THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND THE PEACE PROCESS
A Chronology
Marshall Windmiller
Professor Emeritus of International Relations
San Francisco State University
Introduction
Back in the eighties I began to devote more time than usual to trying
to understand the peace process in the Middle East. I had friends who were
active in the liberal group “Friends of Peace Now,” and were worried
about the trend of events. I subscribed to the Northern California Jewish
Bulletin, and began to pay more attention to the attitudes of the American
Jewish community toward Israel and the Arab world. I started a collection
of clippings including one on the pro-Israel Lobby in the United States.
Over the years this file has become very large. Recently I decided to
survey the collection, and put it in order. Seen together, these clippings
made a much more powerful impression on me than they had when I read each
of them individually for the first time. I decided to summarize them in
a chronology.
More than any other, one article in the Jewish Bulletin prompted me
to do this. It was an account of the contest for the presidency of the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO)
This is arguably the most powerful aggregation of Jewish leaders in the
country, possibly in the world. According to the Jewish Bulletin, the cardinal
rule of the Conference is: “unequivocal support for every Israeli government.”
Every Israeli government? No matter what?
Is such an unequivocal commitment of loyalty to a foreign government
what the leaders of the American Jewish Community really believe and support?
American Jews deeply resent being accused of “dual loyalty”. But then,
how is one to interpret statements like this from such a representative
organization?
Criticism of Israel is the third rail of American politics, journalism,
and scholarship. Touch it and one may become labeled an anti-Semite with
unpleasant personal and professional consequences. Because of this, Israel
is generally immune from serious criticism in the American mass media,
and in the halls of Congress. How often does one hear about the Israeli
violations of international law or resolutions of the United Nations.
The reason for this is that the Israeli government has at its disposal
a powerful American apparatus of support that is able to influence or intimidate
anyone who may speak or act in opposition to Israeli policies. It is an
apparatus that is nurtured by Israel in a variety of ways. The Israeli
government sponsors visits to Israel by journalists, opinion leaders, and
politicians. Taking the long view, it funds visits to Israel by high school
students in order to indoctrinate them at an early age with loyalty to
Israel, and to encourage them to develop personal relationships with Israelis
which may be useful to Israel in the future.
All of this is documented in the chronology
which follows. I think it leads to certain conclusions:
First, this support apparatus is responsible for the inability
of the US government to play an impartial mediator’s role in the Palestine
conflict. The US partiality toward Israel has prevented the emergence of
a fair solution which could be acceptable to all the parties.
Second, American Jews are significant actors in the diplomacy
of the Middle East. The actions of their leaders can determine the success
or failure of the peace process.
Third, so long as leaders of the American Jewish community continue
to give their “unequivocal support” to every Israeli government the US
government cannot act effectively through diplomacy in the Middle East.
Fourth, the key to peace in the Middle
East is, therefore, in the hands of the American Jewish community, and
not in Israel nor in Palestine.
This chronology is not exhaustive, and a considerable amount of
relevant material has not been included. For example, to keep the listings
to a reasonable length, I have left out the extraordinary, on-going efforts
by segments of the Jewish community to secure the release from prison of
the American traitor and Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard.
What is here, however, I think speaks for itself and supports
the above conclusions.
It must be said, though it should be obvious,
that the Jewish community is not monolithic, and one cannot generalize
about all its members. Not all Jews are Zionists. Not all Zionists support
all of the policies of the Israeli governments. Many oppose Israeli policies.
Similarly, not all critics of Israel are anti-Semites, though
some undoubtedly are. In discussing a conflict so fraught with danger to
the entire world as that between Jews and Arabs, reasonable men and women
of good will will be careful in the way they may disagree about the complicated
politics of the Middle East. I hope this chronology will stimulate
reflection rather than inflame passions.
It is true that there are those in the Arab world that want to
destroy the state of Israel and drive the Jews out of the Middle East.
They must be opposed by all fair minded people. The continued existence
of Israel must be supported and guaranteed by the United States and the
United Nations. Its future boundaries and the governance of Jerusalem must
be determined by diplomacy. Violence by any of the parties to the dispute
only makes a fair and peaceful settlement more difficult and unlikely.
Arabs and Jews are condemned by history and geography to live together.
They must both learn to accept this and to share what needs to be shared.
Note:
JTA is the Jewish Telegraph Agency, a news service.
JB and NCJB both refer to the Jewish Bulletin published in San Francisco.
NYT is the New York Times.
SFX is the San Francisco Examiner
and SFC is the Chronicle.
AIPAC is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. ADL is the Anti-Defamation
League.
8-8-01
ISRAEL LOBBY CHRONOLOGY
Originally prepared July 2001 Updated 12-14-01)
August 16, 1984
STUDY REVEALS POWER OF ISRAELI LOBBY
Edward Roeder, editor of Sunshine News Service, releases a study
identifying at least 54 political action committees that mustered more
than $4.25 million to influence the 1984 elections in favor of policies,
appropriations and congressional candidates that support Israel. The news
service specializes in campaign finance. The study was based on interviews
with or documents obtained from officials of the committees. The
study shows that these committees have contributed to campaigns in 29 of
the 33 Senate elections this year, and to every state except Utah and Idaho.
(NYT 8-16-84)
May 25, 1985
CONGRESSMAN LEVINE DEFENDS NO NEGOTIATIONS AMENDMENT
In a letter to the LA Times, Rep. Mel Levine defends his authorship
of an amendment banning negotiations between US officials and the PLO.
The PLO, he says, is dedicated to terrorism and Israel's destruction. Levine
says "I introduced my amendment in response to reports last year that an
intermediary of the Reagan administration had conducted 50 secret meetings
for a total of more than 400 hours with Yasser Arafat, the head of the
PLO." (LA Times 5-25-85)
November 16, 1986
JCRC SPONSORS STUDENT PRO-ISRAEL CONFAB IN SAN FRANCISCO
The Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the
Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma sponsors a conference of 100 students, faculty
and Hillel directors from 11 Northern California college campuses to deal
with issues regarding Israel. The theme of the conference was articulated
by Prof. William "Zev" Brinner of the Department of Middle Eastern Studies
at UC Berkeley. He said that the fundamental aim of the anti-Israel forces
on campuses and elsewhere was "to de-legitimize Israel. The message is
'Israel has no right to exist.' The current attacks are not against Israel
alone, but on us, every one of us." Rabbi Gary Greenebaum of San Francisco
State Hillel said: "Arab organizations and groups are making a stand on
the campuses. The challenge is for us to separate this Palestinian point
of view from other progressive views in making coalitions and furthering
the causes in which we are interested." (NCJB 11-21-86)
April 29, 1987
KEMP INTRODUCES ANTI-PLO LEGISLATIONS
Congressman Jack Kemp introduces HR 2211 which would make it
illegal "within or without the United States, to aid, abet, provide services
or act at the behest or direction of the PLO." Violators would be fined
and imprisoned for up to five years. (Palestine Human Rights Newsletter,
June-July 1987, p.4)
May 14, 1987
LEGISLATION WOULD CLOSE PLO OFFICES IN US
Senator Charles Grassly (D-Iowa) introduces S.1203 which would
force the closing of PLO offices in New York and Washington. Rep. Jack
Kemp, who had earlier introduced a more radical bill, immediately introduces
the Grassly bill in the House and receives approximately 30 co-sponsors.
(Palestine Human Rights Newsletter, June-July 1987, p. 4)
November 7, 1987
NATION MAGAZINE CONTROVERSY REGARDING CAMERA
The Nation magazine publishes a letter from Win Meiselman, President
of CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting) attacking a
book review by Robert Friedman. Friedman's reply links CAMERA to
Meir Kahane's policies to deport Israel's Arabs and to AIPAC and ADL.
(Nation 11-7-87)
December 25, 1987
JEWS SUPPORT ISRAEL IN MEETING AT STATE DEPARTMENT
Morris Abram, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations, led a delegation of about 24 Jews to complain
to the State Department about Reagan administration criticism of Israeli
use of gunfire against Arab demonstrators on the West Bank and Gaza. They
met with Deputy Secretary of State John C. Whitehead. The State Department
has appealed to Israel to use non-deadly methods of riot control rather
than the bullets that killed at least 21 Palestinians during two weeks
of demonstrations. The delegation objected to the statement by White House
spokesman Marlin Fitzwater in which he said: "Both sides share a responsibility
for this violence. Demonstrations and riots on one side, and harsh security
measures and excessive use of live ammunition on the other, cannot substitute
for a genuine dialogue." Abram said, "We are satisfied that they're using
the least force they can." (David Shipler, NYT 12-25-87)
December 29, 1987
SENATOR INOUYE SECURES MILLIONS FOR JEWISH SCHOOL IN FRANCE
Senator Daniel Inouye has persuaded colleagues to appropriate
$8-million to build Jewish schools in France despite the opposition of
the US State Department. The money will go to Ozar Hatorah, a non-profit
New York organization that intends to build schools for North African Jews
living in Paris. One of the backers of the project is Zev Wolfson, a New
York real estate developer who gave Inouye $1,000 for his 1985 primary
campaign. The school offers a standard French curriculum as well as Jewish
studies.
