New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft pledged $20 million to establish a new foundation that will work to counter the international movement to boycott Israel over its violations of human rights. Kraft said that the foundation will combat “antisemitism,” which is often defined to mean criticism of Israel.
PBS stations around the US were scheduled to show a riveting new Frontline documentary, “One Day in Gaza,” but at the last minute the plug was pulled. While significant context is missing, the film includes clips important for Americans to see – including a young, unarmed teen being shot in her head. BBC, the coproducer of the film, broadcast it to British viewers. We are posting it below so that Americans can also view it.
As Democratic support for Israel wanes, new pro-Zionist organizations are committed to rekindling the love affair by any means possible.
Among the many state and local orgs that work in the shadows for Israel is the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (VIAB), funded by Virginia taxpayers. VIAB’s main objective is to provide preferential and unconditional funding to oftentimes secretive Israeli business projects designed to entwine Israeli industries into Virginia industries and government. VIAB is currently being scrutinized by the state Attorney General over its handling of government funds.
The U.S. State Department is offering to fund two projects “that counter the rise of anti-Semitism” in Europe and Central Asia. The State Department uses a new definition of anti-Semitism that includes criticisms of Israel. Among the alleged anti-Semitism will be “hateful or inflammatory speech in public discourse, traditional media and online…”
AIPAC-connected officials are about to launch yet another pro-Israel political action committee, “Pro-Israel America,” which will be be targeting smaller donors. It hopes to give pro-Israel candidates from both parties at least $2 million in the 2020 elections and has already endorsed 27 candidates…
In a unanimous decision, a DC court is allowing Palestinian plaintiffs to sue Sheldon Adelson & others for $1 billion over their support of Israeli settlements & alleged war crimes – including genocide.
Philip Weiss reports that writers try to blame Democratic support for Israel on evangelical Christians so they won’t be called antisemitic. However, if evangelicals were so influential, Democrats would have supported Kavenaugh, would be anti-abortion, etc. And regarding Republicans: Adelson’s money was a major influence in Trump’s decision to move the embassy…
NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ segment underreports AIPAC’s finances, uses only Israel partisans as commentators, minimizes power of AIPAC, ignores Palestinians, and fails to inform listeners of the full scope of the Israel lobby…
The new Congress member, a Muslim-American who has often been attacked by Israel partisans, suggested that AIPAC is responsible for U.S. politicians’ slavish support for Israel. Her very reasonable tweets caused a firestorm of controversy, powerful leaders attacking her, many others supporting her. But the Israel lobby goes far beyond AIPAC and is embedded in organizations throughout the U.S.