the city of Jerusalem that Israel unified in 1967. The AFSC also promotes the so-called “right of return” which would, if implemented, mean the end of the Jewish State of Israel. Ajlouny herself has falsely accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing.” And as detailed in a recent excellent article by Moshe Phillips criticizing the Feinstein Center for sponsoring this evening’s program, Ajlouny headed a school in Ramallah that featured supporters of the anti-Israel and antisemitic BDS movement and a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. Stern and Ajlouny are entitled to their views. But given the Feinstein Center’s purported commitment to “inspiring inquiry,” it is difficult to understand how that mission will be served by a program that presents a singular point of view. If you share our concerns, we urge you to contact Lisa Corwin Berman, the Center’s director, to let her know. Please ask her why the Feinstein Center is sponsoring a program promoting one point of view – and one that is hostile to Israel and potentially harmful to American Jews. Ask her when the Feinstein Center plans to sponsor another program that presents an alternative view about the IHRA definition – that it is a critical tool to understand the many ways that antisemitism is expressed today, including when the antisemitism relates to Israel, so that all of us can more effectively fight this alarming and growing problem. As a leader in the fight against antisemtism, the ZOA would be pleased to help organize such a program. Thank you. Very truly yours, Morton A. Klein, National President Susan B. Tuchman, Esq., Director, Center for Law and Justice View the full letter as a pdf here. About Us News Videos ZOA Report Events Founded in 1897, ZOA played a key role in the Jewish State's re-establishment. Today, ZOA is the leading major American Jewish organization courageously defending Israel and the Jewish people; fighting against all forms of antisemitism, including anti-Jewish boycotts; and promoting the Jewish people's lawful right to live in and settle historic Jewish lands. ZOA exposes that a Palestinian state would endanger Israel's existence; presents the facts about the Arab/Islamic war against Israel; and combats the anti-Israel lie that Israel is an "occupier" of her own land. ZOA spearheaded long battles to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and apply civil rights protections to Jewish students. ZOA provides free legal assistance and programs to pro-Israel students at numerous college campuses. ZOA's bold, unapologetic voice has a significant impact on public discourse and policy. DONATE NOW Copyright © Zionist Organization of America 2021, All rights reserved. Zionist Organization of America | 633 Third Ave, 31 B, New York, NY 10017 Unsubscribe
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