Following the above revelations, Inouye
led the Senate in rescinding the funds and prompted a New York Times investigation
of Ozar Hatorah. "The group's secrecy...fueled speculation that it was
more than merely an educational institution." Ozar Hatorah occupies an
unmarked room behind electronically locked doors [at 1 East 33rd St.].
It is not listed alphabetically in the building directory. The group's
secrecy appears to stem from nothing more ominous than its status as a
group of wealthy philanthropists who operate out of their vest pockets,
with little need for a telephone listing or mailing address. " (AP
in SFC 12-29-87; Martin Tolchin, NYT 3-3-88.)
May 1, 1988
STATE DEMOCRATS REJECT PRO-PALESTINIAN PLATFORM PLANK
Executive Board of the California State Democratic Party vote
by a 4 to 1 ratio to reject a pro-Palestinian amendment to its longtime
pro-Israel platform. The amendment called for "a policy which supports
the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and statehood in the
West Bank and Gaza district." Democratic leaders across the state joined
in opposing the pro-Palestinian measure. They include Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy,
Sen. Alan Cranston, state Attorney General John Van De Kamp, and state
Controller Gray Davis. Even Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis
sent a message opposing the amendment. (Peggy Isaak Gluck, NCJB 5-6-88)
October 7, 1988
SAN FRANCISCO CONGRESSWOMEN OPPOSE PRO-PALESTINE PROPOSITION
Representatives Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi oppose San Francisco
Ballot Proposition W which calls on the US government to back the creation
of a Palestinian state. Boxer called the measure a "tremendous mistake"
and an "act of arrogance." Pelosi said, "It's a simplistic solution
to a tragic problem and the result of centuries of conflict. To think that
by putting this on the ballot is going to bring us any closer to its resolution
is naive." (NCJB 10-7-88)
October 6, 1989
SAN FRANCISCO JEWS SUPPORT ISRAELI MILITARY
The San Francisco section of The Friends of the Israeli Defense
Forces runs an ad in the Jewish Bulletin calling for donations to aid Israeli
soldiers saying: "We are the US tax-exempt, non-political organization
dedicated to serving the human needs of Israel's soldiers by providing
for their social, recreational and educational needs.." (JB 10-6-89)
January 12, 1989
COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST AIPAC
Former Under Secretary of State George Ball; former Ambassador
to Saudi Arabia James Akins; and former Illinois Congressman Paul Findley
file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission charging AIPAC with
failing to register as a political action committee. The complainants charge
that the registration was necessary because AIPAC coordinates 27 pro-Israel
political action committees around the country. [See commission ruling
Dec. 21, 1990] (AP in NYT 12-22-90)
September 1, 1989
JEWISH LEADERS LAUNCH ATTACK ON KQED
Forty-five Jewish community leaders launch an Ad Hoc Committee
for Responsible Media with a full page ad in the Northern California Jewish
Bulletin calling on Jews to protest KQED's decision to broadcast the documentary
Days of Rage, a film they allege is pro-Palestinian propaganda. The ad
asserts "KQED has disregarded all criticism and is determined to show the
film. The station would never air such a distorted view of any other ethnic
group; it does so about Jews because we haven't spoken up." The ad urges
readers to write to the KQED board of directors and particularly to those
members who are Jews and "tell them that you rely on public television
to uphold high standards of journalism and that this film is a disgrace.
If you are a KQED contributor, let the board know that such programming
could cause you to withdraw your support." (NCJB 9-1-89)
February 23, 1990
CNN YIELDS TO ADL AND REMOVES ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT
CNN reassigns Robert Wiener, its Israel bureau chief, after ADL
supported a complaint by Professor Israel Gutman of Hebrew University of
Jerusalem that CNN distorted an interview he had given. The complaint "charged
that the interview implied Gutman likened a decision by the West Bank town
of Ariel to have Arab day laborers wear yellow ID tags to the yellow star
of David forced on Jews by the Nazis." ADL also objected to CNN's coverage
of the intifada, and for broadcasting reports of alleged Israeli brutality.
(JTA in NCJB 2-23-90)
October 19, 1990
ZIONIST STUDENTS PROTEST PRO-PALESTINE TALK
Twenty San Francisco State Students attend as a group a teach-in
organized by the General Union of Palestine Students protesting that only
one side of the Middle East conflict is being presented. Initially they
are denied entry with the signs they carry. With the signs taped to the
back of their T-shirts, they are admitted. One of the signs reads: "Anti-Zionism
= Anti-Semitism.” (Peggy Isaak Gluck, NCJB 10-19-90)
December 21, 1990
ELECTION COMMISSION CLEARS AIPAC OF CHARGES
In a decision reached last year but not released until today,
the Federal Elections Commission voted unanimously to dismiss the complaint
filed by former Under Secretary of State George Ball et al which alleges
that AIPAC should have registered as a political action committee as required
by law. The commission "concludes that there is insufficient evidence
to indicate that AIPAC and the respondent PAC's are affiliated." In response
to a separate complaint that remains unresolved, the Ball group contends
that AIPAC has made targets of political candidates, either backing them
or opposing them in accordance with their positions on Israel, through
such means as a "black book" containing vital information on every Senate
and House race. AIPAC argues that such activities are internal communications
with its 55,000 members and are protected by Supreme Court rulings. [See
item Jan. 12, 1989] (AP in NYT 12-22-90)
December 21, 1990
JEWS CREATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ORGANIZATION
Jewish Democrats form the National Jewish Democratic Council
with Cleveland industrialist, Morton Mandel, as chairman. Mandel is the
former president of the Council of Jewish Federations. The organizations
will encourage Jewish candidates on all levels of government and will press
for the appointment of Jews to prominent campaign positions and on the
staffs of office holders. Former assistant to President Jimmy Carter, Stuart
Eizenstat, says the Council will "fight with vigor and determination any
effort within the party to diminish our nation's ties to Israel and our
party's historic championing of Israel's security." The Republicans already
have a similar organization called the National Jewish Coalition which
was formed to support Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign.
(NCJB 12-21-90)
January 4, 1991
BART REMOVES POSTER ADS UNDER PRESSURE
Under pressure from the ACLU, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) has
decided to put back up pro-Palestinian subway ads paid for by the Berkeley-based
Peace Network and apparently taken down under pressure. The ads called
for a stop to American financing of the Israeli occupation of the West
Bank and Gaza. BART denies that it yielded to pressure either in putting
up the ads in the first place, or taking them down. The ad agency says
it had returned the $4,200 cost of the ads to the Peace Network. BART says
it took down the ads to protect public safety because individuals were
crossing the deadly third rail to deface them. The executive director of
the SF ADL called on the Jewish community to redouble efforts "to project
accurate information about the Israeli-Arab conflict.” The ads have not
yet gone up. (NCJB 1-4-91)
January 28, 1991
WALL STREET JOURNAL REVEALS PAC SUPPORT FOR GULF WAR
The Wall Street Journal reveals that the pro-Israel lobby worked
quietly to pressure Congress to pass the resolution authorizing the president
to commit troops to combat in the Persian Gulf. According to the
Journal, AIPAC "took pains to disguise its role." "The pressure to mobilize
pro-Israel forces on the Gulf issue came foremost from Rep. Stephen Solarz,
the [Bush] administration's chief Democratic ally in the House. Also important
was New York Republican Senator Alfonse D'Amato who is up for re-election
next year. "Sen. D'Amato lately has redoubled his efforts to show support
for Israel, making a high-profile appearance at its embassy two weekends
ago...." (WSJ 1-28-91)
February 1, 1991
JEWISH GROUP SAYS ANTI-WAR IS ANTI-ISRAEL
In a full-page ad in the Northern California Jewish Bulletin,
a group called Jews Loyal to Israel says that "Saddam and his enormous
war machine [must] be destroyed now...." The ad headline says: "Anti-War
is Anti-Israel." The organization describes itself as "a group of concerned
citizens who are devoted to rallying the public behind the war effort and
in support of Israel through newspaper ads, direct mail campaigns and seminars."
