Arab-Israelis stun on US campuses: 'Let Israel be! Israel enables women, Muslims & Christians, like us, freedoms, equalities & opportunities Islamists never will"

Anti-Israel activism is a formidable foe on Univ. of Calif  campuses  (2014 Photo: Daily Bruin)

Though Los Angeles may have America's second largest population of Jews, University of California at Los Angeles ("U.C.L.A.") has an anti-Israel attitudes problem - from its leftist and Muslim constituencies - both students and faculty. Even Jewish and Israeli faculty are leftist - either from their own leanings or professional/ social pressure not to vary from leftist shibboleths.  UCLA has provided a forum for "Breaking the Silence" -

former soldiers critical of their I.D.F. actions - which has been used to bolster the popular notion that Israel is hypocritically unjust towards Muslims and other minorities - both inside the country and towards the irredentist Arabs in the disputed territories.

Reservists on Duty (RoD), a pro-Israel organization founded to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses, toured America in October with a two-week-long ‘Arabs Breaking the Silence.’  Five speakers with diverse backgrounds from the Arab community in Israel gave presentations and answered audience questions.

These speakers, comprised of Christians, Muslims, Druze, Bedouins and Palestinians—including one from the West Bank, shared their experiences living in Israel and serving in the Israel Defense Forces. They toured colleges and communities across the United States in California, Arizona, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and New York, covering 12 locations over some 4,000 miles.

RoD has been active on American campuses in coordination with Students Supporting Israel (SSI), especially during the Boycott, Divest and Sanction Movement’s (BDS) “Apartheid Week,” to correct the BDS narrative of Israel.

The upcoming tour departs from previous ones that focused on contesting BDS propaganda. RoD has faced violent threats from BDS supporters at the University of California, Irvine, when Students for Justice Palestine (SJP) disrupted an IDF reservist speaking panel, which SSI hosted, by shouting expletives, leading to the reservists and pro-Israel student exiting the room with security, and university sanctions on SJP.

“This speaking tour is very important because it highlights the real experiences of Israeli Arabs of minority populations in Israel, and provides a forum for them to express their views without censorship or derision from people who base their opinions on propaganda that comes from people who have never lived in Israel,” said Jonathan Elkhoury, RoD’s Minority Coordinator.



Mr. Elkoury continued, “I am proud to help Americans—especially those who are not knowledgeable about Israel—to hear from people who are not Israeli Jews. These Israelis have a perspective that is often ignored, and their stories, their energy and their enthusiasm paint a more honest portrait of our country.”

“We are here to tell the truth about Israel: a diverse country with patriotic citizens who are Bedoiun, Druze, Arab, Christian, Muslim, and more. We are proud IDF veterans and Israeli citizens who know firsthand how our country treats minority groups with respect and compassion,” said Mohammed Kabiya, a Muslim Israeli-Bedouin IDF veteran.

Mohammad Kabiya, a Muslim Bedouin and former IDF soldier

Ram Asad, a Druze-Israeli ex-IDF raised in Isfiya

Ms. Dema Taya, a Muslim-Israeli Arab raised in Qalansawe

Mohammed Kabiya, a Muslim Israeli-Bedouin IDF veteran says, “We want to make clear that coexistence isn’t just possible—it’s been real in Israel for decades. It is time for young Americans to hear our story.”

Having filmed and interviewed the RoD presenters at UCLA, this reporter conveyed his perceptions about the tour on the Israeli podcast, "A Hebrew in the Heartland," hosted by David Ha'Ivri. To fast-forward to segment start, please advance to 12min 19sec point.



The anti-Zionist forces organized against support for Israel (even accurate academic depiction of Palestine vs Israel) are formidable. In previous years, the US NGO, Stand With Us, has withdrawn from its original counter-demonstrations off-campus, and later on-campus, creating a vacuum for a socio-political counter. It's unclear that the Israeli-Arabs' testimonial visit is an effective way to counter the storm against campaigns against "occupation and persecution of Muslims in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza."
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At 14th Festival of Lights, L.A.-based Stand With Us shows global organizational reach

More than 1,200 people gathered on the last night of Hanukkah for the StandWithUs' annual gala, "Festival of Lights," celebrating the non-profit Israel education organization's fourteen years of growth and achievements.   The event was held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, on December 13, 2015.

