Los Angeles, CA – October 27, 2010 – The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is leading the Los Angeles Jewish community’s fight against growing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel as part of a national initiative launched by The Jewish Federations of North America – the Israel Action Network.
“We advocated for the creation of the Israel Action Network to protect Israel against a vicious campaign that seeks to isolate it internationally through boycotts, divestment and sanctions,” said Jay Sanderson, President of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. “Now, through the Network, as well as our extensive local work, our Los Angeles Jewish community can both meet urgent situations and develop long-term strategies to promote a fair and balanced understanding of Israel and Middle East issues.”
“Our Federation played a lead role nationally in the establishment of the Israel Action Network,” added Richard V. Sandler, Chairman of the Board, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. “Support for Israel and its people are at the core of our Federation’s mission. A strong and secure Israel is essential to the future of our community. Attempts to delegitimize Israel presents a serious and critical challenge that we need to confront and the Israel Action Network provides an important vehicle for such action.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is a lead sponsor of the Israel Action Network, a new initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) in cooperation with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). The Israel Acton Network, which will leverage existing advocacy resources and work collaboratively with other Israel advocacy organizations, is an around-the-clock, command-center-style project that will enable communities to proactively advocate for Israel while simultaneously defending Israel against assaults on its legitimacy. Staff in both North America and Israel will monitor constantly emerging trends and hotspots in anti-Israel activity, as well as aggressively respond to individuals and groups behind the delegitimization efforts.
The Israel Action Network is a response to a rising tide of strident anti-Israel initiatives in the United States and Canada including, among others incidents, calls for boycotts of the Toronto Film Festival because of its programs honoring Tel Aviv’s 100th Anniversary; calls for boycotts of Trader Joe’s Supermarkets because it carries Israeli goods; protests interrupting a California university speech by Israel’s U.S. Ambassador, Michael Oren; and attempts by members of the Presbyterian Church USA to divest assets in Israel.
“Our Federation’s highly successful response to the proposed Toronto film festival boycott, in conjunction with the Toronto Jewish Federation, helped generate wider support for a continental effort,” said Sanderson. “With the Israel Action Network, we now have the capabilities to proactively and aggressively mobilize our community to combat anti-Israel activists.”
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Based on Jewish values, The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles convenes and leads the community and leverages its resources to assure the continuity of the Jewish people, support a secure State of Israel, care for Jews in need here and abroad, and mobilize on issues of concern to the local community, all with our local, national, and international partners.