(Washington, D.C., Dec. 4, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
 
At the annual United Nations General Assembly observance of the U.N.-initiated International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the world body once again perpetuated an anti-Israel agenda by adopting a litany of biased resolutions that only reflect a Palestinian narrative. A world body fixture since 1977, the Day of Solidarity is the only U.N. celebration of solidarity with one specific group of people.

The General Assembly session featured many speeches by country representatives eager to get their turn to demonize and delegitimize Israel, the nation-state of the Jewish people and the only democracy in the Middle East, with smears and outright lies. These General Assembly sessions do nothing to advance the cause of peace; they only serve to prolong the conflict. The Palestinian leadership will not engage in meaningful negotiations nor entertain any of the compromises that will be necessary for peace as long as they believe that the international community will blindly back the Palestinian narrative and will force Israel to adopt these untenable positions.
 
As part of the session, the General Assembly passed resolutions that fund the permanent propaganda bodies housed within the U.N. system—the Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR), the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine. We commend all of the countries that joined the United States and Israel in voting against these units which outrageously waste precious taxpayer resources to attack Israel. We take special note of the change in voting pattern by several European states by voting against DPR instead of abstaining. Further, Australia, Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Nauru stood with the United States and Israel in consistently voting against every anti-Israel resolution. We thank these countries for standing up for their principles, even in the face of international pressure to vote the other way. 
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Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon announced during his speech at the General Assembly session that Israel would soon propose its own resolution to recognize the Jewish refugees from Arab countries and Iran and acknowledge that the international community has ignored them for decades. B’nai B’rith strongly supports this resolution to right an historical injustice.
 
B’nai B’rith has had a continued presence at the United Nations since its establishment, and continues to work to ensure the achievement of the protection of human rights and promotion of tolerance and 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
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​(Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
 
B’nai B’rith is outraged that the organizers of the Aalst carnival parade in Aalst, Belgium, have chosen to renounce the event’s place on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity rather than be held accountable for the anti-Semitism in the annual parade. Following an outcry from Jewish groups, including B’nai B’rith, in Belgium and worldwide, UNESCO was set to vote on whether the parade could remain on the heritage list during an agency meeting on Dec. 12. Aalst’s mayor stated it was “unavoidable” that Jews would continue to be mocked at the carnival.
 
The Aalst carnival has a history of trafficking in anti-Semitic tropes. In preparation for the 2020 parade, organizers plan to distribute ribbons to all participants featuring Orthodox Jews with hooked noses and gold teeth. In March of this year, we condemned the 2019 parade’s “Shabbat Year” float, which depicted Orthodox Jews amidst bags of money; the float’s creators claimed the display was meant to protest “rising prices.” In the 2013 parade, one float featured a caricature of the Holocaust with Nazi rail cars and Zyklon B, the gas that was used to kill Jews at concentration camps. 
 
The Aalst parade has held a spot on the UNESCO list since 2010; it is unacceptable that the parade retained its listing for six years after featuring the Holocaust caricature. To prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future, UNESCO must create a de-listing mechanism for items on the cultural heritage list. Currently, no event has ever been de-listed.
 
In addition, we call on UNESCO to strongly affirm that there will not be any tolerance for these kinds of anti-Semitic caricatures and displays.
 
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., Nov. 15, 2019)— B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
 
We are outraged by today’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) committee vote to move forward the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
 
UNRWA is a corrupt, politicized agency that uses its bloated budget, which is intended to provide humanitarian aid, to incite hatred.
 
UNRWA’s history of supporting incitement is long. The U.N. has confirmed that terrorist groups used UNRWA-run schools to store rockets and fire them at Israel during 2014’s Operation Protective Edge. Textbooks in use at these schools contain anti-Semitic portrayals of Jews and perpetuate the lie that Jews have no historic ties to Israel. The agency has even employed members of the terrorist group Hamas.
 
This year, a leaked ethics report described a culture of corruption, nepotism, discrimination and misuse of funds at the agency. In 2018, the United States stopped supporting the agency because of the Palestinians’ failure to make progress on a peace plan. The Belgian, Dutch and Swiss governments suspended aid to UNRWA in response to corruption allegations.
 
We call on the rest of UNRWA’s donors to immediately cease their donations until the agency meaningfully addresses its corruption and incitement issues.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., Oct. 23, 2019)--The annual Aalst carnival parade in Belgium, which has a history of anti-Semitic displays, has once again plunged into anti-Semitism. Organizers of the parade are planning to give out ribbons to all participants featuring gross caricatures of Orthodox Jews with hooked red noses and gold teeth.
 