StandWithUs (SWU) was founded in 2001 by Roz and Jerry Rothstein and community leader Esther Renzer as an international organization that educates peoples of all ages and faiths about Israel.  The organization now has multiple chapters throughout the U.S. and including Israel, Canada and the U.K.

SWU honored two philanthropists who have dedicated their lives to supporting Israel:  Leo David and David Wiener.  David is a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to America after World War II ended, and Leo moved to Israel from Germany where he joined the Israeli army prior to moving to New York.  Both men warned of the danger Israel is facing as a result of the propaganda war promoted by the boycott movement,  primarily on campuses.  They commended SWU for educating people of all ages around the world, particularly to high school and college students.

(Left to Right): Honorees Leo David and David Wiener hold the Menorahs bestowed to them at 

"Festival of Lights" Credit: Jonah Light Photography

Similar to previous years, the gala was underwritten by Ellie and Bruce Lederman and Debbie and Naty Saidoff.  As a result, all the funds will go directly into programming for 2016.  

(left to right):  Roz Rothstein, CEO, StandWithUs; gala co-chairs Naty and Debbie Saidoff; honoree Leo David; honoree David Wiener; keynote speaker Malcolm Hoenlein; gala co-chairs Ellie and Bruce Lederman; Esther Renzer, President, SWU and Jerry Rothstein, COO, SWU and emcee Elon Gold

Bruce Lederman, co-host of "Festival of Lights" introduced keynote speaker Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Organizations.  Malcolm wove Hanukkah themes into the present day challenges, noting that the archeological find of coins from Hasmonean (Maccabean) period is God's way of reminding Jews of their past and the promise of the future.  The triumph of the Maccabees is an example of the ingathering of exiles to Israel, similar to the ones from Iran, Syria,and Ethiopia, among others.  He praised SWU for standing with Israel and remarked that those who have stood with Israel survived throughout history and those who didn't, are forgotten.


Keynote speaker Malcolm Hoenlein. Credit: Jonah Light Photography

Two United States Congressmen - a Republican and Democrat - were honored with the StandWithUs "Guardian of Israel" award  - Ed Royce (R-39th district) and Juan Vargas (D-51st district) for their courage in voting against the Iran nuclear deal and continuing to approve aid to Israel.. Introduced by SWU President Esther Renzer as true guardians of Democratic values and of the American-Israel relationship, she also acknowledged CA State Assemblyman Travis Allen who recently introduced a critical bill in the California state assembly which would prohibit the state from doing business with any entity that would boycott Israel.  The bill will  deal a blow to the Boycott movement.


(Left to right): Roz Rothstein, Marie Royce; Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA); Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA); Malcolm Hoenlein; Esther Renzer; Jerry Rothstein and emcee Elon Gold. Credit: Jonah Light Photography
StandWithUs has a high school internship program entering its fourth year and the Emerson Fellowship for college students in its ninth year.  Two students were honored with the "Star of David" award for being role models in educating their peers about Israel and fighting anti-Israel rhetoric at their schools.  Olivia Feldman, attends LA County High School for the Arts.  She recalled that her passion for Israel began while on a trip there.  When she returned, she realized that her peers were extremely critical of Israel even though they didn't have much information.   Unsure as to how to express her support, Olivia credits the StandWithUs high school Internship for giving her the tools and the courage to express that "loving Israel goes hand-in-hand with  my values."

Tomer Kornfeld, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the SWU New York Campus Liaison, asked the audience how they would feel if they walked onto their campus and met by a "die-in" where students are laying on the ground, pretending to be shot by  Israeli soldiers.  A graduate of the first Teen Internship program and an Emerson Fellow, Tomer credited SWU for giving him the  knowledge to properly respond to these kinds of actions, emphasizing that, "none of this would be possible without SWU."