The chairman is Yaaqov Abrams, M.D. (NCJB 2-1-91)
April 19, 1991
ISRAELI IMMIGRANTS MOBILIZED IN LOS ANGELES
Israelis living in Los Angeles are being mobilized for political
action in America, according to The Jewish Journal. In March when Syria
was about to purchase long range missiles from Korea a pro-Israel phone
tree was organized which began with 38 Israeli families who were instructed
to call the White House and ask the president to oppose the missiles. Ultimately
738 families confirmed that they had called. The action was organized by
Isaac Shepher, who has lived in the United States for 25 years. He publishes
Hadshot LA, a Hebrew language weekly with 22,000 subscribers. He follows
guidance from AIPAC in activating his telephone tree. It is based on a
auto-dialing machine which can reach 10,000 Israeli families at the touch
of a button. The Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles now has
an Israeli Division. Estimates of the number of Israelis living in LA range
from 50,000 to 200,000. Until recently there was some concern in
the Jewish community about activating Israelis, fearing it might be seen
as condoning emigration. But when a "green light" came from Israeli Consul
General Ran Ronen attitudes changed. (Robert Eshman, The Jewish Journal
(Los Angeles) April 19, 1991)
April 26, 1991
UC PROFESSORS PROTEST CHOMSKY SPONSORS
Seventeen UC Berkeley professors send letter to a Palo Alto bookstore
accusing Bay Area bookstore owners of promoting anti-Israel propaganda
by co-sponsoring an appearance of Noam Chomsky with the Palo Alto-based
Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) whose director is Barbara Lubin.
The letter says "Lubin's organization speaks only when doing so furthers
the goals of Arafat and the PLO" and Chomsky "has been a defender of the
PLO even when it was carrying out murder missions against Jewish children.”
The letter writers are criticized by poet Allen Ginsberg who says, "those
guys ought to be ashamed of themselves." Chomsky says the professors "literally
don't want critical discussion of Israeli politics or a forum for Palestinian
rights since they know they can't deal with any of the arguments. The only
thing left for them is to try and intimidate the bookstores." (Garth
Wolkoff NCJB 11-15-91 Text of letter in Washington Report on Middle East
Affairs October 1991, p.24)
August 8, 1991
AIPAC SPONSORS BACK TO CAMPUS NIGHT
200 students representing 40 campuses meet at the San Francisco
Fairmont Hotel for AIPAC's Back to Campus Night. Keynote speaker Rep. Tom
Lantos says, "the first quality for succeeding as an American Jew on a
university campus is courage. Exhibit an awful lot of toughness. There
is no room for soft Jews in the 1990s. There is no room for silent Jews
in the 1990s." (NCJB 8-16-91)
August 8, 1991
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TOUR ISRAEL
Nancy Pelosi, Leon Panetta, George Miller and Charles Schumer
tour Israel as part of an Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith congressional
mission. Pelosi sits on the Appropriations Committee and Panetta chairs
the Budget Committee. Both are considered "very big" Israel supporters
according to a San Francisco AIPAC spokesman. ADL says it regularly pays
for members of Congress to tour Israel.(Garth Wolkoff, NCJB 9-6-91)
September 6, 1991
NEW PRO-ISRAEL PAC FORMED
Robert Bassin, a Washington political consultant, forms a new
pro-Israel PAC called ACTIONPAC. Its purpose is to recruit students and
young people to work in the campaigns of pro-Israel candidates. Bassin
served as an intern at AIPAC when he himself was a student. ACTIONPAC will
begin by selecting 10 graduating seniors, graduate students, or graduates
no more than three years out of college who have demonstrated pro-Israel
activism while on campus. In January 1992 they will go through an intensive
10-day campaign-training course. Following the training they will start
working as full-time staff members with campaigns of Democrats or Republicans.
The only criteria for selecting a campaign to support are that the candidate
be pro-Israel, and that he or she be in a close race against someone with
a poorer record on Israel. (David Friendman, JTA in NCJB 9-6-91
)
September 9,1991
SYNAGOGUES PROMOTE LOAN GUARANTEES FOR ISRAEL
Thousands of American synagogues from all branches of Judaism
will distribute literature over the high holidays asking their members
to lobby their congressmen in favor of Israel's request for $10 billion
in loan guarantees to help resettle Soviet Jews in Israel. David Saperstein,
director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, is directing
the campaign for the 850 Reform synagogues. He says: "I can't remember
another time in the last 10 years when there has been such enthusiasm for
an effort like this to help Israel." According to Newsday, the reason for
the intensity of feeling is the Bush administration's desire to seek a
pledge by the Israeli government to stop building new settlements in the
occupied territories in exchange for the guarantees." Prime Minister Yitzhak
Shamir has said such a pledge will never be made. (Newsday in SFC
9-9-91)
September 20, 1991
BUSH SENDS LETTER TO PLACATE AMERICAN JEWS
Alarmed by the hostile Jewish reaction to his criticism of the
Israeli lobby, President Bush sends a letter to Shoshana Cardin, chairwoman
of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
saying "my reference to lobbyists and powerful political forces were never
meant to be pejorative in any sense." President Bush is seeking to link
a restriction on future settlements in the occupied territories to a $10-billion
loan guarantee. The Israeli lobby opposes this linkage. (Andrew Rosenthal,
NYT 9-21-91.)
September 20, 1991
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS DEFEAT ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTION
At their convention in Anaheim, Republican members of the Resolutions
Committee defeat three resolutions they believe were slanted against Israel.
One opposed the granting to Israel of a $10-billion loan guarantee to settle
Soviet Jews. One urged self-determination for the Palestinians. And one
commended a speech by President Bush implying support for Palestinian rights.
Eight of the 67 members of the committee are members of AIPAC. Howard Klein,
chair of the Orange County AIPAC office, served as Vice chair of the committee.
(Tom Gugend and Garth Wolkoff, NCJB 9-20-91)
February 26, 1992
COMMITTEE OF FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RUNS PRO-ISRAEL AD
The Committee on US Interests in the Middle East runs a full-page
ad in the New York Times. The ad says: "We advocate support for a US policy
toward Israel that would—in contrast to current American policy—reflect
the traditional, strong American support for the legitimacy, security and
general well-being of the Jewish State: a proven, valuable, democratic
friend and ally of the United States." The ad opposes any US pressure on
Israel to make territorial concessions. Among the signers are Tony
Coelho, Leonard Garment, John Lehman, Jr., Elliot Abrams, Linda Chavez,
Frank Gaffney, Jr. Richard Perle and Eugene Rostow. (NYT 2-26092)
May 22, 1992
ZIONIST ELECTED BERKELEY STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
Concerned about "Israel Bashing" on the University of California,
Berkeley campus, Mark Yablonovich runs for student body president and wins.
"I was really fed up with a lot of Israel bashing on campus," he says.
He and his parents immigrated from the Soviet Union in 1976. After two
years at Berkeley he worked as an intern at AIPAC. "The main thing was
being with those people and seeing their level of commitment to Israel,"
he says. "I realized that I may disagree with some of the politics, but
that Israel is in a precarious position and, as Jews, we need to stand
behind it." Yablonovich will be an officer next year in the national Jewish
fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi. (Garth Wolkoff, JB 5-22-92)
May 29, 1992
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL REQUIRES HOLOCAUST STUDY IN SCHOOLS
The California Assembly passes 54-0 a bill that will force schools
to teach about the Holocaust. Currently Holocaust studies are optional;
this bill makes them mandatory and allows Jewish institutions to provide
schools with educational materials. The Holocaust Center of Northern California
and the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles already provide materials
to schools. (Garth Wolkoff, NCJB 5-29-92)
July 10, 1992
JEWS INFLUENCE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION PLATFORM COMMITTEE
Reflecting on her role on the platform committee of the Democratic
National Convention, San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg says that
the platform this year is more specific in its support for Israel than
in 1988. Stuart Eizenstat, former Jimmy Carter policy adviser, says there
has been a big change since before when a resolution supporting a Palestinian
state was allowed on the floor and supported by roughly one third of the
delegates. One observer of this year's drafting committee is quoted
as saying, "We looked around the table and we guffawed because it was a
scream just as to how many Jews were on the drafting committee."
(Cynthia Mann and Garth Wolkoff, NCJB 7-10-92)
July 17, 1992
ZIONISTS SQUELCH PRO-PALESTINE SENTIMENT AT DEMOCRAT CONVENTION
At the Democratic National Convention some delegates attempt
to display a banner reading "Palestinian Rights." Several Jewish delegates
stand in front of the banner to block it from television cameras. Jewish
delegates are very pleased with the strong pro-Israel plank in the party
platform. (Garth Wolkoff and Joan Ominsky, NCJB July 17, 1992.)
August 6, 1992
AIPAC'S ROTHMAN ADDRESSES STUDENTS ON POLITICAL ACTIVISM
John Rothman addresses an estimated 200 Bay Area students as
the keynote speaker at AIPAC's eighth annual Back to Campus night in the
Venetian Room of the Fairmont Hotel. He describes where each presidential
and congressional candidate stands on Israel issues. He says President
Bush has "a problem with American Jews." because of his position on loan
guarantees for Israel and his failure to accept Jerusalem as the united,
undivided capital of Israel. He credits Bill Clinton with pushing through
the most pro-Israel Democratic platform in the party's history. However,
he warned that "rhetoric in a campaign needs to be matched by action afterward.
