Will Anti-Israel Groups Be Allowed in Israel Parade?
On June 3, the New York Jewish community will gather on Fifth Avenue for the Celebrate Israel Parade, and several groups that promote boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against the Jewish state will officially be marching.
The New Israel Fund is a non-governmental organization funded by such non-friends of Israel as the Ford Foundation and the European Union. According to NGO Monitor, New Israel Fund has given away more than $200 million to more than 800 organizations in Israel, including $40 million received from the Ford Foundation for “peace and social justice” programs. New Israel Fund’s grantees also include five Israeli groups that begged the Norwegian Government Pension Fund to divest from Israel (Machsom Watch, Coalition of Women for Peace, Women Against Violence, Social TV, and Mossawa).
New Israel Fund also funds B’Tselem, whose chairman, Oren Yiftachel, called for “effective sanctions” against Israel, and whose CEO, Jessica Montell, accused Israel of enforcing an apartheid “worse than apartheid in South Africa.” B’Tselem’s staff member Lizi Sagie resigned after writing: “Israel is proving its devotion to Nazi values. … Israel exploits the Holocaust to reap international benefits.“ She also claimed that Israel’s Memorial Day for its military is a “pornographic circus.”
B’Tselem was among the New Israel Fund grantees that helped create the infamous Goldstone Report, which falsely accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza — charges that author Richard Goldstone himself has now withdrawn.
Last year, the Israel Parade granted the New Israel Fund permission to march. They did, along with B’Tselem, Partners for Progressive Israel, and others.
The website for Partners for Progressive Israel (also known as Meretz USA) suggests readers “boycott … settlement products sold in the U.S.” They include a list of Israeli products to boycott, including Ahava cosmetics, SodaStream products, and wine from nine Israeli vineyards.
The Jewish Community Relations Council, which organizes the parade, wants these groups to march again. Pro-Israel activist Richard Allen is spearheading a campaign to evict New Israel Fund and its affiliates from this year’s parade. Says Allen:
Who’s going to march next year? Hamas?
…
The bottom line is that groups that promote boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel should not be allowed to march with the pro-Israel community. Jews who try to economically sabotage other Jews should not be in the parade.
When Jewish groups hear that the parade’s organizers have allowed these groups to march, they’re astounded and puzzled. How could this outrage be allowed to happen?
Allen believes that the problem starts with John Ruskay, CEO of the UJA Federation of New York. Allen’s research unearthed Ruskay’s early affiliation with Noam Chomsky in CONAME (Committee on New Alternatives in the Middle East), one of the first Israel-bashing political groups.
Ruskay’s radical past seems to influence his current priorities: he gave over one million dollars of UJA Federation donations to Jewish Funds for Justice, a far-left, George Soros-funded group which — in its own words — utilizes “a social change strategy developed by Saul Alinsky.”
Many leaders of the Jewish community have publicly endorsed Allen’s cause, including President of Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel Ron Carner and eight prominent rabbis.
I am very thankful to BDSrs. They have helped me to find Israeli products to purchase and guided me to some good investments (ie Caterpillar).
This week they targeted Wal Mart for carrying the Israeli product SodaStream. It is a really nifty product for making your own flavored sodas. I did not know it was Israeli until now so I will buy this one instead of another brand now that I know.
I was thinking of one anyway because I like fizzy drinks and soda water. Most commercial sodas are too sweet for me so this way I can make my own to taste. It is also very cost effective once you make the original purchase. The other benefit is cutting down on waste cans and bottles. You can get them at Bed Bath and Beyond, Amazon and a bunch of other places.
So this weekend I am going to buy one and maybe another to give to my daughter.
We didn’t know sodastream was from Israel when we bought it. My boys love it. Enjoy.
Thank you for spreading the words, both about the parade and John Ruskay. Regardless of whatever good works Mr. Ruskay has done in the past, he is far out of step with the broad Jewish Community (as is J Street) and has outlived his usefulness. It’s time for him to go and it’s up to members of the Jewish Community to make it happen. How? Notify the Board of UJA NY and tell them how you feel. If there’s a national Board, do likewise. If nothing happens, look up the largest donors to UJA and contact them. Paraphrasing Hillel said, “if I am not for myself, then who will be?” Silence is not an option.
Oren Yiftachel was prevented from publishing his works in a geography journal because he is/was an Israeli citizen. It is thus a pathetic spectacle to see him lead a boycott of Israel. Lets hope Israel revokes his citizenship and he becomes a member of the Iranian revolutionary guard.
“The bottom line is that groups that promote boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel should not be allowed to march with the pro-Israel community. Jews who try to economically sabotage other Jews should not be in the parade”
The words ( mentioned in this great article by Stella) also can apply to Jewish Federation funding of organizations such as the Olive Tree Initiative ( OTI) which sends American university students to meet with the enemies of Israel and the leaders of the BDS movement.
Jessica Montiel CEO of BTselem conducted one of the OTI tours. The Ford foundation has also been recognized as a funder.
See: http://www.Ha-Emet.com
Why won’t Jewish Federations sign a pledge not to support organizations or groups that are involved in BDS?
Here’s contact info for the parade organization: Celebrate Israel NY
I heard hezbollah will have a float in the parade featuring child killer/Nobel Peace Prize nominee Samir kuntar
This reminds me of the Anti-Christians that marched in the Christmas parade. Homos and Atheists, if you must know.
Thank you for uncloaking the sympathizers of BDS. We all need to speak up and take action to defend Israel against the onslaught before it is too late. BDS is our enemy, why give them a pass just because it is a lovely parade? They would rather the Jews march to their death.