A broad coalition of Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and other organizations working for justice and equity call on the API Council to reject the Jewish Community Relations Council’s “Outstanding Community Partner Award.”
Mainstream pro-Israel groups and politicians have made the Boston Mapping Project into a punching bag. Many are using the Mapping Project to bash the campaign targeting Israel with boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) and to affirm the center-right pro-Israel line that anti-Zionism is antisemitism. A group of Congress members even stated that the project was likely to result in “violent attacks by supporters of the BDS movement” against Jews and Jewish organizations. The FBI has met with Jewish groups in Boston and said it is “tracking” the project over these concerns.
By taking off on a nine-day junket to Israel, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin not only shirked his responsibilities to city residents, but also made a mockery of his own progressive pretensions and the city’s proud tradition of opposition to apartheid. Arreguin didn’t dare mention the trip on twitter, though others on the Israel lobby-sponsored junket said they “danced till our feet hurt.”
Israel lobbyist David Harris, who couldn’t explain why young Jews are turning against Israel, is finally leaving the American Jewish Committee. And Rabbi Michael Miller is leaving the JCRC because he knows he’s out of touch with the progressive movement in Jewish life.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t exactly clear about her position on Israel/Palestine during a live streamed conversation with the head of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s challenger, Antone Melton-Meaux, repeats talking points of pro-Israel lobbyists. And his willingness to do so has earned him a sizeable warchest, nearly $500,000.
Rep. Nita Lowey tells an Israel lobby group that she chose to chair a House subcommittee controlling foreign aid over a subcommittee controlling much larger funds for health care and education and child care because she went with her heart. Imagine a Congressperson saying they chose a committee because of love for Russia, what the fallout would be.
Donna Nevel, a leading activist in Jews Against Islamophobia, protests outside the Simon Wiesenthal Center.…