B’nai B’rith International remains wary of Iran’s nuclear intentions even as global economic sanctions have been lifted.

In finding that Tehran has met its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is certifying that a nation that has deceived the agency and the global community in the past is now abiding by an agreement that would diminish its ability to produce nuclear weapons.  Iran’s delaying tactics in the face of global nuclear inspectors are well documented.

The global ramifications of Iran gaining access to nuclear weapons are significant. Tehran also remains a major exporter and backer of terrorism and terrorist organizations around the world, and is exerting its influence in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and across the Middle East.  

The lifting of sanctions could provide Iran with access to $100 billion which could be used to support terrorism and its goal of pursuing hegemony in the region.

Even as the JCPA deal was being negotiated, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated   “Whether a nuclear agreement is achieved or not, Israel will be more insecure each day.” During negotiations, Iran pursued plans to build intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Tehran regime is a well-documented serial abuser of human rights against its own people.

Reinforcing our skepticism about Iran’s compliance: Less than a day after the global sanctions were lifted, the White House is implementing new sanctions relating to Iran’s violation of a United Nations resolution prohibiting ballistic missile tests.

There are still many steps Iran must follow to meet its obligations, and we urge the P5+1 (United States, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom) and the IAEA to maintain due vigilance and scrutiny to ensure Iran does not cheat and develop a nuclear weapon.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
 
B’nai B’rith condemns the United Methodist Church’s Pension Board for deciding on political grounds to single out five prominent banks in Israel for discontinued investment. The Protestant denomination pulled its finances from these reputable, mainstream institutions because some church leaders actively identify with Palestinians’ position in their ongoing conflict with Israel. The step is being regarded as a victory for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which promotes hostile campaigns against Israel alone rather than efforts for genuine peace, compromise and reconciliation.
 
The United Methodist Church’s Pension Board has made an unjust and ill-informed decision by effectively supporting BDS. The blacklist includes the following banks: First International Bank of Israel, Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot, Bank Hapoalim, Israel Discount Bank and Bank Leumi.
                                                                                                                       
B’nai B’rith urges the church to reconsider its damaging choice, which is inconsistent with past Methodist disavowal of economic warfare. The BDS movement is another unwarranted assault on Israel, the world’s only Jewish state and the Middle East’s only pluralistic democracy. This type of bias must not be ignored. 

​B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
 
B’nai B’rith International strongly condemns the recent violence against Jews in France. On Jan. 12, Alain Ghozland, a French-Jewish politician, was found murdered in his home. Ghozland’s family became worried when he didn’t come to synagogue a day before. Ghozland, 73, was a city councilor for the district of Créteil, a Jewish-Parisian suburb of Paris.
 
A Jewish man in Marseilles was stabbed earlier this week, though his injuries are not life threatening. The victim was reportedly wearing a kippah and on his way to synagogue. The assailant is a 15-year-old French boy who used a machete in his assault, and was arrested not long after the attack took place.
 
This current wave of anti-Semitism, punctuated by such horrific attacks, is profoundly disconcerting. B’nai B’rith, once again, urges international leaders to condemn this violence against Jews in France.
 
B’nai B’rith will continue the fight against anti-Semitism in France, and everywhere else where this pernicious injustice exists. We send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. 

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

​In his final State of the Union address, President Obama touched briefly on some issues we view as priorities for our organization, our country and the global community.
 
He noted fixing the immigration system and the reality of gun violence as important priorities for this nation. Though he didn’t go into detail, B’nai B’rith is focused on these issues.
 
B’nai B’rith has long supported bipartisan measures to reduce gun violence in the United States, while respecting the right of law-abiding Americans to own guns. Tragically, the need for effective policy approaches to this urgent national dilemma has become increasingly apparent, as horrifying public shootings continue to focus attention on the problem.
 
The shocking number of gun-related deaths occurring in this country each year has made the status quo untenable. We therefore continue to call on the administration and both Democratic and Republican Congress members to work together to pass bipartisan legislation that will dramatically reduce gun violence. We still look forward to a detailed conversation on this subject.
 
As an organization founded by immigrants, B’nai B’rith is attuned to the topic of immigration reform. We recognize the need for comprehensive immigration reform, and for the United States to remain welcoming to immigrants who come to this country seeking to work hard and obey our laws. Immigration reform must also be balanced with our nation’s need for security. We need a plan that will increase and maintain security, while placing our undocumented neighbors on a legal path toward citizenship. A bi-partisan, national agreement is the best way to ensure a comprehensive, fair immigration reform system. We have long noted that the successful integration of immigrants into our society has led to some of America’s greatest accomplishments.
 
We were encouraged that the president acknowledged the importance of Social Security and Medicare, saying “That’s why Social Security and Medicare are more important than ever; we shouldn’t weaken them, we should strengthen them.”
 
Social Security is a vital lifeline for many seniors, providing the income needed for the most basic level of living: food, shelter and clothing. B’nai B’rith International is deeply committed to the long term solvency of social security to ensure the needs of our most vulnerable seniors are met. Without Social Security, millions of seniors would spiral into abject poverty. As per capita health costs continue to rise, Medicare also helps prevent seniors from plummeting into poverty. 
 
We welcome the president’s commitment to ensuring the future of these social insurance policy systems that guard against poverty.
 
The president acknowledged that health care reform is still a contentious issue even while millions of previously un-insured people now have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. B’nai B’rith, with our long-time advocacy on behalf of seniors, is encouraged that more people are insured through the ACA and we look forward to working with lawmakers to improve the program even further. Healthy aging begins with access to affordable health care.
 
We share the president's desire for decreased dependence on foreign oil and are open to creative bipartisan approaches to achieving this goal. We further agree that the right of all Americans to vote must be protected. Voting rights measures that have been stripped away by the courts over time should be restored by legislation.
 
