ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA NEWS RELEASE   ZOA Appeals NJ Agency Decision Dismissing Ethics Complaint Against Israel-Bashing School Board Members Zionist Organization of America National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement: The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is representing Elisabeth Schwartz in her case against two members of the Clifton, New Jersey school board, alleging that they violated New Jersey’s School Ethics Act. In May 2021 – when Israel was fighting a defensive war against the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza and there was a consequent rise in antisemitism in the U.S., particularly in New Jersey – the two school board members deliberately and purposefully used their official podiums to make false and incendiary antisemitic statements attacking Israel during the “commissioner comments” portion of the school board’s virtual meeting, thereby compromising the public’s trust in the board, in violation of the law. The board members falsely accused Israel of “oppressing the Palestinian people” and “ethnic cleansing,” and of being an “apartheid” and “colonialist” state. One of the board members falsely claimed that U.S. police forces were going to Israel to learn “abusive tactics” that they were bringing back to American communities, and he effectively blamed Israel for the death of George Floyd. In September 2021, Elisabeth Schwartz filed a complaint against the two board members with the New Jersey School Ethics Commission (“Commission”), alleging that they violated the School Ethics Act. From personal experience, Ms. Schwartz understood how hatred of Israel can fuel hatred of Jews. She is the aunt of Ezra Schwartz, the 18-year-old Jewish American student who was murdered in a Palestinian Arab terrorist attack in 2018. In January 2022, the Commission granted the board members’ motion to dismiss and summarily dismissed Ms. Schwartz’s complaint without holding a hearing. Ms. Schwartz had the right to appeal the dismissal decision to the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, and reached out to the ZOA for help. The ZOA appealed the Commission’s dismissal decision, filing its initial brief with the Appellate Division on May 23, 2022. On August 8, 2022, the ZOA filed a reply brief responding to the arguments made by the two school board members in their brief. Both ZOA briefs explain why the Commission’s decision was wrong and must be reversed. Under the School Ethics Act, school board members are prohibited from taking action beyond the scope of their duties and responsibilities that potentially compromise the Board. Yet that is precisely what the two school board members did. Each of them delivered inflammatory antisemitic speeches attacking Israel that had nothing to do with their Board responsibilities. Compounding their violation of the law, the board members each failed to make it clear before they launched their anti-Israel, antisemitic attacks that they were expressing their personal opinions only and were not speaking on the board’s behalf. As a result, they potentially compromised the public’s trust and confidence in the board, particularly among Jewish members of the Clifton community.   Read More   Share This Email In Case You Missed It... You can find information on more of President Biden's appointments HERE. 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 2022, All rights reserved. Zionist Organization of America | 633 Third Ave, 31 B, New York, NY 10017 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]