(Left to right):  Tomer Kornfeld, Malcolm Hoenlein and Olivia Feldman 

Credit: Jonah Light Photography

Robert French, co-founder and co-chair of StandWithUs-New York delivered an impassioned speech stressing the importance of SWU's work in clearing misconceptions and fighting the lies against Israel.  

Robert French, co-founder and co-chair SWU-NY adresses the audience. 

Credit: Jonah Light Photography

Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO StandWithUs expressed that, "we do this work for our children and our grandchildren."  As a child of Holocaust survivors who lost many family members, she urged that we must take an active role, reminding the audience that Israeli's defend Israel with their children and the very least we can do is to defend Israel with words and deeds.  

Los Angeles Israel Consul General David Siegel opened the evening.  He stated that these are perilous times for Israel, but SWU is central in the fight. He commended the Israel education organization for having the foresight to recognize the need 14 years ago, when it began reaching out to high school and college students, building a giant platform that empowers them to clarify Israel's challenges and achievements.  Siegel expressed that while "we work for Israel, we are confident that SWU is there."


(Left to Right) - Naty Saidoff, SWU-"Festival Of Lights" co-chair; honoree Leo David; Israel's Consul General to Los Angeles David Siegel at the Menorah lighting. Credit - Orly Halevy

Comedian Elon Gold emceed the event, and once again, anti-Boycott rapper Ari Lesser closed the evening with a rousing performance.  The national anthems were sung by Rabbi Cantor Alison Wissot (American) and SWU Board member Alon Miller (Israeli.)  The David Kates Orchestra provided the music.
 

Anti-BDS rapper Ari Lesser. Credit: Jonah Light Photography

The event was followed by a Young Professionals after-party attended by hundreds and sponsored by Barak Raviv and Joel Mowbray.

SWU staff enjoy the Young Professionals After-Party.  Credit: Jonah Light Photography

Bret Stephens' speech on Obama's "Worse than Munich" deal allowing Iran the ability to to build a nuclear bomb within weeks

"In 1938, Chamberlain bought time to rearm. In 2013, Obama gives Iran time to go nuclear. To adapt Churchill : Never in the field of global diplomacy has so much been given away by so many for so little." -Bret Stephens "Worse than Munich" column in the Wall St. Journal

In addressing a Zionist banquet by StandWithUs in Los Angeles on Sunday, 8 December, Mr. Stephens augmented this theory, echoed by other experts.  Listen to the speech audio here: "Now, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I want to spend most of my time tonight talking about Iran, but I think that it is also fitting feel that I should begin by speaking about Nelson Mandela and the meaning of his legacy and its meaning for us as Americans- for us as Jews."
 
Click the CC button on the lower right of the frame to display sub-titles. To read the edited transcript of the first half of this speech, see companion article on DemocracyBroadcasting.TV.  The second half of the transcript appears below. 

      

Bret Stephens: (transcript by Nurit Greenger): "There is one skill that every dictatorial regime, every tyrant needs in order to survive in power as long as the Islamic Republic and the Ayatollah Khamenei has survived. And that is the ability to sense the weakness of others and to take advantage of that. That is exactly how Iran is behaving towards us today. So now we have this interim agreement and the pressure is going to be powerful, almost overwhelming to make a go of the final, any final, agreement.

I do not think that there is much that I can do that will change the administration's views. But let at least be smart about what we, in this room, can do. For starters, we can support Mark Kirk and Senator Menendez, in pushing to increase sanctions, now, immediately to send a signal to the Iranian regime that we are not simply folding. But I want to bring another idea to this room. In September the president decided that the issue of military strike on Syria required congressional approval. I am not sure that this was really true, but let us concede that point for now. If the president thought congress's approval was necessary back then, should congress also demand that any deal the administration reach with Iran require the approval of the senate, just as all international treaties constitutionally require the agreement of two thirds of the United State senate. Now is the time to tell Senator Boxer and Feinstein from California, and Senator Schumer and Gillibrand in New York that they should demand an up and down vote on any agreement the administration reaches with Iran. We know these senators are pro-Israel and pro-Iran sanctions when they are giving speeches at AIPAC policy conference or before audiences like this one. We, let us make them go on the record. Are they seriously prepared to stand up against the bad nuclear deal with Iran, to stand with us, even if it means crossing the administration? Let us see if all of those friendly speeches are anything more than simple donor's maintenance. 

