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November 21, 2019 |
Your
weekly look at the latest news, analysis, and RJC activities around
the country. |
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Trump
Resets US Policy on
Settlements
On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
announced that the Trump administration has reversed the Obama
administration’s approach towards Israeli settlements. He said:
After carefully studying all sides of the legal debate, this
administration agrees with President [Ronald]
Reagan. The establishment of Israeli civilian
settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with
international law.
… Calling the establishment of civilian settlements
inconsistent with international law hasn’t worked. It hasn’t advanced
the cause of peace.
The hard truth is there will never be a judicial resolution to
the conflict, and arguments about who is right and wrong as a matter
of international law will not bring peace. This is a complex political
problem that can only be solved by negotiations between the Israelis
and the Palestinians.
The RJC applauded the move, saying:
This is a historic decision by the Trump administration, one
that recognizes the facts on the ground and the necessity of a
negotiated peace between the parties to the conflict.
… President [Donald] Trump
has demonstrated once again by his actions that he is willing to bring
fresh thinking to the most difficult problems. This policy move is in
line with American support for a negotiated peace that will guarantee
the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
For strong analysis of the background and implications of this
policy change, please see:
While Republican leaders such as Senators Lindsey
Graham (R-SC) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) welcomed
the move, Democratic presidential candidates – as well as Reps.
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar
(D-MN) – condemned
it. So did the Jewish
Democratic Council of America. To no one’s surprise, the leftwing
anti-Israel groups J
Street and IfNotNow also condemned the policy change.
Jason
Greenblatt Joins Republican Jewish Coalition
Board
The RJC was honored to announce on Tuesday that the Honorable
Jason D. Greenblatt, formerly Assistant to the
President and Special Representative for International Negotiations
for President Donald J. Trump, has been elected to
the RJC Board of Directors.
RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said:
Jason Greenblatt served our country admirably as an advisor to
President Donald Trump and as someone passionately concerned for the
security and peace of Israel. We commend his outstanding contributions
to the US-Israel alliance and to the Trump Administration’s efforts to
develop a plan for a stable, peaceful settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We are very excited that Jason Greenblatt’s first engagement
since leaving the White House is in a leadership role with the
Republican Jewish Coalition. The RJC represents tens of thousands of
Jewish Republicans around the country. We have a terrific action plan
for energizing and growing the Jewish Republican base and for bringing
them out to support Republican candidates in 2020. We’re delighted
that Jason will be part of our efforts.
Members of the RJC Leadership met in Washington, DC this week
to discuss important issues such as: America’s foreign policy
challenges; how the 2020 elections are shaping up; and how difficult
it is to get things done in Congress when the Democrat majority in the
House is singularly focused on impeachment.
The RJC was honored to welcome the following speakers:
Brian Hook, advisor to Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo on Iran; White House Political Director
Brian Jack; Sen. Todd Young (R-IN),
chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee; House Whip
Steve Scalise (R-LA); Rep. Michael
McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee; Counselor to the President Kellyanne
Conway; and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
As RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman
noted, we are all fortunate to have such outstanding, talented,
dedicated, and wise men and women helping to lead our
country.
REGISTER NOW FOR THIS SPECIAL
EVENT
March 13-15 in Las Vegas: RJC National Leaders
are invited for a terrific weekend of politics, policy, and poker at
the fabulous Venetian/Palazzo Resort and Hotel. Attendees will have
the opportunity to hear from – and be heard by – some of the country’s
foremost politicians, policy makers, and leaders, including featured
speaker Ambassador Nikki Haley. It’s time to reserve
your spot! Visit RJCVegasMeeting.org
for details and reservations. (This event is open to RJC Leaders;
Leadership dues begin at the $1,000 donor
level.)
• The
Republican Jewish Coalition is hiring field staff for our advocacy
efforts in support of President Donald J.
Trump’s reelection in various battleground
states. CLICK
HERE for details and application
information.
• The RJC PAC
has endorsed a terrific slate of House and Senate incumbents, and we
need them to continue their work on Capitol Hill!
CLICK
HERE to donate through the RJC PAC portal and show your support for
our great candidates!
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And don't forget your RJC/Trump
kippah!
Our extremely popular red Trump kippah is now for
sale for just $18. This includes shipping and handling. Supplies are
limited.
BUY YOUR KIPPAH HERE.
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Malley in Wonderland
Tony Badran examines how President
Barack Obama’s ‘progressive’ foreign policy vision—to
backpedal away from the Middle East, fast, while kicking our former
allies in the region to the curb—became the consensus in the DC
swamp.
AG William Barr's remarks to the Federalist
Society
Attorney General William Barr gave an
uplifting and informative speech this week about the Constitution’s
approach to executive power. It is definitely worthy of your time. Video
/ Transcript
Arabs against boycotting
Israel
The Arab Council for Regional Integration, founded this
week by 32 civic actors from 15 Arab countries, says that boycotting
Israel has done harm to Arab countries and it’s time for the region to
build inclusive regional cooperation instead.
Jewish-American diplomat begins to serve as Egypt
Ambassador
On Sunday, Jewish-American diplomat Jonathan
Cohen arrived in Cairo, where he began to serve as the new US
ambassador to Egypt. Cohen previously served as the Acting
Representative of the United States to the United Nations, after
Nikki Haley stepped down and before current
Ambassador Kelly Craft took over the role. He also
served at the US embassies in Iraq, France, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey, and
Sweden. He was also deputy assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs covering Cyprus, Greece, and
Turkey.
If you like the work we’re doing, consider joining us on
Facebook and Twitter, and renew or upgrade your RJC
membership. Ensure that your voice is heard in our party
and our community!
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