We want our issues clearly understood. How a candidate feels about Israel
makes a difference. Israel is a bipartisan issue." He urges the students
to get active. "We are the best friend Israel has. You can make a difference."
Students are given AIPAC dossiers containing a list of resources available
to them, brochures about travel to Israel, and bumper stickers. (Tom
Jacobson, NCJB 8-14-92)
October 16, 1992
MORE SUPPORT FOR PRO-ISRAEL STUDENT ACTIVISM
The staff of Israel Community Outreach Project is being increased
from one to three. The organization was set up three years ago to support
and advise pro-Israel college student activists. The project is funded
by the Northern California Hillel Council, the JCRC and AIPAC. The project
"will arm students with tools for political organization, serve as a clearinghouse
for Israel-related speakers and exhibits that might be of interest to students,
and act as a liaison between professors, university administrators and
others who help determine the way Israel is presented academically."
(Leslie Katz, JB 10-16-92)
November 27, 1992
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK FOR ISRAELI BONDS
Zalman Shoval, Israel's ambassador to the US, will address the
1992 Israel Bonds Northern California community dinner December 8. George
Frankenstein, State of Israel Bonds general chair 1990-1991 will
be the guest of honor. Frankenstein is a vice President of AIPAC. Under
his leadership more than $31 million was invested in Israel. Since
its inception the Bonds organization has secured more than $12 billion
in investment capital for Israel. (JB 11-27-92)
February 5, 1993
HILLEL CALLS SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY ANTI-SEMITIC
Executives at the B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation regard San Francisco
State University as "notorious for having the most anti-Semitic climate
in the country." This is according to Marty Potrop, director of Hillel
on the SFSU campus. (Garth Wolkoff, JB 2-5-93)
February 19, 1993
STUDENTS RETURN FROM ISRAEL INSPIRED
Twenty-five Northern California students return from a three-week
Koret Foundation funded trip to Israel inspired and impressed by Israel.
Rabbi Dan Dorfman who led the tour explains that "the trip was a training
mission to learn firsthand the issues, and to improve their skills in campus
organizing." Students point to different highlights of the trip. "Several
cited workshops on the use of propaganda." When they applied to go on the
trip the students signed contracts pledging to bring back what they learned
to their campuses. (Leslie Katz, JB 2-19-93)
May 21, 1993
CLINTON NAMES A MILITANT ZIONIST TO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
President Clinton has named Berkeley resident Louise Stoll to
be assistant secretary of transportation for budget and programs. Stoll
is "well known for her outspoken right-wing political views on Israel and
for founding a Middle East media-watch group, the Israel Action Network."
She also has served on two national ADL and B'nai B'rith committees—legal
affairs and the Middle East. (Garth Wolkoff, JB 5-21-93)
June 6, 1993
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SCOLDS AIPAC
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest with AIPAC
for a statement made by Harvey Friedman while visiting Israel with an AIPAC
sponsored delegation from Florida. Friedman spoke out against any territorial
concessions in the peace talks. Friedman said: "Where does Rabin get the
chutzpah to give up territory?" The incident was portrayed as an AIPAC
statement, but according to Leonard Davis, director of AIPAC's Jerusalem
office, it was not. (JTA in JB 6-11-93)
July 16, 1993
KQED YIELDS TO PRESSURE TO AIR ISRAELI DOCUMENTARY
Yielding to pressure from the San Francisco Jewish Community
Relations Council, KQED has agreed to air Israel: A Nation is Born, with
Abba Eban: A Personal Witness. The decision follows a bitter dispute between
the station and Jewish community groups. Jerry Isaak-Shapiro, director
of the SF JCRC, led the fight. The documentary is five hours long , and
will be shown on five consecutive nights. Shapiro is compiling a study
of KQED's Middle East programming over the last eight years. He says preliminary
findings indicate "an overwhelming imbalance" of films and other segments
from an Arab or Palestinian perspective. He cites the documentary Days
of Rage as the worst example. Segments of the Jewish community became
outraged when KQED announced it would show the Eban film with other programming
on the Middle East. That caused the film's producer to withdraw the station’s
rights to his work, which he later reinstated. KQED broadcast a town meeting
hosted by journalist Barbara Simpson, and a Frontline episode called Journey
to the Occupied Lands. (David Miller, JB 6-16-93)
September 10, 1993
PRO ISRAEL PAC SEEKS YOUNGER MEMBERS
Northern Californians for Good Government is a pro-Israel PAC
formed twelve years ago under the name San Franciscans for Good Government.
President Larry Myers says the organization is making a concerted effort
to attract younger members. The organization is bi-partisan. Myers says,
"We have many ardent Republicans and Democrats who would support members
of the opposite party because of their pro-Israel positions. They
may not like certain things about their domestic policy, but the sole priority
is the support of candidates who support Israel. This is paramount." Membership
in the young leaders' division is $300. a year. Membership on the Board
costs $1,000. In the past contributions have been given to Senators Christopher
Dodd, Robert Packwood, John McCain, and Representatives Sidney Yates (D-Ill)
and Pat Williams (D-Mont). (Leslie Katz, JB 9-10-93)
December 7, 1993
JEWISH LEADERS OPPOSE PEACE PLAN
Leaders of Americans for a Safe Israel meet with Thomas Miller,
head of the Israel desk at the State Department. Herbert Zweibon, president,
says, "There is opposition within the Jewish community to the so-called
peace process, which is really more of a murder process." Raphael Rothstein
says, "Settlers' lives are not expendable in the name of an illusory peace
agreement with terrorists of the PLO." Recent polls show that most American
Jews back the peace process and the Rabin government's handling of it.
(Deborah Kalb and Steve Weiss, JTA in JB 12-10-93)
February 9, 1994
ZIONISTS FORCE STROBE TALBOTT TO RECANT
Jewish groups oppose the nomination of Strobe Talbott as Deputy
Secretary of State, and force him to recant an article he wrote for Time
Magazine in 1991 in which he said that American Jews "wield influence"
beyond their numbers. The article also criticized Israel for having bombed
the Iraqi nuclear reactor. It also said that Israel was "well on its way
to becoming not just a dubious asset but also a downright liability to
American security interests." Questioned by Senator Jesse Helms in his
confirmation hearing, Talbott says, "I certainly don't feel the way today
that I felt 13 years ago, on this or many other subjects that we might
discuss.... We have a special obligation for reasons not only rooted in
our moral obligation to Israel, but also rooted in our geopolitical interests,
to support the security of Israel...."
Opposition to Talbott was led by the
National Jewish Coalition, a Republican Group; the Zionist Organization
of America; the Jewish War Veterans of America; the Jewish Institute for
National Security Affairs. Other organizations while having some reservations,
did not oppose the nomination. They were AIPAC, ADL, American Jewish Congress,
the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Americans for Peace Now.
(Deborah Kalb, JTA in JB 2-11-94; Elaine Sciolino, NYT 2-4-94; Steven Greenhouse,
NYT 2-9-94.)
May, 1994
LIKUD AFFILIATE OPPOSES RABIN PALESTINE POLICY
Zionist Organization of America creates a bipartisan Congressional
"peace accord monitoring group" which, according to J.J. Goldberg, is a
Likud affiliate. He says, "Its apparent aim is to discredit Israel's Palestinian
negotiating partners by exposing Palestinian violations that Mr. Rabin
dismisses or ignores. The group numbers 15 Senators and 31 House members,
including such liberal Democrats as Charles Schumer, Nita Lowey and Eliot
Engel, all New York Representatives, and Senator Frank Lautenberg of New
Jersey." (J.J. Goldberg, NY Times Op-Ed, 7-2-94)
November 9, 1994
ZIONISTS CRITICIZE STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON PALESTINE
Leaders of American Jewish organizations criticize a State Department
report on the Palestinian Authority for failing to emphasize Arafat's failure
to root out terrorism. AIPAC president Steve Grossman expresses "disappointment"
with the findings saying "If the Israeli people, the American people and
Congress are going to have full faith in Arafat, then he needs to be more
assiduous and steadfast in his efforts." However, Grossman says AIPAC continues
to support American aid to the Palestinian Authority. Morton Klein, president
of the Zionist Organization of America, says, "The State Department has
ignored, minimized and whitewashed the PLO's numerous and serious violations.
