Israel Matzav

Under the big top, BDS supporters to march in Israel Day Parade

JCC Watch reports that organizations that support BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) actions against Israel are being allowed to march in May's Salute to Israel Day Parade in New York City.

JCCWatch.org, a NY based group created to hold Jewish community organizations accountable to their mission, condemns the local Jewish Community Relations Council - JCRC (A Beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York) for permitting groups that fund or support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel to officially march in the New York City Israel Day Parade.

Richard Allen, founder of JCCWatch.org said:

"It is irresponsible for the New York Jewish Community Relations Council to allow groups like Partners for Progressive Israel, BTselem, New Israel Fund and Rabbis for Human Rights to march under official authorization of the JCRC in the Israel Day Parade. "

Partners for Progressive Israel has called upon Jews to boycott Israeli companies such as Ahava, an Israel cosmetics company, SodaStream, an Israeli soda machine manufacturer, B&B Baking Company and nine Israeli Vineyards. New Israel Fund has funded groups that support or call for the boycott and sanctioning of Israel. BTselem supported the misinformation and deception which led to the infamous Goldstone Report on Operation Cast Lead. Rabbis for Human Rights is identified, by the well respected organization NGO Monitor.org, run by Professor Gerald Steinberg of Bar Ilan University, as a group which supports anti-Israel incitement.

These groups have been given official recognition in the Israel Day Parade under the so called "Big Tent" policy of John Ruskay, the CEO of the UJA - Federation of New York. The UJA-Federation is the major funder and greatly influences the JCRC. This so called "Big Tent" policy is allowing Jewish communal funds to be used for purposes that are against fundamental Jewish interests. The Israel Day Parade, a celebration of the democratic Jewish State of Israel, should not be allowed to be used by groups with a political ideology opposed to Israel. The Israel Day Parade is organized to support Israel, the policies pursued by the above named groups are inimical to Israel's long term survival.

In addition to allowing these groups to march in the parade, John Ruskay has made other questionable moves as Chief Executive Officer of the UJA - Federation. For example, under John Ruskay, the Federation gave a $1,000,000.00 (One Million Dollars) grant to a George Soros funded group, Jewish Funds for Justice, which received notoriety for their public attack against Glenn Beck.

Why are Jewish communal funds used to support a blatant one-sided political agenda?

As far as I am concerned, the issue is not that it's 'one-sided' but that these organizations are anti-Israel.

Read the whole thing.

Labels: BDS, New York Jewish Federation, Salute to Israel Day Parade

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:37 PM