vjp-global

http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/major-american-jewish-leader-changes-his-mind-about-israel ...And most depressing of all for me, is that I see no way out, no way forward which will reverse the current reality. Right wing control in Israel is stronger and more entrenched than ever. The establishment leadership in the American Jewish community is silent in the face of this dismal situation, and there are no recognizable trends that can move Israel out of this quagmire. So, sadly, after a life and career devoted to Jewish community and Israel, I conclude that in every important way Israel has failed to realize its promise for me. A noble experiment, but a failure. Poster by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://wunc.org/post/life-intersection-love-and-justice-meet-omid-safi#stream/0 In the past decade, Omid Safi has become one of the country's leading voices in discourse around Islam and Islamophobia. .. [listen to the podcast] Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/why-obamas-military-aid-israel-breaking-all-records The Obama administration is offering Israel "the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in US history," an American official has confirmed…An Israeli cabinet minister told Defense News that the Obama package would see US military aid jump to more than $40 billion over the 10-year period beginning in 2018, from the $30 billion in the program that began in 2008… Palestinian rights and lives have been the currency Obama has used to "compensate" Israel over the Iran deal… Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

  http://org.salsalabs.com/o/641/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19142 In the face of growing BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) campaigns in support of freedom, justice, and equality, Israel is offering actors, actresses, and directors nominated for an Academy Award this year a $55,000 all-expenses paid trip to Israel as part of its ongoing efforts to hide its violations of Palestinian rights. .. Posted by Judith Ferter, AIME member

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/dutch-students-intensify-campaign-academic-boycott-israel?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=f03dff9376-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e802a7602d-f03dff9376-290650941   Students for Justice in Palestine at VU University in Amsterdam stepped up their campaign for an academic boycott of Israel last week…   Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member  

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/josh-ruebner/congress-encouraging-us-states-combat-bds?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=f03dff9376-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e802a7602d-f03dff9376-290650941 Earlier this week, Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) introduced the "Combating BDS Act of 2016" ( S.2531 and H.R.4514 ), bills which seek to authorize state and local governments to divest assets from and prohibit investment in any entity that "engages in a commerce or investment-related boycott, divestment or sanctions activity targeting Israel." [Illinois and State legislatures in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana and New York are currently considering similar legislation..] Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://ahtribune.com/history/442-west-bank-two-state-solution.html   … Israelis who live on Palestinian land that was stolen in 1948 like to see themselves as authentic Israelis, good liberal minded people and God forbid they are not settlers. Settlers are those "other" Israelis who live on lands that were stolen from Palestinians in 1967. But what is the difference? All of Palestine was stolen by force, and with very few exceptions, all Israeli cities and towns, villages and farms were built on land that was stolen, which makes them all illegal settlements.  Once again the master of deceit is leading us all by the nose to see the world as Israel wants us to see it and there is no one to cry out: "the emperor has NO clothes!"…   Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://972mag.com/watch-israelis-and-palestinians-join-hands-to-say-no-to-occupation/116734/   For the third time in the past two months, Israeli and Palestinian activists march on West Bank checkpoint to call for an end to the ongoing violence. Over 200 Israelis and Palestinians marched on the Israeli army's "tunnels checkpoint" south of Jerusalem Friday to demonstrate against the occupation and the ongoing violence in the country. Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/332769/pro-israel-presbyterian-group-pushes-back-at-bds-campaign/#ixzz3z84OZgYV A Presbyterian group that works with Jewish groups to counter anti-Israel activity within the church published a pamphlet aimed at stopping the church from abandoning support for the two-state solution.. . Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member