The report is simply a farce that refuses to look truth in the eye." Klein
says that he plans to use the report and AIPAC's criticism of it as a rallying
cry against aid to the Palestinians. (Matthew Dorf, JTA in JB 11-9-94)
November 17, 1994
LIKUD MEMBERS LOBBY CONGRESS AGAINST RABIN POLICY
Ben Aharon, Yigal Carmon and Yoram Ettinger, three hard-line
members of Likud, are "engaging in clandestine lobbying" in Washington
for a ban on US troops policing the Golan Heights. This is "subversive"
of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's policy toward Syria. (Rowland Evans
and Robert Novak, SFC 11-17-94)
December 9, 1994
AIPAC DIRECTOR PRAISES GINGRICH SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
AIPAC executive director Neal Sher, speaking in the Bay Area,
praises Newt Gingrich for helping to line up votes for Israel's foreign
aid package. Gingrich led a group of freshmen Republicans on a trip to
Israel last year. "He's been a leader of Israeli issues," says Sher. "Congress
is really our bread and butter... Our main role is to make sure the US
stands behind Israel." This means ensuring that Israel continues to receive
its annual $3 billion foreign aid package. (Natalie Weinstein, JB
12-9-94)
December 9, 1994
SENATOR BIDEN URGES JEWS TO LOBBY CONGRESS MORE
Speaking in San Francisco and Oakland for AIPAC's membership
drive, Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del) urges Jews to spend more time educating
members of Congress about "the history of Zionism, the Jewish nation's
significance for Jews in light of the Holocaust and Israel's strategic
value to the United States." He said: "Be prepared to both convert and
be prepared to deal with those who are not converted.... Arabs make peace
with Israel only when they realize they can't drive a wedge between the
US and Israel. We cannot afford to publicly criticize Israel." He said
he would support sending US troops to patrol the Golan only if Israel concluded
that the physical reassurance was necessary. He said that the Palestinians
were not "complying fully" with the self-rule accord. (JB 12-9-94)
December 9, 1994
SENATOR BOXER VISITS ISRAEL WITH AIPAC MEMBERS
Senator Barbara Boxer returns from a ten day tour of Israel sponsored
by the American Israel Education Foundation, an arm of AIPAC that funds
educational trips to Israel. She was accompanied by about 13 members of
AIPAC. Boxer has visited Israel twice before although not since her election
to the Senate in 1992. (Leslie Katz, JB 12-9-94)
January 6, 1995
AIPAC LOBBYIST JOINS GINGRICH STAFF
Arne Christenson ends his two-year tenure as AIPAC legislative
director to join the staff of Newt Gingrich as a senior policy staffer.
"It's always good to have friends in high places," says Jason Isaacson,
director of the American Jewish Committee's Washington office.
(Matthew Dorf, JTA in JB 1-6-95)
February 24, 1995
JAC EXECUTIVE SPEAKS IN BAY AREA
Marcia Balonick, executive director of the Joint Action Committee
for Political Affairs, speaks in the Bay Area to stimulate support for
the local JAC chapter. JAC is a pro-Israel PAC which contributes funds
to candidates who support Israel. It is based in Highland Park, Illinois
and now has 3,000 members in 30 states. They pay at least $100. in annual
membership dues, and write a minimum of two $25. checks a year to congressional
candidates. To receive funds from JAC, candidates must also be pro-choice.
Originally a women's organization, it now has about 100 male members. The
organization contributes an average of $200,000 per election cycle.
(Leslie Katz, JB 2-24-95)
May 8, 1995
SENATOR DOLE SUPPORTS EMBASSY MOVE TO JERUSALEM
Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole tells AIPAC banquet he will introduce
the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Implementation Act of 1995 this week.
The legislation would require the US to begin construction of an embassy
in Jerusalem by the end of 1996. (Lisa Holstein, JTA in JB
5-12-95)
May 19, 1995
SENATOR BOXER ENDORSES LEGISLATION TO MOVE EMBASSY
Barbara Boxer becomes a co-sponsor of Republican Senator Majority
Leader's bill to break ground on an American embassy in Jerusalem by December
1966. Senator Dianne Feinstein opposes the bill. (Natalie Weinstein,
JB 5-19-95)
May 26, 1995
ISRAELI COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER CRITICIZES AIPAC
In an interview carried on Jerusalem Channel 2TV in Hebrew, Communications
Minister Shulamit Aloni of the Meretz party says, "I believe AIPAC is a
disaster. I think it is a nuisance. It serves the domestic interests of
the United States and the Jewish community and not us. ")
June 19, 1995
RABBIS OPPOSE PEACE PROCESS AND ENDORSE ASSASSINATION
Rabbi Avraham Hecht, president of the Rabbinical Alliance of
America, says that handing over Israeli land and property, Israeli leaders
are betraying Jews to non-Jews, and such people should be killed before
they can perform the deed. Rabbi Aharon Soloveichik, is a leading
Talmudic authority at Yeshiva University and a member of the presidium
of the International Rabbinical Coalition for Israel. He says "we should
refrain from any violence, even verbal violence." (Larry Yudelson,
JTA JB 6-23-95)
July 14, 1995
JEWISH ACTIVISTS DISAGREE ON JERUSALEM STRATEGY
In an article in the Jewish Bulletin, Hyman Bookbinder, a founder
of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), says "I would never
be, and never will be, willing to subordinate Jewish interests to Democratic
Party interests.” He is responding to criticism of the failure of NJDC
to support legislation to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
(JB 7-14-95)
August 8, 1995
ZIONIST BECOMES CHAIR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Natalie Berg is elected chair of the San Francisco Democratic
Party. "Berg has made it her mission to counter challenges to Israel where
her son and six of her eight grandchildren live.... Together with AIPAC
and Jewish Democratic Party activists, Berg helped organize Democrats for
Israel, a group of both Jewish and non-Jewish activists committed to a
strong US-Israel relationship and Middle East peace." Berg, age 60, is
Dean of the School of Health and Physical Education at City College on
San Francisco. She helped found the city's Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic
Club. She also serves on the boards of AIPAC, the SF Jewish Community Relations
Council, and Jewish Vocational Service. (Leslie Katz, JB August
8, 1995)
November 28, 1995
YITZHAK SHAMIR SUPPORTS THE ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA
Speaking before about 700 guests at the national annual dinner
of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) former Israeli Prime Minister
Yitzhak Shamir says that the government of Yitzhak Rabin should be replaced
with a "Zionist government." He urged the dinner guests to "fight against
the creation of a Palestinian state which will take as its central goal
the destruction of the Jewish state. The majority of the Israeli public
wholeheartedly supports the activities of ZOA led by Mort Klein." He called
"deviations from the essence of Zionism" the willingness of the current
government to discuss the status of Jerusalem, its willingness to give
up land on the Golan Heights, its transfer of some security responsibilities
to the Palestinian Authority, and its failure not to rule out the prospect
of an independent Palestinian state. (Cynthia Mann, JTA JB 11-3-95)
February 2, 1996
STATE SENATOR SUPPORTS LIKUD
California State Senator Quentin Kopp, who has just returned
from the fourth Conference for Jewish Ministers and Members of Parliament
in Israel, says he is pro-Likud. Kopp sides with his right-wing Israeli
relatives. (Joe Berkofsky, JB 2-9-96)
February 16, 1996
RIGHTIST CHRISTIANS SUPPORT ISRAEL
Richard Hellman, founder and president of Christians' Israel
Public Action Campaign (CIPAC), says "We think it's unwise to give up land
for peace - especially in Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan. He says support
of Israel is a "scriptural mandate" and quotes biblical passages in support
of this. CIPAC was founded in 1989 and Hellman has expressed these views
in briefings to Congress. He lived in Israel for seven years. As an attorney
he was invited by the Israeli government to work as an environmental lawyer
in 1976. He helped create a Ministry of Environment, and returned to the
US in 1983 "committed to education and mobilization to support a safe and
secure Israel—our best friend and ally in the Middle East.” (Lesley
Pearl, JB 2-16-96)
April 19, 1996
SENATOR TOM HARKIN SPEAKS TO NCGG
Senator Tom Harkin addresses about 100 people at a Lafayette
reception organized by the Northern Californians for Good Government, a
non-partisan pro-Israel political action committee. As a member of the
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Harkin has been
instrumental in obtaining foreign aid for Israel including $650-million
in emergency assistance to offset the Scud damage inflicted in the Gulf
War and aid in resettling Soviet immigrants. He said, "I will not let you
down on my commitment and my support for a strong, safe, free Israel."
(Ronnie Caplane, JB 4-19-96)
September 6, 1996
SURVEY SHOWS MOST US JEWS SUPPORT NETANYAHU POLICIES
A survey of 1,260 American Jews is released by the Israel Policy
Forum established in 1993. The survey shows that 85% of American Jews have
confidence that Prime Minister Netanyahu will continue the peace process,
although more than half say they would have voted for Shimon Peres. Forty-nine
percent opposed building new Jewish settlements while 41% supported it.
