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Hamas Must Commit to Conclusive Peace
(Washington, D.C., May 20, 2021)—B’nai B’rith President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement: We note the cease-fire in Israel, which is set to take effect in the coming hours. As Israel ends its defensive operations it expects “quiet would be met by quiet.” The cease-fire agreement must be conclusive and definitive. This should not be seen as merely a pause for an ephemeral timeframe. Hamas must not be allowed to re-arm and reconstruct its infrastructure of terror. International interlocutors must be vigilant in holding Hamas accountable for the violence and trauma it has inflicted on Israelis and on the residents of Gaza and must insist the terrorist organization immediately cease its goal of obliterating Israel. The people of Israel deserve to live in peace in their sovereign democracy. B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org. B’nai B’rith President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
The B’nai B'rith International Executive Board of Directors, including the Executive Committee, today passed a resolution expressing that the organization “stands in solidarity with our Israeli brothers and sisters as they face down a Palestinian terrorist onslaught, just as we always have and we always will in the future.” The measure touched on Hamas rocket fire, ethnic strife, unbalanced media coverage, an admonition against vigilante justice and a call for international bodies to condemn Hamas war crimes, among other topics. B’rith has been active in Israel since 1888 and inaugurated the B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem in 1981. The resolution specifies that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and “once again finds itself forced to fight against rocket attacks launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Gaza.” In addition, specific mention was made that “ethnic strife is gripping the streets of Israeli cities with mixed Israeli Arab and Jewish populations, including the horrific torching of synagogues in Lod, which reminds us of dark times in Jewish history.” The resolution also was particularly mindful of media coverage of the current conflict that “often relies on false moral equivalencies, if not blatant bias and outright lies.” It was also noted in the resolution that “Israeli civilians have lost their lives or been injured for no other reason than that they are Jews who dare to live in our ancient homeland.” Support for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli police was also expressed, and the resolution stated members of the “international community, including U.N. Security Council members, are rushing to unfairly condemn Israel while paying scant attention to Hamas war crimes, including firing rockets indiscriminately at Israeli towns and cities from the midst of Palestinian civilian areas in Gaza.” B’nai B’rith has opened its Israel Emergency Fund to help Israel during this crisis. Read the full resolution here. (Washington, D.C., May 11, 2021)—B’nai B’rith President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
In light of ongoing Hamas terror attacks against Israel and Fatah’s incitement of violence against Israelis, we call on the White House to abandon plans to open a consulate in East Jerusalem and to rescind any permission for the PLO to open an office in Washington, D.C. The clear support for these attacks that has come from Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas shows, without question, that the PA gives approbation to those using violence in Jerusalem. Abbas has declared this uprising “the battle of all battles; that the long struggle against a satanic colonialist force” is at hand. A more peaceful and certain result would be to come to the negotiating table to discuss a real, tangible outcome. Central to Hamas’ doctrine is a call for Israel’s destruction. It is becoming increasingly clear that the PA refuses to choose a path toward resolving this conflict. In light of that, keeping these offices closed would send a strong message that promoting violence against Israel is a dead end. B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org. (Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2021)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
We reject a ruling out today by the International Criminal Court (ICC) giving itself the power to investigate Israel and the Palestinians for supposed “war crimes” stemming from the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, where Israel defended itself from Hamas terror attacks. The ruling also determined that “Palestine” is a state. With this ICC decision, we see again that Israel is subject to systemic bias in multilateral organizations. The ICC puts Hamas and Israel on the same playing field, even though Israel’s actions were defensive in the face of Hamas attacks. We concur with Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment: “The ICC ignores the real war crimes and instead pursues the State of Israel,” and further: “In this decision the ICC violated the right of democracies to defend themselves against terrorism, and played into the hands of those who undermine efforts to expand the circle of peace.” B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org. (Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2020)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
We strongly condemn the five anti-Israel resolutions passed today by the United Nations General Assembly, while we are encouraged at the growing number of countries willing to stand up against anti-Israel entities that waste critical resources and hamper the U.N.'s legitimacy. These resolutions are a fixture of the 43-year-old “International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People” – the only U.N. celebration of solidarity with one specific group of people. The General Assembly resolutions passed today fund the permanent propaganda bodies housed within the U.N. system. The Committee on the Exercise on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) vote count was 91 in favor, 17 against and 54 abstentions. The Division of Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (DPR) resolution had a vote count of 82 in favor, 25 against and 53 abstentions. We are particularly disappointed with Argentina and Chile for their ongoing support of CEIRPP. We sincerely commend the growing number of countries willing to vote against these two anti-Israel U.N. bureaucracies. We also specifically commend the following countries that abstained in 2019 on CEIRPP and this year voted “no” on supporting this institution: Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Papua New Guinea. Similarly, on the DPR resolution, we appreciate the following countries that abstained in 2019 but voted “no” this year: Slovenia, Papua New Guinea and Switzerland. And we reserve our strongest appreciation for Australia, Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and the United States for voting with Israel against all resolutions today. The General Assembly votes are preceded each year by speeches demonizing and delegitimizing Israel, the only Jewish state in the world. These sessions do not advance the cause of truth or peace. While we urge the U.N. to stop this annual hate-fest, we are reassured that more and more nations are seeing through the