Prof. Alan Dershowitz & 1st Israeli Paralympics gold-medaller, Noam Gershony, address Zionist advocacy group StandWithUs

Elon Gold performed master-of-ceremonies services for the L.A.-based, Zionist advocacy organization, Stand With Us', Festival of Lights fundraising dinner 12/2/12. The 11-year old group primarily serves Zionist-advocacy assistance on academic campuses. Prof. Alan Dershowitz delivered remarks about Israel's problems from the White House and the United Nations. 

The attendees were also addressed by Israel's first, gold-medal winning paralympian, wheelchair tennis athlete (downed helicopter pilot) Noam Gershony (who bested his American opponent to win the finals). From the Israeli Consulate, Consul General David Siegel, Carolyn ben Natan, and Danny Gadot attended. The 11th anniversary brought together a number of early L.A. Zionist activists, including Gary Ratner (now an executive at StandWithUs), Scott Jacobs, editor of JewTube.Info, and Allyson Rowen Taylor (like Ratner, formerly with the AJC, today an interior designer, artist, and painter).  Philanthropic families- Ellie and Bruce Lederman and Debbie and Naty Saidoff contributed to hosting the event. 

Prof. Alan Dershowitz's keynote speech before 1100 attendees, touched on Hamas, Gaza, apartheid, Iran, and the Obama White House. 

Celebrate Israel Festival in L.A. brings civic and communal interests together

Israel supporters, both Jew and Gentile, large and small, came out to celebrate a spectacular, 15,000+ person, community-wide festival commemorating Israel's Independence Day.  The crowd was treated to ethnic Israeli foods (including Sadaf Brand), world music, drum circles, folk dancing and a 200-vendor village which showcased Israeli artwork, sculptures, jewelry, and Judaica gifts.

Mirror-floored, Star of David sculpture (photo:Orly Halevy)

One of America's pre-eminent Israeli Independence gatherings, now called the Celebrate Israel Festival returned after a break last year from Woodley Park - back to its original venue on the Westside of Los Angeles. The event began with a a 1.5-mile free “Salute to Israel Walk” presented by StandWithUs. Hundreds walked from Rancho Park to the Museum of Tolerance and back to show solidarity with the State of Israel. A salute to Israel drive-by heralded the start of the walk with an automobile caravan of custom designed, 9/11 Tribute-“Fueled by the Fallen.”

Saville Katz and Scott Jacobs drew-out the stories from the fair

JooTube.TV chronicled some of the goings-on at the Fest. Elected officials (and candidates) participated in a ceremony, presenting certificates to the Israeli Leadership Coalition. JooTube drew-out some luminaries at the Festival. Video segments:

1. Michael Medved, author and radio host, discussing how America's Israel policy is crucial to America maintaining global stability against aggressive regimes;
2. The Fire Chief of the metropolitan Jerusalem region, Shmuel Friedman on sharing intelligence;
3. Actor, Shmuel Livne impersonates Israel's founding father, David Ben Gurion and discusses the man;
4. Artist and former IDF soldier, Tomer Peretz, presented "The Unbreakable Project" exhibit depicting the struggle of the Israeli soldier against an implacable, Islamist enemy;
5. Jewish rap-star, Kosher Dillz, raps about the Arab "Occupation" of historic Jewish lands;
6. Michael Medved is asked whether he feels that Israel, threatened by Iranian nuclear weaponizing, should trust Barack Obama's campaign promise to stop Iran so that Israel doesn't have to.

(Advance through the segments by clicking the button to the right of the Play button).

