All articles tagged with #jewish leaders
Jewish leaders condemned a Sydney Morning Herald cartoon by Cathy Wilcox that depicted a conspiracy involving Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing it of promoting anti-Semitic tropes and hate, with the Zionist Federation of Australia comparing it to Nazi propaganda.
Over 1,000 rabbis and Jewish leaders worldwide have signed a letter urging Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, condemning the use of starvation as a weapon and calling for respect for innocent lives, while supporting Israel's fight against Hamas. The letter highlights a moral crisis within the Jewish community regarding the conduct of the war and the ethical implications of withholding aid, emphasizing the importance of compassion and responsibility.
President Trump faced criticism from Jewish leaders and advocacy groups for using the term 'Shylock' in a speech, which is considered an antisemitic trope, and claimed he was unaware of its offensive connotation.
Rabbis for Ceasefire, a group of Jewish leaders, organized protests and sit-ins across the United States to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They were joined by allies and members of Congress, including Representatives Cori Bush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ilhan Omar. The group aims to counter the conflation of critique of Israeli policies with antisemitism and emphasizes the importance of holding states accountable for human rights violations. They condemn the use of antisemitic rhetoric and the endangerment of Jewish lives in the name of protecting Israel.
US officials from the Biden administration met with American Jewish leaders to address the surge in antisemitic incidents on US campuses, particularly in the wake of tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups. The White House condemned any antisemitic threats or incidents and pledged to counter anti-Jewish actions and threats across the country. The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 400% spike in antisemitic incidents since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The Biden administration is taking action to combat the rise in antisemitic incidents, including ensuring campus law enforcement is engaged with state and local law enforcement. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is clarifying that certain forms of antisemitic and related discrimination are prohibited under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Over 75 American Jewish community leaders have signed an open letter urging US President Joe Biden to pursue a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia that includes measures advancing the prospects for a two-state solution and reversing the worrisome trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The letter calls for halting Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, increasing territorial sovereignty for Palestinians, and holding the Palestinian Authority accountable to reforms. The US has been seeking to broker a normalization deal, with Saudi Arabia requesting a major defense pact and arms deals with the US. The US normalization efforts are expected to be discussed in Biden's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli government has condemned Elon Musk's recent tweets accusing George Soros of trying to weaken human civilization as antisemitic. Jewish leaders have also criticized Musk's remarks, with one calling them "the Protocols of the Elders of Zion for the internet age." Musk defended his comments in a CNBC interview, citing freedom of speech, and laughed off the criticism. The Tesla and SpaceX founder has been criticized for his use of Twitter and his platform's lack of restrictions on hate speech.
Jewish leaders are criticizing the New York State Health Department for sending a truck with the message, "Polio is Spreading in Israel. Get Immunized Now" through Long Island neighborhoods, calling it an anti-Semitic trope. State Assemblyman Ari Brown complained that the ad smacks of "the Jews spreading disease." The Health Department has since removed the messaging and apologized for any offense caused, stating that they remain committed to serving New York's diverse communities and strongly condemn anti-Semitism.