charade. B’nai B’rith has had a continued presence at the United Nations since its founding and continues to work to ensure the protection of human rights and the promotion of peace and coexistence. B'nai B'rith and AJIRI-BBI are making concerted efforts to speak out against the continued existence of these committees and to urge U.N. member states to vote against them. B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org. (Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2020)— B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith International is encouraged by the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan unveiled today at the White House, which takes into account Israel’s vital security needs, including control of the Jordan Valley, reaffirms Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s undivided capital and recognizes Israel’s international legal status in the West Bank. CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin was present at the White House unveiling. The deal would put the Palestinian Authority in control of Gaza, which would be demilitarized, and disarms the terrorist group Hamas and includes $50 billion in long-term investment in the Palestinian economy and infrastructure. It does not allow for the Palestinian right of return, a policy that would end the State of Israel’s Jewish majority and, by extension, the state of Israel. The burden now lies with the Palestinians. The administration proposal is grounded in reality and should serve as a sound basis for negotiations. After turning down proposal after proposal, Palestinian leadership should embrace this opportunity to achieve their aspirations and to end seven decades of antagonism toward Israel by accepting the terms of the deal, rather than continuing to obstruct and boycott any solution to the conflict. The leaders of the two largest parties in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud and Benny Gantz of Blue and White, support the deal. B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org  B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith is outraged by the torching of Joseph’s Tomb, a holy site in the ancient city of Shechem in the West Bank, by Palestinian rioters. As of yet, no injuries or deaths have been reported. While Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces managed to disperse the crowds and douse the fire, significant damage has been reported in the women’s section of the site. The arson came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Palestinian leadership to stop a wave of attacks on Jews. After a week of silence, PA President Mahmoud Abbas finally issued a statement condemning the group’s actions and announcing plans to create an investigatory committee. While vicious attacks have left seven dead and more than 30 wounded—Abbas issued no condemnation while other PA officials have been busy inciting this kind of violence. B’nai B’rith is appalled that the PA ignored multiple violent deaths before finally denouncing this act of wanton arson.   B’nai B’rith International is disappointed the European Parliament has passed a resolution that will allow European governments to label products made in the West Bank, a policy that will cause great economic and political harm to the Jewish state.
The resolution, which passed by a vote of 525-70, is an affirmation of the discriminatory goals of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Such a misguided policy is destructive to the peace process and gives momentum to opponents of Israel who seek to delegitimize the Jewish state by weakening its economy and isolating it politically. We call on European governments to reject this biased and counterproductive resolution.  B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith International condemns the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) for its disgraceful endorsement of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and is repulsed by its accusations against Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide.” BDS is a campaign to isolate Israel economically and politically through boycotts and other discriminatory tactics. Its aim is to delegitimize and ultimately cripple the Jewish state. Its focus on one and only one state— Israel—demonstrates the highly sinister intentions of the movement, which ignores human rights violations committed by the world’s worst abusers while raining fusillades on the Jewish state. At UE’s national convention in mid-August the union adopted a resolution making it the first union in the United States to take a pro-BDS position. In the resolution, UE called on the United States to end its aid to Israel and aligned itself with overseas labor unions that also oppose the Jewish state. The resolution goes on to make absurd claims, fraudulently asserting that Palestinian citizens of Israel “survived ethnic cleansing,” and that members of the government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have called for the stripping of citizenship and expulsion of Palestinians. The text further characterizes Israel’s defensive military operation in the wake of Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians in 2014 as “genocide.” While leveling outlandish falsehoods at the only democracy in the Middle East, the resolution does not once mention the terror organization Hamas and the violent fanaticism Israel faces everyday. The UE is perpetuating a one-sided, distorted view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In doing so, it is spreading hatred, endangering the security of the Middle East’s only democracy and harming the cause of peace in the region.  Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki being welcomed at the International Criminal Court in April 2015. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is once again misappropriating an important global forum to advance its own agenda rather than to advance the cause of peace. In a move that further demonstrates its true intentions, which is to use global venues to strong-arm Israel (rather than negotiate), the PA has accused Israel of “war crimes.”
The PA provided documents to the International Criminal Court (ICC) detailing what it claims are Israel’s “war crimes,” relating to Israel’s self-defense in Gaza in 2014, along with its settlement construction projects in other parts of Israel. This incessant effort to internationalize the conflict with Israel shows the PA’s true hand. The PA consistently has tried to isolate and delegitimize the Jewish state by outlandishly characterizing Israel’s attempts to defend itself from terrorist attacks as war crimes. Six months ago, when PA President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application to the ICC, B’nai B’rith wrote: “In order to preserve the essential principle of conflict resolution through negotiation, and the fundamental right and duty of responsible states to combat terrorism, Palestinian exporting of political grievances to The Hague must be firmly rejected internationally.” While the delivery of these documents makes for good show, true efforts by the Palestinians to work for peace are nonexistent. The delivery of these documents should be viewed by the world community as yet another cynical move to divert attention from the complete lack of effort by the PA to work toward peace. |
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