THE DALLAS JCRC CONTINUES TO CALL FOR THE SAFE AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF GILAD SHALIT

Gilad Shalit, a Staff Sergeant in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), was abducted early on Sunday morning the 25th of June 2006 by Hamas terrorists who ambushed an Israeli army post, inside sovereign Israel, on the southern Gaza Strip border. Friday, June 25, 2010 will mark Gilad Shalit’s 4th year in captivity. Since 2006, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has repeatedly asked Hamas to allow visits by the ICRC to ascertain Shalit's conditions of detention and treatment, but Hamas refused the requests.

YELLOW BALLOON CAMPAIGN FOR GILAD SHALIT

The Dallas JCRC will participate in a program organized by Koach, the College Branch of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism to help further awareness of the ongoing efforts to bring Gilad Shalit home. The Dallas JCRC encourages you to display yellow balloons outside your home throughout the week of June 21, 2010 to show solidarity with Gilad Shalit and his family.

BIBI, HE'S YOUR PRISONER TOO

Below is a portion of an article written by Ahiya Raved on June 17, 2010 that was published on ynetnews.com about the continued pressure on the Israeli government to push for Gilad Shalit’s return, four years after he was captured by Hamas terrorists. To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Just before the trek marking four years since Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas to the Gaza Strip, the captive soldier's family members published a new pamphlet Thursday containing a picture of their son in the format of a police missing persons notice. Instead of the word "missing," however, is the word "captive."

Underneath Gilad's picture is the sentence, "Four years ago, the soldier Gilad Shalit was taken captive. He was last seen guarding the borders of the State of Israel near the Gaza Strip. Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), Gilad is your prisoner."

In another 10 days, the Shalit families are slated to hold a 12-day trek along with members of the campaign for his release that will start out at the family home in Mitzpe Hila and will conclude at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem. Hundreds of participants, including representatives from various volunteer and social groups, are expected to take part at various parts of the trek.

N. IRISH NOBEL LAUREATE, CANADIAN JURIST TO OBSERVE GAZA FLOTILLA PROBE

Haaretz published the following article written by Barak Ravid on June 14, 2010 about the establishment of an independent public committee to examine events around Israel's takeover of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. To read the entire article, click on the title above.

The cabinet is set to approve Monday the establishment of an independent public committee to examine events around Israel's takeover of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, in which nine Turkish activists were killed.

The committee will include two international observers and tackle the legality of the blockade of Gaza and the legality of the navy's actions. The committee will also determine whether investigations of claims of war crimes and breaches of international law conform to the Western standards.

A retired Supreme Court justice, Jacob Turkel, will head the committee, whose members will included Shabtai Rosen, 93, a professor of international law who is an Israel Prize laureate in legal sciences and a Hague Prize laureate in international law. Also on the panel will be Maj. Gen. (res. ) Amos Horev, former president of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.

The United States hailed the decision to investigate the May 31 raid, in which navy commandos opened fire on pro-Palestinian commandos after encountering unexpectedly violent resistance when storming the 'Mavi Marmara, the lead boat in the flotilla.

U.S. LAWMAKERS RAP TURKEY FOR ITS STANCE ON ISRAEL

Below is a portion of a news release published by Reuters on June 16, 2010 about members of the U.S. Congress denouncing NATO ally Turkey for supporting an aid convoy of ships that recently tried to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza. To read the entire news release, click on the title above.

U.S. lawmakers warned Turkey on Wednesday that its ties with Washington would suffer if it continued on what they considered an anti-Israel path.

"There will be a cost if Turkey stays on its present heading of growing closer to Iran and more antagonistic to the state of Israel," Representative Mike Pence, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, said.

At a news conference, Republicans and Democrats denounced NATO ally Turkey for supporting an aid convoy of ships that recently tried to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

MAHMOUD ABBAS VISITS WASHINGTON: KEY QUOTES

The following is a portion of a policy analysis written by David Makovsky for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy on June 15, 2010 about what the implications are from the visit of Mahmoud Abbas to Washington, D.C. last week. To read the entire policy analysis, click on the title above.

Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas conducted an unprecedented sequence of three public events during his visit to Washington last week, during which he articulated his positions on a range of issues. The events included an on-the-record dinner hosted by philanthropist Daniel Abraham, a television appearance with PBS host Charlie Rose, and a speech at the Brookings Institution.

Throughout, Abbas repeatedly conveyed his belief that both Israelis and Palestinians urgently need peace to avert further radicalization. He explicitly defined peace as "an end of claims" and "end of conflict," terms Israelis and others have long waited to hear him use.

At the same time, Abbas was equally explicit about the conditions for peace. He reaffirmed that the baseline for land swaps -- the idea of offsetting land within Israel in return for annexing settlement blocs -- must be the pre-1967 borders. Additionally, he made clear that he would agree to any long-term third-party security arrangements within Palestinian territory as long as they did not include Israelis. He claimed that the United States, Israel, and the PA reached agreement on this issue during the 2007-2008 tenure of former Middle East security envoy James Jones (currently President Obama's national security advisor). Washington and Israel do not share this view, however. On another key issue, Abbas stated that east Jerusalem should be the capital of Palestine, and west Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Regarding refugees, he indicated the need to reach an "agreed upon" solution with Israel.