(Cynthia Mann, JTA in JB 9-6-96)
October 2, 1996
ADL FULL-PAGE AD BLAMES VIOLENCE ON PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
In a full-page ad in the New York Times ADL says the recent violence
in Jerusalem was not due to the controversial tunnel but to inflammatory
disinformation spread by the Palestinian Authority. (NYT 10-2-96)
October 25, 1996
JEWISH PAC MONEY GOES MOSTLY TO DEMOCRATS
JTA reports on Jewish PAC money. As of October 1 Jewish PACs
had contributed $1.3-million directly to candidates of both parties. Morris
Amitay, is founder and treasurer of Washington PAC which has distributed
about $120,000 to congressional candidates. He says that they look for
people on important committees with seniority who have been consistent
supporters of Israel. According to JTA, millions more dollars flow from
individual Jewish donors to candidates, and contributions to parties. Another
pro-Israel PAC is National PAC (NATPAC). It is the only pro-Israel PAC
that favors Republicans. Nearly two thirds of its $300,000 total contributions
goes to Republicans. (Daniel Kurtzman, JTA in JB 10-26-96)
February 21, 1997
AIPAC PRESIDENT TO HEAD DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Steve Grossman resigns as chairman of the board of AIPAC to become
national chairman of the Democratic National Committee. When he was elected
president of AIPAC in 1992 he had at that time resigned as Chairman of
the Massachusetts Democratic Party. (Matthew Dorf, JTA JB 2-21-97)
July 25, 1997
MARTIN INDYK TO BE TOP MIDDLE EAST POLICY MAKER
Martin Indyk has been named to be the State Department's top
policy maker. Previously he has been the senior director for Middle East
affairs in the National Security Council and ambassador to Israel. The
appointment is opposed by Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization
of America and by Uzi Landau, chair of the Israeli Knesset Foreign Affairs
and Defense Committee for allegedly pressuring members of the government
and interfering in Israel's internal affairs. (Michael Shapiro, Washington
Jewish Week in JB 7-25-97)
August 19, 1997
ISRAELI CONSUL ATTENDS REGULAR AIPAC MEETINGS
The tour of duty in San Francisco of consul general Nimrod Barkan
ends on August 19. AIPAC regional director Naomi Lauter says that he has
kept his promise to attend every single AIPAC meeting, and discussed the
US-Israel relationship with her daily. (Joseph Berkofsky, JB
8-8-97)
August 8, 1997
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND LEADER RESIGNS
Stanley Bresh resigns as regional executive director of the Jewish
National Fund to pursue personal business interests "which he prefers to
keep under wraps for now." The JNF is a 96-year-old Zionist organization
which raises money for tree planting, housing sites for new immigrants
to Israel, cleaning rivers and building reservoirs. Bresh says his work
kept him in daily touch with Israel where he had lived for nearly a decade.
"I just fell in love with Israel," he says. Last year a JNF appointed panel
found that only about one-fifth of the approximately $30-million JNF raises
annually goes to Israel. The rest stays in the US for what JNF calls "Zionist
education" and "Israel-based programs." (Leslie Katz, JB 8-8-97)
January 16, 1998
ISRAELI LOBBYISTS HOST WASHINGTON SENATOR
Northern Californians for Good Government is a "non-partisan,
single-issue political action committee devoted to forging US-Israel ties."
It is hosting fund raising events for US Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
who is visiting San Francisco. "Murray affirms a heartfelt connection to
Israel and Jewish interests. She began to understand the importance of
supporting Israel during a Washington AIPAC-sponsored trip to the Holy
Land, she said in an interview." (Lori Eppstein, JB 1-16-98)
January 17, 1998
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM VETOES ARAFAT VISIT
The Washington Post reveals that Yasir Arafat has canceled plans
to visit the Washington Holocaust Museum because the museum officials refused
to treat it as a state visit. The visit had been suggested by the US State
Department whose spokesman, James Rubin, said "We routinely encourage world
leaders to visit the museum. And we think it is particularly important
for Chairman Arafat to visit a place which demonstrates the horrors of
the Holocaust." Miles Lerman, chairman of the Holocaust Memorial Council
said that Arafat was free to tour the museum like any other visitor but
would receive no special treatment. He said the museum objected to treating
Mr. Arafat like a head of state and holding a special ceremony for him.
Arafat is not a head of state, but is accorded similar honors by the US
government in the Middle East peace negotiations. (David Rosenbaum,
NYT 1-18-98)
January 18, 1998
NETANYAHU TO MEET WITH US CONSERVATIVES
Israelis release the schedule for Prime Minister Netanyahu's
meetings in Washington. He intends to devote a considerable part of his
two and a half day visit to meetings with Republican congressional conservatives
and with Christian fundamentalist groups. Upon arrival his first meeting
is with the Christian Coalition founded by Pat Robertson and later with
Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority. He will also be
interviewed by Pat Robertson on his Christian Broadcasting Network, and
by conservative columnist Cal Thomas. He will also meet with Speaker Newt
Gingrich and Senator Jesse Helms. (Serge Schmemann, NYT 1-19-98)
January 19, 1998
NETANYAHU MOBILIZES US CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
Arriving in the US, Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu goes directly
to a conference of Voices United for Israel and hears the Rev. Jerry Falwell
describe him as the "Ronald Reagan of Israel." "I love democracy, and Israel
is the only true democracy in the Middle East," said Falwell. Netanyahu
also attends a meeting of American Jewish groups with President Clinton,
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and National Security Adviser Samuel
Berger. According to Malcolm Hoenlein, President of the Conference of Presidents
of Major American Jewish Organizations, Clinton tells the group that "his
commitment to Israel is unshakable and that he can work with Netanyahu.
Hoenlein says Clinton likes Netanyahu and does not intend to "put him in
a pressure cooker." (Steven Erlanger, NYT 1-20-98)
January 26, 1998
ZIONISTS RUN FULL PAGE AD IN NEW YORK TIMES
The Zionist Organization of America headed by Morton Klein runs
a full page ad in the New York Times with quotes linking Yasir Arafat to
Iraq. The ad asks readers to "urge President Clinton to pressure Arafat,
an enemy of the US, not Israel, a friend of the US!" (NYT 1-26-98)
March 24, 1998
JEWISH INSTITUTE RUNS AD IN NEW YORK TIMES
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs runs a full-page
ad in the New York Times saying "Only the Israel Defense Forces can decide
which terrain and deployment areas will make Israel defensible. The US
must continue to be a facilitator in the peace process, but it cannot impose
solutions on Israel." (NYT 3-24-98)
April 3, 1998
CLINTON URGED TO KEEP PALESTINE PEACE PLAN PRIVATE
Letters are circulating in the House and Senate urging President
Clinton not to make his peace plan that Israel opposes public. The letters
have already been signed by three quarters of the Senate and a quarter
of the House. Making it public would leave Arafat with "very little incentive
to negotiate," says the House letter. The Senate letter urges Clinton to
"quietly urge the Palestinians to accept Israel's latest offer and move
to final status negotiations.." Joseph Lieberman (D:CT) and Connie Mack
(R: FL) are co-sponsors of the Senate letter.
The letters were after Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright urged American Jews to stop "portraying us as
if we are shoving something down Israel's throat." AIPAC sent out an action
alert on March 26 urging Jewish activists to line up congressional support
for the Mack-Lieberman letter. The Israeli government also engaged
in intense lobbying. The Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish Organizations did not endorse the Senate letter, but thanked the
senators for standing up for Israel and sent its own letter to Clinton
accepting his assurances that there will be no plan or effort to "second-guess
Israel's security." (Steve Erlanger, NYT 4-3-98; Matthew Dorf,
JTA in JB 4-10-98.)
April 10, 1998
BAY AREA JEWS SIGN ISRAEL SOLIDARITY STATEMENT
The Jewish Bulletin reports on a meeting of about 25 Bay Area
rabbis and Jewish community leaders at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco.
Consul General Daniel Shek asks them to sign a Statement of Solidarity
with Israel which is being distributed to more than 3,500 synagogues in
the US. The campaign was launched in the Israeli Knesset on February 10
as part of Israel's 50th Anniversary celebrations. (Sarah Coleman,
JB 4-10-98)
May 6, 1998
GINGRICH ACCUSES CLINTON OF BLACKMAILING ISRAELIS
House Speaker Newt Gingrich says at a news conference that the
White House is trying to blackmail Israel by pushing it toward the negotiating
table. "It's become the Clinton Administration and Arafat against Israel."
Representative Bill Paxon (R:NY) says the administration stand is "nothing
short of extortion." Paxon is one of the authors of a letter signed by
a majority of the House's 435 members which says that Israel should not
accept the White House's withdrawal plan. (Tim Weiner, NYT 5-7-98)
May 17, 1998
NETANYAHU OPPOSES CLINTON PEACE PLAN
Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu addresses 2000 cheering delegates
to the AIPAC conference in Washington. He rejects the latest Clinton peace
proposal saying, "All successive American administrations have agreed with
us that it is Israel and Israel alone that must determine its security
needs, and Israel and Israel alone that must determine its redeployment."
The US was proposing a further 13 percent withdrawal from the West Bank
in exchange for a series of Palestinian steps to crack down on terrorism."
