Why are Anti-Israel Groups in the Israel Day Parade?

By Richard Allen, INN

Why are Jewish groups that attempt to inflict economic damage on Israelis through BDS and blacken Israel’s image given a place in the Israel Day Parade? They have crossed a line, why are we letting them get away with it?

 

The Celebrate Israel Parade on June 3rd is a joyous event for the New York Jewish community, when we demonstrate our love and support of Israel. So why are organizations dedicated to destroying Israel’s economy through boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) being given the privilege of marching with us?

 

One of these groups is openly organizing a boycott against targeted Israeli companies, including Ahava Cosmetics.  Others have supported the infamous Goldstone Report, and funded organizations that urged Norway to divest from Israel.

 

At the center of the controversy is the New Israel Fund (NIF), which was granted permission to march in last year’s parade. Other extremist groups marched with NIF, displaying their individual banners, including B’Tselem, Partners for Progressive Israel and Rabbis for Human Rights. This year, New Israel Fund is slated to march again, and we expect B’Tselem and the other groups will once again join NIF, displaying their banners.

 

New Israel Fund has been exposed as receiving funds from the European Union, which seeks to influence internal Israeli politics through a front organization. NIF, in turn, funds numerous Israeli NGOs (non-governmental organizations), some of which promote boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

 

For instance, five grantees of the New Israel Fund (Machsom Watch,Coalition of Women for PeaceWomen Against Violence, Social TV, and Mossawa) signed a letter to the Norwegian Government Pension Fund, urging it to divest from Israel.

 

Partners for Progressive Israel (also known as Meretz USA) prominently displays on its website, under the heading “boycott these Settlement products sold in the US, “a list of Israeli products that it wants Jews to boycott. These products include Ahava cosmetics, SodaStream products, and wine from nine Israeli vineyards.

 

And the chair of B’Tselem’s board, Oren Yiftachel, has publicly called for “effective sanctions” against Israel.  B’Tselem is a major grantee of the New Israel Fund.

 

As a result of public controversy, the New Israel Fund issued a statement in 2010 opposing BDS.  However, despite this stated policy change, NIF continues to fund groups that have a history of working for anti-Israel global BDS campaigns.

 

We who count ourselves among Israel’s true supporters believe that Jewish groups that organize for the economic destruction of other Jews should not be given the honor of marching with our community. Furthermore, we must be mindful of the example we set for our children.  Do we teach them that it’s acceptable to try to harm other Jews and weaken Israel?

 

In light of this unacceptable decision on the part of the parade organizers, I formed the Committee for a Pro-Israel Parade, along with several community-minded members.  Our goal is to inform the parade organizers that the Jewish community rejects the participation of these groups, and to ask them to withdraw their acceptance.

 

As word has spread about the participation of the New Israel Fund in the parade, many prominent leaders, rabbis, and organizations have added their name to our cause.  We are proud to acknowledge the support of Ron Carner, President of Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel, Rabbi Allen Schwartz of Congregation Ohab Zedek, Rabbi Lisa Malik, PhD of Temple Beth Ahm, Rabbi Jonathan Glass of Civic Center Synagogue, Rabbi David Algaze of Havurat Yisrael, Rabbi Steven Axelman of Whitestone Hebrew Centre, Rabbi Ari Jacobson, Young Israel of Monsey/Wesley Hills, Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, and many other outstanding community leaders.

 

When Jewish groups hear that organizations linked to the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions movement are permitted to march in the parade, they’re astounded and puzzled.  Why would the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), which officially organizes the parade, permit such anti-Israel organizations to participate?

 

I believe the answer may lie in the political ideology of John Ruskay, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York. Dr. Ruskay exerts significant influence on the JCRC through his organization’s funding.  Published reports show John Ruskay worked with Noam Chomsky in one of the first political bash Israel groups; CONAME (Committee On New Alternatives in The Middle East).  John Ruskay also gave over one million dollars of UJA-Federation donations to a radical political group, funded by George Soros, Jewish Funds for Justice.

 

The issue is clear: Jews who actively work to economically sabotage Israel should not be included in the Celebrate Israel Parade. We ask that you join us in making your views known to the Jewish Community Relations Council and the UJA-Federation New York.

 

Richard Allen

The writer is a prominent New York business executive and an outspoken supporter of Israel. He is the founder of JCC Watch, an NGO established to monitor interaction between American Jewish organizations, and groups that support boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel.

May 11, 2012 | 9 Comments »

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9 Comments / 9 Comments

  1. @ babara:

    babara your a phony and fraud. I thought Ted took out the trash.

    Your mother should wash your mouth out with soap. Fels naptha suggested.

  2. @ Laura:

    For your information, the left has just infiltrated the Israeli administration. Kadimah has been invited to join the government with an agenda of negotiating with Hamas and immediate establishment of a Pal state. Kadimah further wishes to have the borders of this future state similar to that of 1968. Compared to Bibi, this is a very radical policy

  3. Because Israel and the US are democracies. We always need to defend our ideals and be in charge of the Jewish organizations.

  4. @ Laura:

    I said the other day that we must beat the left at its own game by infiltrating their organizations with the eventual goal of taking them over or destroying them from within.

    Yes, however you need to have a good constitution to stomach these radicals. Better still make sure they are not invited to the parade.

  5. We don’t have enough trouble from the goyem? We need to fight
    the Jews as well? God just loves to keep testing us.

  6. The left operates by infiltrating decent organizations and eventually taking them over until they are unrecognizable and become the complete opposite of what they started out as. Eventually the pro-Israel day parade will turn into an anti-Israel parade. These organizations must be barred from participating.

    I said the other day that we must beat the left at its own game by infiltrating their organizations with the eventual goal of taking them over or destroying them from within.

  7. Here, below, is the specific request for ACTION, and (afterward) the Committee Members making the request — as offerred on Mr Allen’s website:

    PUBLIC CAMPAIGN – CALL OR WRITE TODAY

    Tell John Ruskay and Jerry Levin of the UJA-Federation of New York:

    NOT ONE DIME

    to Legitimize the De-Legitimizers of Israel!

    STOP groups that work to Delegitimize Israel from Hijacking the Israel Parade!

    Call and write the board of the UJA-Federation of New York.

    Tell the UJA-Federation you do NOT want your Jewish Charity Dollars going to support John Ruskay’s Political Agenda. Call.

    Email the UJA-Federation Board: President Jerry W. Levin: JWLevin@JWLevinPartners.com

    Email the Jewish Community Relations Council Board: Rabbi Michael Miller, MillerM@JCRCNY.org or call.

    Committe For a Pro-Israel Parade

    H. Fragman Abramson, National Confrence on Jewish Affairs (NCJA)

    Richard Allen, Founder of JCCWatch.org

    Rabbi Steven Axelman, Whitestone Hebrew Centre

    Dr. Marvin Belsky, Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam

    Ron Carner, President, Maccabi USA/ Sports for Israel

    Helen Freedman, Executive Director, Americans for a Safe Israel

    Beth Gilinsky, Executive Director, National Confrence on Jewish Affairs

    Eli H. Hertz, Founder “Myths and Facts”

    Stuart Kaufman, The United West

    Rabbi Eluzer (Eli) Kowalsky, Pro-Israel Activist

    Lori Lowenthal Marcus, President, Z Street

    Shera Nusbaum, National Conference of Jewish Affairs

    Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills

    Rabbi Allen Schwartz, Congregation Ohab Zedek