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(Washington, D.C., March 24, 2021)--B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith condemns the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for its passage of four anti-Israel resolutions—more than those targeting any other country in the world—as part of its rote, institutionalized discrimination against the world’s only Jewish state and the Middle East’s only democracy. Three of the resolutions fell under the council’s Item 7—the only permanent agenda item dedicated to excoriating a single country, Israel—while the fourth was moved to a different item in a ploy to attract more support. The resolutions’ subjects were the Syrian-claimed Golan Heights, Palestinian self-determination, Israeli settlement communities and “accountability” for purported rights violations. The latter resolution gratuitously singled out Israel—which has led the world in inoculating its residents of all backgrounds, and which under bilateral agreements is not responsible for Palestinian health care but has provided assistance nonetheless—for a call to “ensure non-discriminatory access to vaccines” for COVID-19. Over recent weeks, B’nai B’rith leaders around the world have conferred with numerous ambassadors and other diplomats at the council and made official interventions before the body. One such intervention, noting the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the U.N.’s World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, asserted that “delegitimization, demonization and double standards do not amount to criticism, they amount to bigotry.” B’nai B’rith had brought the largest multinational Jewish delegation to the Durban conference, which became notorious for manifestations of anti-Semitism but remains celebrated by the UNHRC. No council member boasted a perfect record on the unjust anti-Israel resolutions. However, we commend those countries—including Cameroon, the Czech Republic, Malawi, the Marshall Islands and the United Kingdom—that mostly opposed the motions. Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Togo and Ukraine were also among those that opposed or abstained on key resolutions. We decry those countries, particularly likeminded states such as Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland and Uruguay, that failed to consistently stand up for principle and fairness at the council. B’nai B’rith will continue to lead Jewish communal engagement at the U.N., as it has since 1945. 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 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., Nov. 5, 2020)--B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B’nai B’rith condemns the decision made by a United Nations committee to pass a resolution referring to the Temple Mount – the holiest site in Judaism – only by its Islamic name. The vote comes amid a wave of seven anti-Israel resolutions passed by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (known as the Fourth Committee) of the U.N. General Assembly. The General Assembly will vote on final versions of these seven resolutions, plus a number of other biased resolutions that harshly condemn Israel, later in its session. We thank Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Hungary, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru and the U.S. for voting with Israel against the egregious resolution that whitewashes Judaism’s ties to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. It is disconcerting that many European countries voted in favor of a resolution with such a shameful clause. 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 bnaibrith.org. (Washington, D.C., Oct. 16, 2020)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B'nai B'rith condemns the United Nations Security Council's failure to extend a critical 13-year-old arms embargo on Iran. The U.N. arms embargo is set to expire Oct. 18, which would once again allow the rogue regime to purchase missiles and other weapons from, and provide them to, other malign actors. We call upon the Council to act immediately to reimpose the embargo on Iran – the world’s leading state-sponsor of terrorism – to prevent the further destabilization of the Middle East by Tehran and its proxies, particularly Hezbollah. 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 bnaibrith.org. (Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2020)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
B'nai B'rith is pleased with the Trump administration's imposition of sanctions on Iran, which would punish any company or person that violates a conventional arms embargo on Iran. This action comes a month after the United Nations Security Council’s shameful failure to extend its own arms sanctions on Iran. The proposed U.S. action would work toward stopping Tehran – a rogue regime that continually threatens peace for the entirety of the Middle East and beyond – from becoming an even greater global security threat. (Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 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 condemns the United Nations Security Council’s failure to pass a common-sense resolution proposed by the United States that would extend a crucial arms embargo on Iran. The vote was: two yes votes; two no votes; 11 abstentions. In its failure to renew these sanctions, the U.N. Security Council has enabled a rogue regime that threatens the entirety of the Middle East – and others far beyond – to become an even more dangerous threat to global peace and security. The resolution would have kept in place the arms embargo imposed on Iran, which under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was set to expire in October. 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., Aug. 12, 2020)--Four previous Israeli United Nations ambassadors, representing almost 20 years of history, spoke today with B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin on a virtual program about their time at the world body.