COOL USE OF THE SUN

ISRAEL21c.org published the following article written by Karin Kloosterman on June 15, 2010 about how an Israeli company is proposing to use the sun's heat to cool our homes, reducing harmful electricity surges in the process. To read the article in its entirety, click on the title above.

It's perfectly logical: When the thermostat rises on scorching hot days, the air conditioners kick in, causing a massive electricity surge that strains the grid. Summer blackouts and brownouts are already occurring in the US. If mismanaged, they may cripple cities and damage local economies.

In April 2006, for instance, parts of Texas experienced rolling blackouts lasting as long as five hours that were caused by air conditioner use. Blackouts from air con use in California were first experienced in early 2000 and continue to be a major priority on the California utility companies' list of problems.

Now, Linum Systems, a young Israeli solar air conditioning company claims it could have the answer. The company is 'solar cooling' and heating homes using an old approach combined with their own new patents and technology.

SOCIAL ACTION/PUBLIC POLICY

WHY UNPAID MATERNITY LEAVE ISN'T ENOUGH

Sharon Lerner wrote the following Op-Ed on June 13, 2010 that was published in the Washington Post about why when it comes to paid maternity leave, the United States is in the postpartum dark ages. Ms. Lerner is the author of "The War on Moms: On Life in a Family-Unfriendly Nation." To read the entire Op-Ed, click on the title above.

When it comes to paid maternity leave, the United States is in the postpartum dark ages.

One hundred and seventy-seven nations -- including Djibouti, Haiti and Afghanistan -- have laws on the books requiring that all women, and in some cases men, receive both income and job-protected time off after the birth of a child. But here, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 provides only unpaid leave, and most working mothers don't get to stay home with their newborns for the 12 weeks allowed by the law. Many aren't covered by the FMLA; others can't afford to take unpaid time off. Some go back to work a few weeks after giving birth, and some go back after mere days. The century-long battle for maternity leave in America is a story of missed opportunities and historical accidents, further slowed by activists' miscalculations and some well-funded opposition. In other words: It didn't have to be this way.

As far back as 1919, when the Model T was switching from a crank to an electric starter, the U.S. government came close to signing on to an International Labor Organization agreement, supported by 33 countries, that said women workers should receive cash benefits in addition to job-protected leave for 12 weeks in the period surrounding childbirth. That same year, Julia Lathrop, the chief of the Labor Department's children's bureau, issued a report on international maternity leave policy in which she decried the United States as "one of the few great countries which as yet have no system of State or national assistance in maternity." She had recently returned from Europe, where Germany and France had paid-leave laws that had been in place for decades.

HEALTHCARE: REINING IN COSTS WON'T BE EASY

The following is a portion of an Op-Ed written by Stella Fitzgibbons, M.D. that was published in the The LA Times on June 17, 2010 about why expensive end-of-life care and Americans' unwillingness to accept anything less than gold-plated treatment practically ensure that costs will continue to increase in the healthcare industry. Dr. Fitzgibbons is a board-certified physician in internal medicine. She practices medicine in the Houston area. To read the entire Op-Ed, click on the title above.

As a hospital-based doctor, I am one of the people responsible for the country's ever-escalating cost of healthcare. And I can tell you that the new healthcare plan will do nothing to restrain me.

There is enormous pressure on healthcare providers to continue practicing the most expensive medicine in the world. To resist that pressure, we need some help from policymakers.

Consider the case of a man I'll call Mr. A. At the age of 80, he is admitted to intensive care after a huge stroke. He also has pneumonia and kidney failure. He is too sick to tell us his views on aggressive care at the end of life, but his family is happy to fill the void. They insist we use every tool at our disposal to prolong his life, despite brain scans making it clear that he will never again be able to walk, talk or feed himself. The total bill for the last month of life? Many tens of thousands of dollars.

ADDRESSING FEARS ABOUT MOVING HOMELESS IN

On June 16, 2010, The Dallas Morning News published the following Op-Ed written by Larry James addressing the fears of neighborhood residents that have homeless people moving into housing. Mr. James is president and CEO of Central Dallas Ministries. To read the Op-Ed in its entirety, click on the title above.

I think I understand the feelings, including the fears, of the folks who live in north Oak Cliff around the now controversial Dallas Housing Authority property Cliff Manor.

Our housing authority recently teamed with Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance to open 100 apartments at Cliff Manor for use by the chronically homeless, who overcrowd the city's homeless assistance center, The Bridge. Neighborhood reaction fell into the familiar pattern we've come to expect when it comes to housing homeless men, women and children.

Just ask these Oak Cliff property owners and residents what they fear, and they'll recite a familiar list: Loitering. Petty crimes and misdemeanors. Public intoxication. Public obscenity (usually related to absence of toilet facilities). Panhandling. Threats to the safety of children.

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THE IRAN REPORT

September 2007, the JCRC began a special section entitled “The Iran Report”.  Due to the looming serious nature of Iran and its politics within the global world, JCRCs across the country are providing community leaders with updated materials and articles concerning Iran, which will include political matters, divestment information, etc.  Both the United Jewish Communities (UJC) and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) have issued joint statements indicating that the subject of Iran should be on the top of the agenda for local Jewish communities. 

