B'nai B'rith International quoted:

by Adiv Sterman

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comparison of Zionism to Nazism, calling it a “dark and slanderous remark, the likes of which we thought had passed from the world.”
 
The Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding Erdogan’s “hollow” remarks as well, charging that they “stem from ignorance.”
 
Erdogan on Wednesday described Zionism as a “crime against humanity” on par with anti-Semitism and fascism.

Erdogan was also criticized by the Anti-Defamation League and B’nai B’rith International.
 
“We are appalled and horrified by Mr. Erdogan’s linkage of Zionism and anti-Semitism at a conference devoted, ironically enough, to improving understanding of other cultures,” said the ADL’s national director Abraham Foxman. B’nai B’rith strongly condemned “Erdogan’s effort to revive inflammatory language, by equating Zionism with racism...more.

Argentina's Congress approved an agreement with Iran to jointly investigate the 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires AMIA Jewish Community Center.

The legislative body's Lower House early on Thursday approved the bill establishing the joint program  with 131 votes in favor and 113 against, after 13 hours of debate. The accord was approved last week in the Argentine Congress' Upper House.
 
No single political representative of the main opposition parties voted for the bill, but the government party has its own majority in both chambers.

“We are surprised that the Argentine government would team up with the Iranian government to seek out justice,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan Jacobs said in a statement. “Given Iran’s deplorable judicial track record and its refusal to turn over those previously implicated in the bombings, there’s little reason to believe anything substantial will come out of this commission...more.

B’nai B’rith Internacional condenó el memorándum de entendimiento que la Argentina firmó con Irán en relación a la causa que investiga el atentado a la AMIA a la vez que calificó el acuerdo como “un pacto perverso”.

Así lo expresó Daniel Mariaschin, vicepresidente Ejecutivo Mundial B´nai B´rith Internacional, quien a través de un comunicado transmitió la “desazón” que generó la decisión del Congreso argentino de dar luz verde al acuerdo con Teherán.

En declaraciones a la Agencia Judía de Noticias (AJN), Eduardo Kohn, director para América Latina de B´nai B´rith Internacional, calificó la resolución del parlamento argentino como “una decisión negativa”, al tiempo que advirtió sobre “los peligros” que genera este acuerdo con el régimen de Teherán...more.

by Colleen M. Sullivan


B'nai B'rith Housing New England is planning to launch a bid to develop a 1.7-acre parcel in Newtonville into housing and retail uses.

The 1.7 acre parcel, currently a 159-space parking lot, was deemed surplus by the city several years ago and re-zoned into a "Mixed Use 4" district last year.

The city wants to turn the parcel into a mixed-used development with both retail and housing in order to revitalize the Newtonville village center.

If successful, this will be the first mixed-use project for B'nai B'rith. The group had previously completed a 57-unit affordable housing development, 33 Comm, in Newton in 2008...more.

A Jewish army medic spoke about his hazardous stint in Afghanistan at the opening meeting of B’nai B’rith social events group BB2545 in central London.

In four months in Helmand Province with the Royal Army Medical Corps last year, Captain Danny Sharpe cared for military colleagues, members of the Afghan Army and local residents, who often brought their children to him...more.

On Feb. 25, B'nai B'rith's stance on former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination for secretary of defense was discussed on America Live with host Megyn Kelly. Our organization's statement was mentioned throughout the segment. 

By Jonathan S. Tobin

There isn’t much doubt Chuck Hagel will finally be confirmed as secretary of defense this week when the Senate reconvenes. Some Republicans have abandoned their support of delaying the nomination. Meanwhile, Democrats–even those who have reputations as stalwart friends of Israel–have closed ranks behind President Obama’s choice. The result is that a man who was widely ridiculed for his incompetent performance during his confirmation hearing and who has a long record of troubling stands on Israel, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah will soon be running the Pentagon. As Pete wrote earlier today, having a “dim-witted” secretary of defense who isn’t up to the task of helping to set policy is bad for national security. There is also good reason to worry that whatever influence Hagel does have will be used to downgrade the alliance with Israel and to act as a brake on efforts to isolate Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
...
The latest to do so was B’nai B’rith International. On Friday, it said it was troubled by Hagel’s record as well as by his statements and urged the Senate to re-examine his record before voting. In doing so, it joined the American Jewish Committee, another large mainstream and generally liberal organization, in calling for a halt to the rush to confirm Hagel...more.

B'nai B'rith International quoted:

Just ahead of the Senate vote on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary, B'nai B'rith International has released the following statement:

B'nai B'rith International remains concerned with many aspects of former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel's responses to questions during his confirmation hearing for the position of Secretary of Defense. Since then, more questions have been raised about Hagel's views on a number of important issues.

During the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Hagel did not assuage our reservations on how he would approach such topics as terrorism, Iran and Israel. We urge all Senators, as they prepare to vote, to carefully review Hagel's record and hearing responses to determine his qualifications for the post.