ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

NEWS RELEASE

ZOA to Israel:

Approve Construction of Jewish Homes in Jerusalem Despite Biden’s Outrageous Interference With Israel’s Sovereign Decisions

Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:

This past week, the Biden administration – especially Secretary Blinken, U.S. Envoy Thomas-Greenfield, and a U.S. Embassy representative – ramped up the Biden administration’s unconscionable, insulting, bigoted interference with Israel’s sovereign decisions regarding approvals for building badly-needed Jewish homes on Jewish-owned land in Atarot, Jerusalem, and elsewhere.

Zoa Is Alarmed by Reports That Israel’s Leaders Seem to Be Bowing to These Outrageous U.S. Pressures: Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid even stated that the Israeli government “will make sure that [the Israeli government’s decision on Atarot housing] does not turn into a confrontation with the American government.” We urge Israel’s leaders to stand up for Israel’s sovereign rights; especially in Jerusalem, and especially at this time of record-breaking Aliyah into Israel in the face of worldwide antisemitism. Jews should not be left homeless to appease the Biden administration’s wrong-headed, dangerous, discriminatory policies towards Jewish communities and homes in the Jewish homeland.

Unfortunately, on December 6th, the Jerusalem District Committee suspended approval processes for these urgently-needed homes in Atarot, using the excuse of waiting for an environmental study, but most likely in response to the unconscionable Biden administration pressures. (If an environmental study is really needed, the proper procedure is to have the study take place simultaneously with moving the approval process forward.)

U.S. Embassy’s Outrageous Interference: Outrageously, according to our sources, U.S. Embassy political advisor Anat Ben Nun (a recent director of “Peace Now” – a far-left group that even supports anti-Israeli boycotts) appeared and participated at the Jerusalem District Committee housing meeting on December 6^th. It is an unheard of, new low for U.S. representatives to interfere with local housing approval decisions in this manner. This is just like a foreign country’s government sending its representatives to U.S. city local housing meetings to oppose building homes for Americans.

ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

2021 VIRTUAL SUPERSTAR GALA

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2021

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.

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