The JCRC will continue to bring the community updates on the situation with Iran and its implications throughout the Middle East and the world.

JCPA RESOLUTION ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM

Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) on March 27, 2007.

U.S. SHOULD EXPEDITIOUSLY IMPLEMENT SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN

Below is a portion of the press release published by The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) on June 17, 2010 about their support for the new sanctions against Iran. To read the entire news release, click on the title above.

"New United States sanctions against Iran, coupled with last week's UN vote and today's actions by the European Union, would be a serious blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions, says a leading Jewish advocacy organization.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the consensus voice of the organized Jewish community, welcomes today's move by the European Union to implement additional sanctions against the Republic of Iran. The EU's sanctions come one week after the United Nation's Security Council took similar steps to financially cripple Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, its military and nuclear industries.

The U.S. Treasury Department also announced this week that the United States has expanded the number of Iranian businesses and individuals subject to American sanctions. This move lists new and additional Iranian businesses that the United States believes are contributing to Iran's nuclear weapons pursuit and restricts them from doing business in the United States."

IRANIAN PROTESTERS MARK YEAR SINCE AHMADINEJAD'S ELECTION WIN

The following is a portion of an article written by Thomas Erdbrink that was published by The Washington Post on June 13, 2010 about reactions to the first anniversary of Ahmadinejad's disputed election victory in Iran. To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Anti-government protesters took to the streets of the Iranian capital Saturday for the first time in four months, commemorating the anniversary of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed election victory a year ago despite the cancellation of a planned mass rally.

Demonstrators turned out all along Enghelab (Revolution) Street, one of Tehran's longest avenues, sporadically shouting slogans in support of Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the leaders of the opposition. But security forces were present in overwhelming force, hundreds on motorcycles and hundreds of others patrolling on foot, and no serious clashes erupted.

"There were so many plainclothes officers, that we didn't know who was with us or who was against us," a protester said. "But people were not afraid at all, which must be worrying for the government."

E.U. SIGNALS NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM

On June 10, 2010, The New York Times published the following article written by Stephen Castle about the details of the European Union’s proposed sanctions against Iran. To read the article in its entirety, click on the title above.

The European Union is likely to agree on tough new sanctions against Iran that cover further investment in the country’s oil and gas industry as well as its financial sector, Foreign Secretary William Hague of Britain said Monday.

His comments came ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s 27 heads of government Thursday in Brussels at which they are expected to agree on a formal statement on how to put pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution that includes financial curbs and an expanded arms embargo. Companies and individuals were named, and the Iranian national shipping company was targeted.

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CRISIS IN DARFUR

February 2009 marked the sixth anniversary of the beginning of the violence in Darfur, Sudan.  For six years a government-backed militia known as Janjaweed (which in Arabic means, “evil men on horseback”) has continued to engage in a systematic program of expulsion, rape and murderous violence in Darfur, Sudan.  Millions of people now live in displacement camps lacking adequate food, water, shelter, healthcare, and sanitation. Attacks on \civilians continue.  As Jews, we have a particular moral responsibility to speak out and take action against genocide.  

The JCRC remains committed in its fight to end this battle and will continue to bring you facts and articles about this ongoing genocide. (For further information on Darfur, visit the JCRC web site “International” section at www.jcrcdallas.org.)

SUDAN IN CRISIS

Explore the history, people and politics behind one of the world's bloodiest conflicts in this interactive web site by The Washington Post.  Click the title above to be connected to this site.

CRIMES CONTINUE AGAINST CIVILIANS IN DARFUR

VOA News published the following article written by Maraget Besheer on June 11, 2010 about findings from the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) that crimes are continuing against civilians in Darfur. To read the entire article, click the title above.

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court says crimes are continuing against civilians in Darfur refugee camps despite efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told the U.N. Security Council Friday that rape and other such gender crimes remain unabated in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Quoting a U.N. report issued last month he said acts of sexual violence, particularly against women in displaced person camps, has been attributed to men in military uniforms. The military has denied the allegations, saying the women were involved in consensual relationships with the soldiers. "Of even greater concern, the [U.N.] Independent Expert notes victims are increasingly discouraged from reporting rape and sexual violence, because they know they will not benefit from remedial actions. Rapes are not stopping; reporting is stopping," he said.

DARFUR REBEL LEADERS SURRENDER TO HAGUE COURT

BBC News published the following news release on June 16, 2010 about two Darfur rebel leaders who surrendered to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. To read the news release in its entirety, click on the title above.

The men, Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus, were secretly indicted last year.

They are wanted for war crimes in connection with the deaths of 12 African Union peacekeepers in 2007. Earlier this year, charges against another rebel leader to do with the same attack were dropped because of lack of evidence.

ICC judges ruled prosecutors could not prove that Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, who also gave himself up voluntarily, had planned the attack on the Haskanita AU camp in September 2007.

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JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
7800 Northaven Rd., Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 615-5254
JCRCDallas@jfgd.org
www.jcrcdallas.org