JINSA Condemns Decision by Presidents Conference to Politicize Anti-Iran Rally
Disinviting Gov. Palin Trivializes Bipartisan Intention of the Event, Declares JINSA in Letter to Conference Head Malcolm Hoenlein
(Washington, D.C.) - Tom Neumann, Executive Director of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), today sent a letter to Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, strongly opposing the decision by the Conference of Presidents to disinvite Gov. Palin to speak at a rally scheduled for Monday, September 22 to protest the appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations, and questioning why member organizations had not been consulted before this drastic action was taken.
Earlier this week, Sen. Clinton learned that Gov. Palin was also invited to speak at the rally and chose to withdraw her participation, essentially trivializing would have been a united, bipartisan demonstration of opposition to the Iranian government. Yesterday, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, under pressure from the Obama campaign, withdrew its invitation to Gov. Palin.
The text of Neumann’s letter follows:
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September 19, 2008
Dear Malcolm:
When I heard the disturbing news that the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations had allegedly chosen to disinvite vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, I was in a state of disbelief. I cannot and do not believe that you, the consummate professional, could have made such an inappropriate and foolhardy decision.
My first instinct was that, as a member of the Conference of Presidents, JINSA would disassociate itself from the rally to be held on Monday. Nothing, however, could be more important on the American agenda than preventing Ahmadinejad’s Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Therefore, we must remain united in opposition.
So while we cannot withdraw from the rally, we want to be very clear that we not only dissent from the decision to disinvite Governor Palin, but we condemn in no uncertain terms those within the Conference of Presidents who chose to impose their narrow partisan agenda on a very important undertaking.
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, as a member organization, was not consulted on the decision, as I’m sure was the case with many other members. I call for those who are responsible for this decision to step forward and speak in their own name and not hide behind the skirts of the Conference of Presidents. In disgracing themselves they disgrace us all.
Tom Neumann
Executive Director
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
For further information or to arrange an interview with Tom Neumann, JINSA Executive Director, contact Jim Colbert at 202-667-3900.
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian educational organization established in 1976 to educate the public on national and international security issues, including the importance of an effective U.S. defense capability and the key role of strategic allies, including Israel, to promote democratic values in the Middle East.
The world Jewish community is divided, forever shooting itself in the foot. This screw-up by the DNC is just the latest example.
Let me say something, that hasn’t been said for a while: THE STATE OF JEWS TODAY IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS IN THE 1930S. Act appropriately. Let me briefly outline what I see as parallels:
1. Israeli Jews. During the 1930s, Palestinian Jews were a minor part of world Jewry. They were opposed by the Arabs, who (understandably) wanted to keep them from becoming their rulers, and by the British who, like the Europeans et al today, bowed to Arab pressure primarily because of oil. Nothing has changed in the mechanics of things; only the scale has changed: Today, Israeli Jews are one of the two major segments of the Jewish people. The Israeli population has been augmented since the 1030s by immigrants from the Moslem World, from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, all of which have a wealth of historical memory of the expulsions, the Shoah and the gulags (as the earlier settlers had of the pogroms). I’m sad to say, that I think this has had little impact on the Jewish psyche in Israel: They are essentially ignorant of history, like most of the world.
2. American Jews. Their situation seems to have fundamentally changed. In the 1930s, most American Jews were first- and second- generation immigrants. They had one eye looking back, to Russia, Poland and Austria, and one eye looking forward to America. Today, American Jews see only America, in which they are immersed as no Jews in history have ever been immersed in their surrounding culture. They don’t just have gentile neighbors, but gentile TV sets and computers in their own homes; and they are outwardly identical in appearance to non-Jews. The closest parallel to the 1930s that I can draw, is the ASSIMILATED Jews of Germany, the ones who actually had converted to Christianity — because even among the Westernized Jews in pre-War Germany, it was possible to be “a Jew at home and a mensch outside”. In America, Jews are essentially Socialists at home, Socialists outside and Jews on Shabbat (sort of). When Hitler II comes to power here, though, they will simply be “Jews”; and they will be sent to the crematoria along with outspoken Christians.
3. East European Jews. A major factor in 1938. All dead now, in the “old country”. I suppose these would be the ultra-Orthodox in Israel, Brooklyn, Monsee and a few other places. They look the same, act the same and think the same as their pre-war counterparts. I just pity them, because they will have the same fate.
It’s easy for me to see, how the Jewish world is setting itself up to repeat the Shoah. When the “Never Again!” happens (I don’t think it’s a matter of “if” anymore), I guess the most important things to know are (1) your God and (2) your true friends. But the DNC? The ovens have already been measured out for them.
Shalom shalom.
Comment by BlandOatmeal — September 20, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
thanks goodness for tom neumann. let the word go out that hoenline and his cronies do NOT speak for nor represent the real jews of america. frickin’ kapos.
Comment by bugsy — September 21, 2008 @ 3:50 am
[...] The National Continuity Coordinator, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), without exercising directive authority, shall coordinate the development and [...]
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