We are disgusted that the parade continues to be on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; in March of this year, a delegation of B’nai B’rith leaders led by B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin raised the issue of anti-Semitism in the parade with the director-general of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay. UNESCO is expected to decide in December whether to keep the parade on the list. We urge UNESCO in the strongest terms to remove the Aalst Carnival from the list. Furthermore, the city of Aalst must unequivocally apologize for the ribbons and its history of endorsing anti-Semitism.
 
This is by no means the first time the parade has trafficked in blatant anti-Semitism. In March, we condemned the parade for a float entitled “Shabbat Year” that depicted Orthodox Jews amidst bags of money. According to the float’s creators, it was meant to protest “rising prices.” Six years ago, the same carnival event featured a caricature of the Holocaust, with Nazi rail cars. Every time the parade has featured anti-Semitism, there is a loud and vociferous criticism from Jewish groups; every time, the town ignores Jewish voices.
 
Such blatant and unrepentant anti-Semitism should not be rewarded with the endorsement of UNESCO.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., Oct. 7, 2019)--On the latest episode of the B’nai B’rith podcast, CEO Daniel. S. Mariaschin talks with B’nai B’rith Director of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs David Michaels about B’nai B’rith’s work to hold the U.N. accountable to its own founding values and aspirations, during the opening of the 74th U.N. General Assembly (UNGA).
 
Michaels and Mariaschin discuss how in meetings with world leaders, our staff and volunteer leaders emphasize the need to stand together against Iran’s belligerent behavior and support for terrorism; the systemic anti-Israel bias at U.N. bodies, such as the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and its on-the-ground bureaucracies, such as the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); continuing Palestinian hostility to a peace deal and engagement in terrorism; and anti-Semitism worldwide.
 
Michaels says that important progress has been made in certain areas; for example, some Sunni Arab states have become more open to behind-the-scenes cooperation and engagement with Israel. However, many challenges remain, including the continued spread of pro-Palestinian propaganda within the U.N.
 
Click here for Episode 57 of the B’nai B’rith Podcast.
 
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
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​Presses On Priorities Including Iran’s Global Terror and the Rise of Anti-Semitism
 
(Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2019)--B’nai B’rith International leaders met with numerous heads of state and other top government officials on the sidelines of the opening of the 74th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this week.
 
During these high-level meetings, B’nai B’rith President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin, along with other B’nai B’rith leaders and staff, discussed Iran’s malign policies, Palestinian terrorism and the rise in global anti-Semitism, among other issues. The B’nai B’rith delegation has met with leaders including those from Argentina, Egypt, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Paraguay, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and the Vatican.
 
During these meetings, the delegation discussed the singularly unfair treatment Israel often faces within different U.N. forums. B’nai B’rith has had an exceptionally active presence at the U.N. since the body’s founding, and is committed to holding the U.N. accountable to its essential founding values and aspirations.
 
In addition to Kaufman and Mariaschin, the delegation included: Millie Magid, U.N. affairs chair; Sheila Mostyn, B’nai B’rith Center for Jewish Identity chair; Ira Bartfield, B’nai B’rith Center for Community Action chair; Andrew Borans, B’nai B’rith International Executive Board of Directors member and CEO of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation; Stephen Stern, Executive Board of Directors member; Larry Magid, member of the International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy board; Stewart Cahn, member of the International Council of B’nai B’rith; François Moyse, member of the International Council of B’nai B’rith; Jared Hakimi, co-chair of B’nai B’rith Connect-New York; George Blank of New York; David Michaels, director of U.N. and intercommunal affairs; and Rebecca Rose, associate director, young leadership and development. Alpha Epsilon Pi also sent student leaders to join the B’nai B’rith delegation.
 
Michaels and Program Officer for U.N. Affairs Oren Drori coordinated the meetings.
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2019)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:  
 
As an accredited nongovernmental organization at the United Nations, we deplore U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s biased statements today before the U.N. Human Rights Council. In remarks purportedly about global human rights, Bachelet devoted two paragraphs to denouncing Israel’s housing and security policies in the “occupied Palestinian territory.” Specifically, she baselessly alleged “very high levels of settler violence,” and “unlawful killings and injuries of Palestinians by Israeli security forces across the entire occupied territory,” without so much as referencing Palestinian terrorists’ ongoing attacks against innocent Israelis. Syria, which is in its eighth year of a bloody civil war and whose dictator has used chemical weapons against his own people, was mentioned once.
 
