12 HRS AGO: ADL Rebukes Knesset Law

ADL Rebukes Knesset Law
By AMI EDEN
FORWARD STAFF

In a rare rebuke of Israel, the Anti-Defamation League is criticizing the Knesset for passing a bill that denies residency permits to Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens.

The decision to speak out, albeit gently, puts the ADL in the unusual position of joining the European Union and international human rights organizations in criticizing Israeli policy. The group's director, Abraham Foxman, has long argued that American Jewish groups should generally defer to the democratically elected Israeli government on security-related matters.

In a statement Monday, Foxman acknowledged that the Israeli government has "vital security concerns," but added, "We hope the Knesset will review this law when it expires in a year and explore other methods to ensure Israel's security needs."

Foxman's statement marked the second time in less than two weeks that a top Jewish communal leader in North America criticized Israeli policy. Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress, recently co-signed a letter to President Bush stating that Israeli efforts to build a security fence in the West Bank are "potentially problematic."

more...
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.08.08/news9.html

Leibler is not all to happy with Edgar Bronfman's letter to Bush regarding his criticism's of Israeli Security Policies (specifically the fence)...

snip

You criticize Israel's security fence, describing it in the language of those opposed to the Israeli position, as a "separation wall" and assert that it is "complicated and potentially problematic". Furthermore you urge the President to exert pressure on Israel and apply "the same straightforwardness in his meeting with Prime Minister Sharon" as he had with the Palestinian Prime Minister.

By this, you have initiated an outrageous act that stands in defiance of the broad consensus of the World Jewish Congress constituency, unbefitting to the President of that organization. Without a doubt that broad consensus seeks to maximize its support of the policies determined by the democratically elected government of Israel during these difficult times.

You have in the past expressed other odd ideas about Israel but your most recent foray is much more serious and has crossed every red line. It would be obscene at any time for the President of the World Jewish Congress who is resident in New York to lobby the President of the United States to resist policies being promoted by the government of Israel. But on a security issue such as the security fence, which impacts on the life and death of Israelis, your intervention - irrespective as to whether you formally used your presidential title or not - can only be described as an act of perfidy which will not be swept under the carpet.

more...
http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ViewsPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Article%5El2597&enZone=Views&enVersion=0&

I am trying to find Bronfman's ltr to bush, but I have failed to located yet.

to both Foxman and Bronfman (at least on these 2 issues).

Please continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=4933&mesg_id=4933