(Matthew Dorf, JTA in JB 5-22-98)
May 22, 1998
AIPAC OPPOSES PRESSURE ON ISRAEL REGARDING PEACE
Meeting this week in Washington AIPAC's policy conference opposed
any effort by the Clinton administration to pressure Israel in the peace
process. Howard Kohr, AIPAC's executive director, says, "Public pressure
on Israel is counterproductive because it doesn't work, it hurts the cause
of peace and it undermines the essential pillars of the peace process.
Israel cannot be seen as yielding to pressure....” Prime Minister
Netanyahu urges the pro-Israel community to help make the case to members
of Congress that the Palestinians are not in compliance with their accords
with Israel and that only Israel can determine its security interests.
(Daniel Kurtzman, JTA in JB 5-22-98)
June 6, 1998
ALUMOT SUPPORTS JEWS WHO RETURN FROM ISRAEL
The Jewish Bulletin of San Francisco reports on a gathering of
members of Alumot, an organization started in the Bay Area in September,
1996. Alumot, a national organization, was started by Livnot, a Jewish
education center in Israel. The purpose of the organization is to help
Jews who have been living in Israel readjust to life in America and to
keep in touch with each other. Emily Swaab, a religious-school teacher
says, "It's a community with a deep connection to the profound experience
we all shared in Israel." Sarah Horowitz, Jewish Bulletin 6-26-98)
August 20, 1998
AIPAC HOLDS BACK-TO-CAMPUS EVENT IN SAN FRANCISCO
More than 100 students attend AIPAC's 14th annual Back-to-Campus
event in San Francisco. Rabbi Alan Lew tells them "Our lives are intimately,
deeply, inevitably, inextricably together with Israel." He tells how his
family ran guns to Israel when he was a child. (Joshua Schuster,
Jewish Bulletin, 8-21-98)
August 23, 1998
MILLIONAIRE ISRAELI SUPPORTER IN CONTROVERSY OVER HOUSE
Ira Rennert, millionaire Israeli supporter, is opposed by neighbors
in Sagaponack, NY where he plans to build a house with 29 bedrooms and
39 bathrooms on grounds that the structure is too big to harmonize with
the neighborhood. Rennert, 63, is an Orthodox Jew who is said to be a supporter
of the career of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He contributed to the
construction of the controversial archaeological tunnel under the Muslim
and Jewish shrines in Jerusalem that precipitated riots in 1996 when 70
people died. (James Gross in NYT in SFX 8-23-98)
September 4, 1998
KORET FOUNDATION TEEN TRIPS TO ISRAEL
Sandra Edwards, Associate Executive Director of the San Francisco
based Koret Foundation, says that visits to Israel make it more likely
that teen age Jews will make marriage to other Jews more important.
(Sandra Edwards letter to JB 9-4-98)
November 16, 1998
FREE TRIPS TO ISRAEL JEWISH YOUTH
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces plan to finance a
ten day trip to Israel for any Jew in the world between the ages of 15
and 26. The plan called Birthright Israel will cost $300-million, and will
be financed by the Israeli government, American Jewish donors, and the
Council of Jewish Federations. Major North American contributors are Michael
H. Steinhardt, a Wall Street money manager, and Charles Bronfman, co-chairman
of the Seagram Company. Steinhardt says that Israel is the cement that
can bind the Jewish community together. "It is my hope that over time...the
Birthright trip can develop into a tradition analogous to that of the Bar
or Bat Mitzvah. Our hope is that a trip to Israel will be another rite
of passage of Jewish life." The idea for Birthright originated with Jossi
Beilin, a former cabinet minister and member of the Knesset. (Laurie
Goodstein, NYT 11-16-01)
November 26, 1998
JEWISH GROUP SPONSORS ISRAEL VISIT OF TEXAS GOVERNOR BUSH
Texas governor George W. Bush is scheduled to depart for Israel
today for a week's visit sponsored by the National Jewish Coalition, a
Republican group. (JTA in JB 11-27-98)
January 1, 1999
HOUSE SPEAKER HASTERT HAS PRO-ISRAEL RECORD
JTA reports that Chuck Brooks, executive director of National
PAC, the largest pro-Israel political action committee, says Dennis Hastert
has a 100 percent voting record on pro-Israel issues. Hastert has visited
Israel on three separate trips with AIPAC and ADL.. (Daniel Kurtzman,
JTA in JB 1-1-99)
January 24, 1999
MURDOCH ACKNOWLEDGES PRO-ISRAEL BIAS
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch tells 400 Los Angles supporters of
the Jerusalem College of Technology: "I have been accused of being too
pro-Israel and too pro-Jewish, to which I plead guilty as charged.... For
50 years, my companies have taken a strong, even strident, position in
support of Israel. Our commitment to Israel and its people is unyielding
[and] I believe in Israel's future and high-technology achievements." Murdoch
owns New Digital Systems Ltd., a company specializing in encryption of
high security electronic data. Its research and development arm is based
in Jerusalem. (Tom Gugend, JTA in www.jta.org.)
July 8,1999
GEBHARDT YIELDS TO JEWISH PRESSURE OVER ARAB NOMINEE
Yielding to protests from Jewish organizations, House Minority
Leader Richard Gebhardt withdraws his appointment of an American Muslim
leader to a Congressional counterterrorism commission. The nominee was
Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council
in Los Angeles. Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization
of America, says Al-Marayati "has justified Arab terrorism against Israel.
He's justified future terrorism against America. He's compared America's
behavior to Sadam Hussein's behavior. He's compared Islamic terrorists
to the American soldiers of the American revolution." Klein's group
has also called for Al-Marayati's wife to be removed from her post on the
Commission on International Religious Freedom. Al-Marayati has numerous
supporters in Los Angeles including Rabbi Alfred Wolf, Rabbi Leonard Beerman,
and Gene Lichtgenstein, editor of the Jewish Journal. (Laurie
Goodstein, NYT 7-9-99)
February 9, 2000
JEWISH ORGANIZATION ALLEGES CIA PROFILING OF JEWS
JTA reports that Agudath Israel, a leading Jewish Orthodox organization,
has called on CIA Director George Tenet to publicly disassociate the agency
from allegations that the CIA believes religious Jews are recruited to
spy in the United States. Adam Ciralsky, a former CIA attorney, has
charged that the agency subjected him to ethnic profiling and suspected
him of spying for Israel. (JTA on jta.virtualjerusalem.com)
July 5, 2000
CLINTON RECEIVES JEWISH DELEGATION REGARDING IRAN SPIES
President Clinton receives a delegation of relatives of Iranian
Jews charged with espionage in Iran. The delegation is led by Malcolm I.
Hoenlein, executive chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish Organizations. After the meeting an administration official says
"the president said that he is fully committed to do all he can to pressure
for their release." (Marc Lacey, NYT 7-6-00)
September 10, 2000
AIPAC HOLDS CONFERENCE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
AIPAC holds a conference in San Francisco attended by 500. Rob
Bassin, AIPAC National Political Director says AIPAC is currently meeting
with every candidate that has even a slim chance of being elected to serve
in Washington this year and asking them to issue an Israel position paper
"so we can know where they stand." Rep. Howard Berman (D-LA) speaks
as does former congressman Mel Levine who is co-chair of Al Gore's Middle
East advisory committee. Attendees are overwhelmingly Democrats and
for Gore. (JB 9-15-00)
December 7, 2000
ADL URGES PARDON OF BILLIONAIRE FUGITIVE MARC RICH
ADL chairman Abraham Foxman writes President Clinton requesting
a pardon for fugitive billionaire Marc Rich. Many prominent Israelis also
urge a pardon. During a period of 16 years, Rich donated $250,000 to ADL.
(Michael Jordan, JTA in JB 3-30-01)
December 12, 2000
INTIFADA WORRIES ISRAEL BOUND STUDENTS
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that some college groups have
decided not to send students to Israel under project "Birthright Israel"
this year because of the ongoing violence. However, other campuses are
not deterred and have waiting lists totaling 17,000 people for this travel
funded by the Israeli government. Hillel, which had planned to bring 4,000
students from North America, is now expected to sponsor between 3,300 and
3,500. )
January 30, 2001
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE RUNS AD IN NEW YORK TIMES
The American Jewish Committee runs an ad on the op-ed page of
the New York Times describing how Jews were forced to flee Arab countries.