Later, Bachelet delivered a further “update” devoted entirely to Israel. Once again ignoring both Hamas’s rockets and terror tunnels and the glorification of violence by the Palestinian Authority, Bachelet denounced Israel’s treatment of Palestinian rioters during what she referred to benignly as the Palestinian “Great March of Return.” Although she acknowledged that “a number of demonstrators” have hurled bombs into Israel and overrun Israel’s security fence, most of the statement’s text was devoted to attacking Israel for defending itself against the aggressors. The statement falsely described the “protests,” not at all peaceful in explicit purpose or in conduct, as “largely peaceful.”
 
The U.N. Human Rights Council’s obsession with anti-Israel denunciations has gone far enough. Bachelet should retract her statements condemning the Middle East’s only liberal democracy for defending itself, and instead focus on the most urgent human rights crises around the world. 
 
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
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(Washington, D.C., Sept. 6, 2019)--A small group of B’nai B’rith International leaders met privately with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In the meeting at U.N. Headquarters, which took place in advance of the arrival in New York of international leaders for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly session this month, the B'nai B'rith delegation thanked Guterres for his positive personal efforts while raising priority concerns regarding the world body and current global affairs, particularly in the Middle East.
 
Guterres, who had previously saluted B'nai B'rith on the occasion of its 175th anniversary, has denounced anti-Semitism, including as manifested by the delegitimization of Israel, and he has now launched initiatives against hate speech and the targeting of places of worship. He also recently met with the parents of Hadar Goldin, the Israeli soldier who was slain by Hamas and whose body has been held hostage for years by the terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip.
 
In the wake of new violence and threats by Hezbollah, the massively militarized proxy of Iran based in Lebanon, as well as Palestinian terrorists, B'nai B'rith reiterated the urgency of serious action by the international community to address these gravely dangerous realities. Guterres also heard B'nai B'rith's dismay over the ongoing weaponization of U.N. bodies as propaganda tools against Israel by Palestinians, who continue to reject direct dialogue with Israel and American-led peace efforts.
 
Additionally, B’nai B’rith urged the secretary-general to dedicate staff to combating the scourge of global anti-Semitism – and to pursue the long-overdue inclusion of Israelis at a management level within the U.N. secretariat.
 
At the conclusion of the meeting, B’nai B’rith’s delegation presented Guterres with a display of stamps commemorating Portugal's Jewish heritage and an international B'nai B'rith leadership meeting in the country this past summer. Guterres is a former prime minister of Portugal and his wife, Catarina Vaz Pinto, councillor of culture in the Portuguese capital and a past Portuguese state secretary of culture, addressed the B'nai B'rith conference.

Led by CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin, the B'nai B'rith delegation also included Millie Magid, B'nai B'rith chair of U.N. affairs; Stewart Cahn, of New York; Brian Kaufman, of New York; and David Michaels, director of U.N. and intercommunal affairs.
  
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
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B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International opposes the Palestinian Authority’s campaign to have its flag flown outside of United Nations headquarters with the flags of U.N. member states. The Palestinians secured status as a U.N. non-member observer “state” in 2012, but are not actual members of the world body.

This push comes as the Palestinian mission to the U.N. reportedly plans to submit a resolution calling for the flying of all “observer state” flags. An early draft of the resolution named both the Palestinians and the Vatican as non-member observer states that should have their flags flown. The draft resolution was apparently circulated without the Vatican’s authorization and the Holy See has asked the Palestinians to remove any mention of the Vatican from the draft.

The flags outside the United Nations represent U.N. member states and the Palestinian territories do not as of yet comprise a state, owing to the Palestinians’ consistent refusal to reach a meaningful, negotiated two-state solution that includes recognition of the Jewish state.

It would furthermore be inappropriate to fly the Palestinian flag as part of the Palestinian territories are illicitly ruled by the terrorist group Hamas, which is openly committed to the destruction of an existing U.N. member state, Israel.

The Palestinians cannot be the only one of the world’s countless communities with nationalist aspirations to be unilaterally and superficially afforded the trappings of sovereignty. The United Nations has long joined in insisting that the Palestinian conflict with Israel be settled exclusively through direct talks and agreement with Israel. Unrequited political concessions to the Palestinians only further remove any incentive for Palestinian leaders to finally enable their constituents to live alongside Israelis in peace.