Unfortunately, talk of Iran, the world’s largest global state sponsor of terror, was brief and incomplete. Just hours before the State of the Union address, Iran seized two U.S. navy patrol boats in the Persian Gulf, and is detaining 10 American sailors. This aggressive action is in line with Iran’s long-standing hostility toward the United States and the global community of nations.

​B’nai B’rith continues to remain deeply skeptical about Iran’s intentions regarding its nuclear weapons program. Iran has given no indication that it has changed its approach on a wide range of issues we monitor: human rights abuses, support for global terrorism, missile tests; calls for the destruction of Israel. We are concerned that the president is not taking into account Iran’s history of ignoring the international nuclear inspection watchdogs, and its other abuses when he continues to support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran’s long and well documented history of deception about its nuclear program must factor into any conversation about the Tehran regime.  

​We agree with those in both parties who have called for an elevation of the political discourse that embraces our country's diversity. Rhetoric that alienates segments of our population simply because of their race, ethnicity or religion betrays America's ideals without bolstering our national security or economic prosperity.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
 
B’nai B’rith applauds the American Historical Association (AHA) for renouncing an anti-Israel motion claiming that Israel limits Palestinian academic opportunities. This resolution was proposed at the AHA annual summit in Atlanta, and was beaten by a vote of 111 to 50.
 
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) proposal unfairly tags Israel with biased, one-sided accusations. This is the second time AHA voted down this dangerous resolution against Israel.
 
B’nai B’rith praises AHA for understanding that monitoring Israel in this capacity would be a perilous decision, as BDS targets Israel’s cultural and economic sectors in order to eventually isolate the country from the world. This BDS measure represents another unjust attack on Israel, even as human rights violations committed by other countries go largely ignored.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International and Conference of Presidents leaders together with leaders of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) and American Hellenic Institute (AHI) will join together for an important visit to Israel, Greece and Cyprus. The purpose of the trip is to evaluate the critical and developing relationship between these three countries on security, energy, economics and political areas. B’nai B’rith International will be represented by President Gary P. Saltzman, Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin and World Center Director Alan Schneider. Stephen Greenberg, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, CEO, will represent the Conference of Presidents.
 
Leaders of AHEPA, which is a leading membership-based grassroots association for American citizens of Hellenic heritage and AHI, a Greek American public policy center and think tank, will join the Jewish leaders in exploring developments in the eastern Mediterranean and possibilities for enhancing cooperation and understanding.
 
The strategic relationship between Greece, Cyprus and Israel has evolved, helping to lend stability to the region with broader implications. This is evidenced by the Trilateral Summit that will be held by the leaders of three countries later this month. The delegation of American Hellenic and American Jewish community leaders plans to explore the major policy issues and concerns as well as ways to foster ties between the people of the three countries. They will also visit military installations to study the security challenges in the area. The joint delegation represents the broad support of Jews and Greeks in the United States for the emerging trilateral relationship.
The 12-member delegation will convene in Jerusalem, from Jan. 10 to 13, then continue to Nicosia, Cyprus, Jan. 13 to 14, and wrap up in Athens, Greece, Jan. 14 to 18.

B’nai B’rith Announces 2016 Sally R. Schneider Scholarship for New York City-Area Student

B’nai B’rith International will award the annual Sally R. Schneider Scholarship to a deserving Jewish female graduate student in the spring of 2016. Applications are now being accepted.
 
Sally Schneider, born in Brooklyn in 1919, was a voracious reader and a passionate supporter of Israel who felt strongly that women should be independent and educated. She and her husband, George, were longtime B’nai B’rith members. In 1998, after Sally’s death, the family set up an endowment fund in her name.
 
This scholarship, of approximately $1,000, will be awarded to an individual from among the applicants meeting the following qualifications: 
 
1)A deserving Jewish female graduate student; 2) In the metropolitan New York area; 3) Currently enrolled in and attending a graduate program (by Jan. 31, 2016) in a field benefiting humankind, including, but not limited to medicine, medical research, education, social work, psychology, chiropractic medicine, nursing or public health; and 4) The candidate should demonstrate an involvement or interest in Jewish culture.
 
To apply, please submit a statement (no more than two pages, typed and double-spaced, including home address and email) indicating your qualifications for this scholarship to Ben Simkovich: BSimkovich@bnaibrith.org. For questions, please call 202-857-6657.
 
Applications must be received by Feb. 15, 2016.

B’nai B’rith International strongly deplores the murderous attacks against Jews that occurred in Tel Aviv this weekend. On Jan. 1, Nashat Melhem, an Israeli-Arab, opened fire outside a bar in Tel Aviv, killing Alon Bakal and Shimon Ruimi and wounding five others. Melham has a violent past, and in 2007 he was sentenced to jail for assaulting an Israeli soldier.
 
An extensive manhunt is underway for Melhem; police believe he is either still in Tel Aviv or has fled to the West Bank. Melhem’s father called police after recognizing his son in surveillance video broadcast on the news.
 
These violent attacks have been occurring in Israel on a near-daily basis. It is astounding and deeply troubling that the international community has not spoken out forcefully to denounce these ongoing, horrific and unprovoked attacks on the citizens of Israel.  
 
“We call on responsible international leaders to speak out and condemn these vicious terrorist attacks, as they do when terrorism occurs in other parts of the world,” B’nai B’rith International President Gary P. Saltzman said.
 
This latest upsurge of violent assaults caused the deaths of at least 20 Israeli citizens since October. Over this period of time Palestinian assailants have stabbed, shot and car-rammed their victims.
 
“The international community must not allow these attacks to become a new acceptable norm for the citizens of Israel,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said.
 
B’nai B’rith extends our condolences to the victims and their families.