As the U.N. celebrates its 75th anniversary, Ambassadors Ron Prosor, Gabriela Shalev, Dan Gillerman and Yehuda Lancry recounted memories from their time as permanent representatives to the U.N. and its relations with Israel. Gillerman (2003-2008) recalled advice his mentor Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. diplomat, once shared following a diplomacy dispute. He reminded Gillerman that the U.N. office on 1st Avenue in New York City was nothing more than a glass building. “At the end of the day, it’s only as good as its tenants, and its tenants are the world we live in,” Gillerman said. The Durban Review Conference in 2001, which is viewed by many as the catalyst to a global renewal of anti-Semitism, made for one of Lancry’s greatest frustrations during his tenure at the U.N. “That was a big disappointment for those who felt we were advancing peace,” said Lancry, who served from 1999-2002. Durban was a really harsh setback. The conference was supposed to be on racism, but instead, it “focused on Israel. We felt frustrated.” Shalev (2008-2010) who entered the United Nations with a background in law and academia, found difficulty in transitioning to her new role as an ambassador. “Coming from academia, where we look at the truth, I found the double speech at the U.N. frustrating,” she said. “To represent Israel at the U.N. is hard labor. It’s day and night.” Prosor (2011-2015) was shocked by the “triple standards” Israel was held to at the United Nations. “One for democracies, one for dictatorships and one special standard just for Israel, which is unattainable,” he said. “I was shocked and I’m still shocked at the Europeans. It has nothing to do with what we do or we do not do. Do they go for Syria? No. Do they go for Yemen? No. Israel.” Each ambassador also offered positive thoughts and wishes for the incoming Israeli permanent representative to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan. Click here to watch the entire webinar. 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 bnaibrith.org. (Washington, D.C., June 22, 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 condemns the five anti-Israel resolutions adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), one on June 19th and the other four today. The UNHRC regularly singles out Israel by passing numerous resolutions that solely and falsely allege Israeli misdeeds. We again condemn the maintenance of agenda Item 7, which makes Israel the only country separately and exhaustively scrutinized at every council session. We wholeheartedly commend Australia for voting against each anti-Israel resolution, and the Marshall Islands for voting against four of the five resolutions. We encourage all member states to consistently vote against anti-Israel resolutions and to clearly endorse the elimination of the discriminatory agenda item. One of the five anti-Israel resolutions, entitled, “Ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” only mustered 22 votes in favor; more countries voted against or abstained. We are particularly outraged that a democracy such as Switzerland, even though it does not enjoy council membership, chose to be one of the main co-sponsors of the biased “ensuring accountability” resolution. 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., June 16, 2020)-- B’nai B’rith representatives delivered two statements to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Tuesday, calling out the hypocrisy and anti-Israel bias of standing agenda Item 7, which is devoted exclusively to demonizing Israel. No other UN agenda item is exclusively devoted to one country.
B’nai B’rith representative Nurit Braun delivered a statement attacking the body’s unprecedented move of creating a blacklist of companies doing business with Israelis. View a video of her remarks or read a transcript here. “Threats against doing business with Israel are not new, and boycotts against ‘Jewish-owned’ businesses go back even further,” Braun said. “To those who vote in favor of economic warfare against the Jewish state, we say: We are not intimidated and we will not be defeated. Israel will continue to thrive economically, culturally and as a humane, diverse and democratic state.” B’nai B’rith representative Sonia Elkrief’s statement emphasized that, especially in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, it is unconscionable that the UNHRC continues to waste its time singling out Israel for unjust criticism instead of calling out actual human rights violators. Watch a video of her remarks or view a transcript of her statement here. “As the world is dealing with true emergency conditions, all of us are forced to sit through yet another of these sessions dedicated solely to bashing the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel,” Elkrief said. “Come natural disasters, wars and pandemics, Item 7 is always with us, at each and every regular session. This council never seems to want to miss an opportunity to obsessively attack the nation-state of the Jewish people.” 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., May 12, 2020)—B’nai B’rith International President Charles O. Kaufman and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:
We congratulate Israeli Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan on his appointment as both ambassador to the United States and ambassador to the United Nations. With his experience battling the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and other issues impacting Israel’s security, Erdan is positioned to take on the anti-Israel bias that prevails at the U.N. In his capacity as strategic affairs minister, Erdan dedicated himself to fighting BDS, including with a campaign to expose ties between pro-BDS organizations and terrorist organizations. Before being elected to the Knesset in 2003, Erdan served as an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. As a Washington, D.C.-based organization that maintains representation and non-governmental organization accreditation at U.N. agencies around the globe, we look forward to working with Erdan to defend Israel at the U.N. and beyond. 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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