Singer, Eyal Golan (Photo: Orly Halevy)

Update: Israeli pop-singer, Eyal Golan headlined the entertainment. See the crowd enjoying the sing and dance-along.

Israeli-Americans demonstrate love of G-d and love of Zion (photo Orly Halevy)

See if you can recognize yourself or someone you know among the audience of thousands enjoying the concert.

(Advance through the segments by clicking the button to the right of the Play button).
Eyal Golan performed a show which included both secular and religious themed songs.

Zionist analyst Caroline Glick in The Jewish Press: "U.S. Jewish Organizations And Obama"

by Caroline Glick, May 27, 2011

Non-Jewish American supporters of Israel never tire of asking how it is that so many American Jews voted for Obama in 2008. Perhaps the easiest explanation is because the American Jewish leadership papered over his hostility.

Read it all
AIPAC Policy Conference attendees, attorney, Mrs. Claire Meadows, and her husband, Mike are representative of the segment of attendees not willing to march to AIPAC's cadence of support for Pres. Obama's Middle-East policies towards Israel.

Events from Stand With Us unite experts with community to enlighten pro-Israel advocates

"Stand with Us," a grassroots, pro-Israel advocacy group headquartered in Los Angeles, is hosting the second of two, major advocacy community events within 3-weeks of each other.

On the weekend of Nov 13-15, the group organized an "Israel in Focus" seminar. College students attended a Friday through Sunday seminar in the Pico-Robertson area of L.A.  On Sunday, the same lecturers gave a one-day, concentrated Community Conference.

Elliot Chodoff spoke on "Israel's Strategic Threats." Itamar Marcus of Palestinian Media Watch showed incitement on Palestinian government TV channels. Activist Mrs. Roberta Seid presented a lecture entitled "Israel 101."  British emigrant to Israel, Neil Lazarus, taught effective argument techniques against Israel-detractors. Marketing consultant David Suissa lectured on how to bring an "Israeli Voice to Your Community." Stand with Us' publicist, Jennifer Kutner, shuttled Muslim Arab journalist, Khaled abu Toameh, who writes for the Jerusalem Post, between the academic and community conferences.

Mr. Abu Toameh, challenged the intentions of Muslim and leftist protestors who consider themselves pro-Palestinian - contending that they are more accurately, anti-Israel.  David Suissa characterizes his positions in the Jewish Journal:

Toameh thinks it is in the interest of the Palestinians to stop incitement, and he shared an Arab perspective on the subject.

“Look at the language that is now flying back and forth between Hamas and Fatah,” he said. “It’s the same poison you hear about the Jews: sons of pigs, infidels, etc. Incitement has spread and backfired on the Palestinians.”

This incitement has also hurt the Palestinians’ ability to make peace: “How do you tell people to make peace with the people you’ve called monsters and sons of pigs?”

Toameh sees no hope in the “top down” approach to peace. The soil is too rotten, he says. The Arab moderates have been undermined. “If I go to Ramallah and talk about Palestinian concessions on the right of return, I’ll get shot in five minutes.”

He says the Palestinians “already got their two-state solution — Gaza and the West Bank,” and if it weren’t for the Israeli presence in the West Bank, “Hamas would take over and Mahmoud Abbas would be lynched.”

Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz will give the keynote address at this year's Stand with Us "Festival of Lights" event being held Sunday, December 6th.

Most important pro-Israel events in L.A. have Joo-Tube cover them.  Last year, outgoing Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Dan Gillerman gave the Festival attendees optimistic perspectives looking back and looking forward on the evolving situation - covered in this Joo-Tube article: 

Stand With Us' Festival of Lights - Israel U.N. Amb Dan Gillerman offers insights from 6-years inside the U.N.

"Can Muslim middle-east overcome bigotry towards Jewish Israel to thwart imperialist Iran?" Israeli UN Amb. Dan Gillerman asks Stand With Us' Festival of Lights.

