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This Week:

• Standing Strong for Israel and American Jews

• Kushner Rebukes Macron

• Anti-Israel Democrats Pushing Their Party Away from Israel

• Short Takes

• Week's Best Tweets

• Upcoming Events

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Standing Strong for Israel and American Jews

In an op-ed for the Jerusalem Journal, Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks notes that antisemites in America have painted a one-dimensional, poisonous caricature of Israel that is influencing too many people, especially among the young. Brooks writes that we must push back forcefully against those who would undermine the US-Israelalliance – on both sides of the aisle:

…How do we, today, bring a positive, factual assessment of Israel to the fore and push back to the fringes those extremist voices on the left and right? How do we counter the incredible volume of hate-filled, lying, pro-violence, anti-Western civilization activism that we’re seeing in America?

For the Republican Jewish Coalition, which has been fighting this fight for 40 years now, the answer is clear: keep fighting and fight harder. Since its founding, the RJC has advocated for a strong strategic alliance between the US and Israel and has spoken up, fearlessly and publicly, when politicians on either side of the aisle took actions that could weaken that alliance.

Likewise, the RJC fought alongside Republican Party leaders to make sure that toxic cranks Patrick Buchanan, David Duke, and Steve King stayed where they belong: on the sidelines of a GOP that supports Israel and defends Jewish Americans.

…Pro-Israel Americans can do much to stem the growing anti-Israel and antisemitic activism growing in America just by voting thoughtfully. But there are other ways as well. Keeping the truth front and center is a critical one. We know that there is a vast difference between criticizing an Israeli policy or politician and calling for the destruction of the one Jewish state in the world, the one democracy in the Middle East. That is a distinction that we must keep making, clearly and loudly.

Likewise, we must hold accountable the people who educate, inform, and influence Americans — from universities to news outlets to social media influencers — and not let lies go unrefuted. The more solid information we can all put out there, in every medium, and the more we can provide facts and thoughtful analysis, the better.

…Step up, speak up, and teach others to do the same. This is no time for quiet — “never again is now” in more ways than one.

Anti-Israel Democrats Pushing Their Party Away from Israel

Leading Democrats continue to push their party away from support of Israel.

• Example one: Former US national security adviser Jake Sullivan says he would back withholding weapons from Israel and is encouraging Democrats in the House and Senate to do the same. A Times of Israel report quotes Sullivan's remarks:

"The case for withholding weapons from Israel today is much stronger than it was one year ago. One, they don't face the same regional threats. Two, there was a ceasefire hostage deal in place and the ability to have negotiations, and it was Israel who just walked away from it without negotiating seriously. Three, there is a full-blown famine in Gaza. And four, there are no more serious military objectives to achieve. It's just bombing the rubble into rubble," he says.

Sullivan then reveals that he has counseled Democratic lawmakers who were weighing how to vote on resolutions last month on withholding weapons to Israel that doing so was a "totally credible position that I would support."

• Example two: At the Democratic National Committee summer meeting in Minneapolis, the fate of two resolutions about Israel demonstrated the key problem with the Democratic Party.

An extreme anti-Israel resolution calling for an arms embargo against Israel, recognition of a Palestinian state, and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, was defeated. That resolution made no mention of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

An alternative resolution submitted by DNC chairman Ken Martin that called for a ceasefire, a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the immediate release of the hostages and a two-state solution was initially advanced by the committee.

As JNS reports, however, after the more extreme resolution was voted down, Martin announced that he was withdrawing his resolution because "shared dialogue" on the issue was needed. Martin said that he would turn the issue over to a task force of "stakeholders on all sides of this" who would continue the discussion and then report back.

The Jewish Insider adds:

His about-face underscores the pressures that Martin, who became DNC chair in February, is facing from an outspoken contingent of anti-Israel activists who are now aggressively seeking to push the party away from its traditional commitment to defending the US-Israel relationship — which has come under growing strain amid party backlash to the ongoing war in Gaza.

• Example three:

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement on Tuesday that he "believe[s] it is time for the United States government to stop the sale of some offensive weapons systems to Israel as leverage to pressure Israel" into implementing a ceasefire, increasing humanitarian aid in Gaza and stopping the expansion of West Bank settlements.

• Example four:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is slated to appear with Graham Platner, a Democrat running to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), at a rally in Portland, Maine, on Labor Day, as the progressive leader from Vermont steps up his efforts to boost left-wing candidates who have been outspoken in their criticism of Israel and its ongoing war in Gaza.

Join the Celebration! RJC at 40

From our start in 1985 to today, the RJC has been a unique, outspoken, and trusted voice for Jewish Republicans, bringing our message to Republican decision makers and the broader Jewish community.

Please consider making a gift to the RJC today in honor of our 40 years of growth and success.

We need your support to keep moving forward!

Thank you!

Short Takes

Daroff and Korn: This academic year, universities cannot stay neutral on Jew-hatred

As colleges and universities start to open their doors this fall, they face a clear test: Will they enforce their rules, honor their obligations, follow the law and create an environment where every student can learn without harassment or intimidation? For years, North American colleges and universities have increasingly allowed Jewish students to face exclusion and hostility.

This year, administrators must ensure that Jew-hatred has no place on campus.

Mandel and Korn: 'Anti-Palestinian Racism': It's the next tool of anti-Zionists

Anti-Palestinian Racism [APR] is coming to America and a campus near you. But what is it, why now, and why is it so dangerous?

…Framed as a new category of discrimination against Palestinians, their narratives, and their advocates, APR has been aggressively promoted since 2022, first in Canada and now across North America and Europe. Far from protecting human rights, APR is the latest weapon designed to delegitimize Israel and stigmatize its supporters.

…Call for Gaza's demilitarization? Racist. Affirm Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state? Racist. Say no genocide is occurring in Gaza or that there was never a state of Palestine? Racist. Cite Palestinian rejectionism, terrorism, or antisemitism? Racist. Wave an Israeli flag or affirm Jewish indigeneity in the Levant? Racist. Under APR, virtually every expression of support for Israel becomes a racist act.

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