Wishing all our readers a Better year 2021. SOME GOOD NEWS AND ALSO BALAGAN IN ISRAEL—NEW ELECTION IN MARCH 2021 AND ITS EFFECT ON OUR AGENDA
We, Canadians for Israel’s legal Rights-CILR, do not have, nor will we express any political bias nor opinion about the outcome of the elections. We will only express the opinion that it will bring our future plans to a snail’s pace. Suffice it to say, that with concerns about Covid-19, despite record vaccinations having topped one million, 1,000.000, the last thing Israelis need is election #4, in less than two years. The main contenders whose picture are shown above, will each be vying for top position, with one becoming the king makers. For one of the most comprehensive summaries/opinions on the election, please read
THE GOOD NEWS CORNER
CILR is proud to quote a few lines from a letter of Appreciation received from IM TIRTZU, CEO Matan Peleg, and from Douglas Altabef, Chairman of the Board. Dear Goldi and Irving, As the 2020 calendar year comes to an end, I would like to send my sincere thanks and appreciation for everything you and Canadians for Israel's Legal Rights have done in 2020 for the State of Israel, the Land of Israel, and Im Tirtzu. Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, our joint initiative to debunk the lie of the so-called "occupation" made large waves among the Israeli public and among leading decision makers and opinion shapers. Over the course of the year:
We produced a number of videos that were viewed by more than 1,500,0000 people.
We established the Knesset Caucus for Combating Delegitimization and Anti-Semitism, with a focus on combating the Occupation Lie.
We inspired a bill to establish a national holiday to commemorate the San Remo Resolution.
We published two booklets, one delineating the main points of the Levy Report and one detailing the implications that the Occupation Lie has on Israel's control of the Temple Mount.
We gave several lectures at mechinot, pre-army academies, focused on debunking the Occupation Lie.
We organized a unique online conference commemorating the 100th anniversary of the San Remo Conference, which featured talks and special messages by a number of leading personalities and elected officials, etc
In spite of all of the above, we feel that it is merely a drop in the ocean. We will not rest until enough drops will cause the ocean to overflow
PURSUING OUR GOAL TO EDUCATE WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON YOUTH MOVEMENTS
Nadia Matar, and Yehudit Katzover, co-founders of Women in Green
Quote from Nadia Matar: “As every year during the Hanukkah holidays, the Sovereignty Youth Movement held its annual seminar, organized by Women in Green, to strengthen consciousness and explain the vision of sovereignty and the efforts to achieve it. For the first time this year, in addition to its usual program, each youth was equipped with 2 important booklets on the international rights of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. These booklets were provided to us by “Canadians For Israel’s Rights”. We thank Goldi Steiner and Renanah Gemeiner for providing us with these important books that will equip the youth with important knowledge and hasbara tools. The book is excellent in proving our international rights”. This program – initiated by CILR’s devoted volunteer Renanah Gemeiner -- will be expanded , by making it available to other Israeli and worldwide youth movements, said Goldi Steiner.
THE GREAT ISRAELI-AMERICAN JEWISH DIVIDE
Of great concern is the growing rift between Israeli and American Jewish Communities. Potentially growing wider under the new US leadership. The divide -- among other reasons – has its roots in the inception in 2016, of IfNotNow, a millennial rebel group supported by JStreet. Their mission: A movement to end the North American Jewish community's support of the Occupation in Israel/Palestine, …. and supporting the BDS movement. While the peril posed by IfNotNow has been dismissed by many, Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights-CILR has convened a top-level meeting in August 2018, including CIJA, UJA, and B’nai Brith, at the offices of the Israeli Consulate. Despite our efforts, our attempt to stand up against this pernicious movement, came to ziltch.(naught)
Participants of the Consular Meeting convened by Canadians for Israel’sLegalRights-CILR-August 2018
In order to counter the influence of IfNotNow, CILR aims to connect with the Jewish Agency for Israel, to prepare their delegates -- the Shinshinim -- prior to departing on their ambassadorial mission to the Diaspora. Our goal is to provide them with knowledge about Israel’s legal Rights to impart/share that knowledge with the many/various institutions, i. e. schools, shuls and other organizations as part of their mission. LAUREN ISAACS a new and welcome addition to our board has undertaken the task as special Israeli Coordinator to mentor the delegates.
GOOD NEWS FROM ISRAEL
Israeli Drones Crack Down on EU-Funded Illegal Palestinian Land-Grab
Minister of Community Affairs Tzachi Hanegbi unveiled on Thursday a new initiative to prevent the illegal takeover of state lands in Judea and Samaria. The Ministry of Community Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office announced that the government will allocate NIS 20 million in 2021 to fund vehicle and drone patrols that will collect information on illegal activities to seize lands in Area C of Judea and Samaria, activities spearheaded by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and often funded by European countries. Read more
REPUBLISHED FROM THE JEWISH INSIDER-January 5 2021
Inside the 11th-hour passage of the bill elevating the U.S. antisemitism envoy
A bill elevating the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism to the rank of ambassador passed Congress on Thursday, nearly two years after it was first introduced, reports Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod. Prior to its passage, the legislation appeared to stall in the Senate, raising concerns in the final days of the 116th Congress that legislators might have had to start over in the new Congress. Read here
MORE ABOUT THE POLLARD’S HOMECOMING
Israeli Prime Minister greets Pollard at Ben Gurion Airport, 35 years after being arrested for espionage in the US. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, …..welcomed Jonathan and Esther Pollard upon their arrival in Israel. The Prime Minister was moved to meet them on the tarmac next to the plane where they recited the Shehecheyanu blessing together. Prime Minister Netanyahu gave Jonathan Pollard an Israeli identity card. The Prime Minister told the Pollards that it is good that they have come home where they will be able to start a new life, in freedom and happiness. Jonathan Pollard said: "We are ecstatic to be home at last after 35 years and we thank the people and the Prime Minister of Israel for bringing us home. No one could be prouder of this country or this leader than we are and we hope to become productive citizens as soon and as quickly as possible and to get on with our lives here. This is a wonderful country. It has a tremendous future. It is the future of the Jewish people and we’re not going anywhere."
SUGGESTION FOR GIFTING
The Jewish People’ Rights to the Land of Israel, authored by Salomon Benzimra, is a tool to educate the uninformed, as well as the informed, to better understand and confront the ever growing distortions about Israel’s legitimacy. The book is available by: Amazon.ca | Amazon.com It is also available for a limited time for $20 (shipping included in Canada) by emailing:goldi@israelslegalrights.org.