"Ambassador Dan Gillerman professes optimism that the threats from imperialist Iran might motivate the Arab world to unite with Israel. He declares that Islamic militantism is as great a threat to moderate Muslims as it is to the general public - yet the Muslim world is not adequately routing-out militantism from its midst - to everyone's peril."

Los Angeles Jewish events highlights: Chanukah / December

ADL Pacific Region banquet keynote address by University of California President Martin Yudof, "Bearing Witness" holocaust educators Sister Sara Goggin and Rev. Alexei Smith, Humanitarian Award honorees Samuel and Ardyth Freshman.

Stand with Us Dan banquet featuring Israeli UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman, City Council candidates Paul Koretz & Adina Bleich;

Chanukah at Universal CityWalk with Lyle Weisman and family;

Orthodox Union West convention features debate between its Washington liason Nathan Diament and radio host Dennis Prager.

Stand With Us' Festival of Lights - Israel U.N. Amb Dan Gillerman offers insights from 6-years inside the U.N.

Addressing an annual, Israel-supportive, Stand With Us, "Festival of Lights" Dinner audience, Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Israel's outgoing Ambassador to the U.N. looks backward and forward upon stepping-down from having represented the Jewish State at the U.N. for the past 6-years.

Amb. Gillerman professes optimism that the threats from imperialist Iran might motivate the Arab world to unite with Israel.  He declares that Islamic militantism is as great a threat to moderate Muslims as it is to the general public - yet the Muslim world is not adequately routing-out militantism from its midst - to everyone's peril.

"Will Arabs ally with Israel to thwart Islamist imperialist Iran?" Israeli UN Amb. Dan Gillerman asks Stand with Us.

Stand With Us' annual Chanukah-time dinner, the "Festival of Lights," is a gathering for the Los Angeles, pro-Israel advocacy community.

Pro-Israel social activist found dead in suspicious circumstances at San Francisco's Pacific Arabic Resources' offices

A memorial service is being held for a prominent San Francisco physician who was found dead inside the elevator shaft of the Arabic-language night-school he attended.

Dr. Daniel Kliman, 38, was believed to have fallen down the elevator shaft on Tuesday evening 11/25/08, on the same day as the Mumbai terror attacks. The memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec 14, at 7:30 pm at the Beth Jacob Congregation, 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland.

There were no classes the week of 25 November. There were very few people in the building at the time. The defective elevator was "secure". It is still unclear how this happened. The S.F. Gate reports:

Brad Bernheim, the building manager, said the elevator was not working last week and had been secured so that no one could enter it. Workers showed up Monday to repair the elevator and discovered the body.

Last Tuesday, a surveillance camera recorded Kliman waiting for the elevator in the lobby. It wasn't clear, however, how he ended up in the elevator shaft or whether he fell from that floor or higher, Bernheim said.
He said the victim was a student at the Pacific Arabic Resources School on the seventh floor of the building. He said there were no classes last week.

"I don't know why he was there. That's what we're investigating, how he got down there," Bernheim said. "Yeah, it's strange. You don't normally find bodies in the elevator shafts."

Kliman was scheduled to fly to Israel on Thanksgiving Day as part of the Honest Reporting Mission, a pro-Israel media initiative.

"He was the public face of grass-roots Israel advocacy in the San Francisco Bay area," said Mike Harris, his colleague at Voice for Israel. "He was passionate about standing up for Israel, literally -- standing up in public with flags and signs."

Kliman, also known as a fervent environmentalist, often was seen bicycling around the Bay Area instead of taking rides to reduce his carbon footprint, friends said.

Harris told the Chronicle he knew of no specific threats against Kliman, but he had been assaulted before at a pro-Israel rally. Kliman's body was buried in his hometown of Schenectady, N.Y.

A memorial service being held for Dan on Sunday, Dec 14, 7:30pm at the Beth Jacob Congregation, 3778 Park Blvd., Oakland.  The blog, Zombietime, has ongoing coverage of the controversial investigation of the circumstances surrounding Dr. Kliman's death. (photo by Dan Kliman of anti-Israel demonstrators; Courtesy: Zombietime)