A chart shows the decline of the Jewish populations in Arab countries in
1948 and 2001. The ad says: "Arab and Palestinian leaders now seek to accomplish
through migration what periodic wars could not: the destruction of the
Jewish state. They propose to open up Israel's borders to millions of Palestinian
Arab refugees and their descendants." (NYT 1-30-01)
March 16, 2001
CONGRESSMEN ASK PRESIDENT TO REVIEW RELATIONS WITH PALESTINE
Congressmen Henry Hyde and Tom Lantos, Chairman and Ranking Democratic
Member of the Committee on International Relations circulate a letter to
be sent to President Bush calling for a reassessment of US relations with
Palestine and the designation of Palestinian groups as terrorist organizations
under US law. (Access G2 3-22-01)
March 23, 2001
ADL DEFENDS LOBBYING FOR PARDON OF BILLIONAIRE MARC RICH
Abraham Foxman, National Director of ADL, calls a press conference
to explain his organization's lobbying for the pardon of billionaire fugitive
Marc Rich and to deny that Rich's contributions to ADL had anything to
do with it. Rich had given $250,000 over a period of 16 years. The most
recent contribution for $100,000 was received in February 2000. Rich fled
the US in 1983 to avoid a trial on charges of racketeering and evading
$48 million in taxes. Foxman says Rich’s donations were a "drop in the
bucket, considering that the organization's annual budget is about $50
million." (Michael Jordan, JTA in JB 3-30-01)
April 27, 2001
JEWISH ORGANIZATION PLEDGES SUPPORT TO ANY ISRAELI GOVERNMENT
Controversy over the proposed new chairman of the Conference
of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO) reinforces
"the cardinal rule of the Conference: unequivocal support for every Israeli
government." Mel Salberg, past Conference chairman and chair of the nominating
committee, says that the committee's nominee, Mortimer Zuckerman, publisher
of US News & World Report, and The New York Daily News "like every
candidate, pledged his unequivocal support for any democratically elected
Israeli government." (Michael Jordan, JTA, JB 4-27-01)
May 28, 2001
FORTUNE MAGAZINE LIST OF LOBBYISTS
The Fortune list of lobbyists, called the "Washington Power 25,"
shows AIPAC as the fourth most powerful, the same as the previous year.
(Fortune May 28, 2001)
June 20, 2001
US FUNDS ISRAEL FIGHTER PURCHASE
Israeli air force orders more than 50 F-16 fighter jets from
Lockheed Martin. The purchase will be financed largely by American military
aid. The planes will be delivered between 2006 and 2009 after completion
of an earlier order for 50 of the same aircraft placed in 1999. (William
Orne, NYT 6-20-01)
June 25, 2001
FULL- PAGE AD CALLS FOR JEWISH CONVERGENCE IN JERUSALEM
The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles runs a full-page ad in the
New York Times “on behalf of its 400,000 constituents.” It urges
Prime Minister Sharon “to convene a world conference of solidarity with
Israel, summoning thousands of Jews and friends from all over the world
to come to Jerusalem.” The ad coincides with the arrival of Sharon
in Washington, DC for a meeting with President Bush. It is signed by, among
others, Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Gray Davis of California, Gov. George
Ryan of Illinois, Governor George Pataki of New York, Senator Dianne Feinstein,
Senator Charles Schumer, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor-elect James Hahn
of Los Angeles, Mayor Alex Penelas of Miami Dade, Mayor Richard Riordan
of Los Angeles and Arnold Schwarzenegger of Los Angeles. It announces updates
will be shown on its web page: www.wiesenthal.com.
June 29, 2001
ADL SURVEY INDICATES PRO-ISRAEL SLANT OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS
A survey of the largest daily newspapers in the US by the Anti-Defamation
League reveals that an overwhelming number of them support Israel and criticize
the Palestinian Authority on their editorial pages. “Our survey shows that
the editorial boards of the major newspapers across the country are viewing
the situation in the Middle East in a realistic and objective manner,”
said ADL national chairman Glen Tobias and ADL national director Abraham
Foxman in a statement. The survey was based on more than 50 editorials
from major US newspapers between May 22 and June 18, 2001. (JTA in JB 6-29-01)
July 19, 2001
CONGRESSMAN PROPOSES PALESTINE AID CUTOFF
The Temple Mount Preservation Act, with bipartisan support, is introduced
by U.S. Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Virginia). Cantor explains that the
bill calls upon the U.S. to cut off all aid to the Palestinian Authority
until the Moslem Waqf stops its destructive activities on the Temple Mount.
At stake for the PA is $125 million in aid this coming year, part of a
$400-million, three-year package appropriated by Congress last year, and
another $75 million in indirect annual aid to the Palestinians. (Arutz
Sheva News Service 7-20-01)
July 24, 2001
HOUSE PASSES ANTI-PALESTINE LEGISLATION
The US House of Representatives approves a bill calling for sanctions
against the Palestine Authority, if it "fails to honor" a CIA-brokered
ceasefire.The $15.2 billion foreign aid bill, passed by the House by 381
votes to 46, contains language that requires President George W. Bush to
determine whether the PLO is taking steps to curb violence. If he cannot
make such a determination, he must either close the Palestinian information
office in Washington, or designate the PLO, or one of its constituent groups,
a terrorist organization, or limit assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.
(AFP 7-25-01)
August 9, 2001
US OPPOSES CRITICISM OF ISRAEL AT WORLD RACISM CONFERENCE
Congressman Tom Lantos (Dem-CA) opposes the inclusion on the agenda
of the planned world conference on racism an item alleging Israeli racism
against Palestinians. “I don't think there is a single nation which comes
to the conference with clean hands," said Lantos, a member of the U.S.
negotiating team. “There clearly is an attempt by some to hijack the conference,"
he said. "They are trying to make the conference one to attack the state
of Israel." Lantos said that unless that language was dropped, he would
recommend to Secretary of State Colin Powell and President George W. Bush
that the government not participate in the conference. (International Herald
Tribune 8-10-01)
August 19, 2001
FULL PAGE AD IN NY TIMES ATTACKS NPR FOR BIASED COVERAGE
A full-page ad in the NY Times attacking National Public Radio (NPR)
is sponsored by CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting
in America). It accuses NPR of an anti-Israel bias in its coverage of the
Palestine conflict. It says "NPR distorts facts and refuses to correct
errors." It calls on readers to "suspend donations to Local NPR affiliates
and explain why." CAMARA's study of NPR is available at www.camera.org.
A second full-page ad is sponsored by the New York United Jewish Communities
and announces a solidarity rally for Israel to be held Sunday, September
23. The slogan is "Israel Now and Forever," and Elie Wiesel is the Honorary
Rally Chairman. Dozens of Jewish Organizations are listed as co-sponsors
including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
(NYT 8-19-01)
August 24, 2001
FULL PAGE AD IN NY TIMES CALLS ON UN TO CONDEMN ARAB TERRORISM
The Wiesenthal Center of Los Angeles places a full-page ad in the New
York Times criticizing the UN for failure to condemn Arab terrorism. The
ad states: “Sine 1967, the United Nations, led by 21 Arab States, has launched
over 1,000 one-sided anti-Israel resolutionsl, but has never once explicitly
condemned Arab terrorism against the Jewish state.” The ad asks for
signatures on a petition to the Security Council. (NYT 8-24-01)
November 16, 2001
89 SENATORS URGE BUSH NOT TO RESTRAIN ISRAELI RETALIATIONS
In a letter to President Bush, 89 Senators urge him not to prevent
Israel from retaliating fully against Palestinian violence and to express
his solidarity with Israel publicly. (NYT 11-17-01)
December 6, 2001
ADL PROTESTS ALLOWING MUSLIM GROUP TO TESTIFY AT HATE HEARING
At a San Jose hearing on hate crimes sponsored by State Assembly Member
Judy Chu, Jonathan Bernstein, Central Pacific regional director of ADL,
objected to the presence of representatives of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) because the organization has refused to recognize Hamas
and Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations and “has routinely defended
and apologized for their extremist activity.” Bernstein said that members
of the Jewish community consider an attack against Israel an attack against
Jews. CAIR was present because Chu had earlier refused ADL pressure not
to invite them. (JB 12-14-01)
December 10, 2001
JEWISH LEADERS LOBBY PRESIDENT BUSH
Leaders of the American Jewish community meet privately with President
Bush for 45 minutes in the White House. Among them are Howard Kohr, Executive
Director of AIPAC; Abraham Foxman, National Director of ADL; Morton Zuckerman,
publisher of the New York Daily News; and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice
chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
According to one of the participants, Bush said that the United States
was pushing its European allies to pressure Yasir Arafat to crack down
on terrorism. He also said that winning the war on terror means not only
getting rid of the Al Qaeda network, but also Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah
and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. According to one participant in the meeting,
Bush assured the group that the United States was telling Arab governments
that they needed to control their media. He specifically cited the 24-hour
Arab satellite TV channel. He said states like Iran and Libya needed to
be isolated, not coddled. Referring to President Bush’s approach, Malcolm
Hoenlein said, “This guy is totally committed. He gets it. He sees things
in clear terms – good and bad.” This meeting took place two days before
the Israeli cabinet decided to break security and diplomatic ties with
the Palestinian Authority calling Yasir Arafat “irrelevant.” (NYT 12-14-01)