The Zionist Movement in the United States (7/10)
B’nai B’rith’s Political Strategies
Although
the American far-right has traditionally been the league’s enemy, it has also
begun to attack the American left due to its criticism of Israel and sympathy
for the Palestinian cause. The league now accuses the left of aligning with the
far-right in anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments, opposing Western and U.S.
interests, and undermining democratic ideas and systems.
At
the same time, the league turned to support the new Protestant (Evangelical)
right because of its pro-Israel stance, even though this position contradicts
the league’s traditional association with the liberal current. Meanwhile, it
began attacking significant sectors of the more liberal Protestant church establishment,
such as the National Council of Churches, for defending Palestinian rights.
The
league also attacks political groups, humanitarian organizations, and research
institutions that support Arabs or endorse policies favorable to Arab
countries, such as U.S. arms deals with certain Arab states. Nathan Perlmutter
(the league’s national director) even regarded the sale of AWACS aircraft to
Saudi Arabia in the 1980s as a reflection of anti-Jewish sentiment in the
United States.
B’nai B’rith
and Protecting Israel’s
Image
The league also directs its attacks at
Jewish organizations and individuals who reject Zionism
or criticize Israel and its policies. For example, in 1970, the league
adopted an oppositional stance toward the Israeli journalist Uri Avnery during
his visit to the United States because of his opposition to traditional
concepts of Zionism and Judaism. It also warned Jewish organizations and Jewish
student groups at universities against engaging with him or supporting his
activities while he was in the country. In addition, the league works to
counter media materials or cinematic artistic works that could be harmful to
Israel’s image.
For example, in 1983 the league
attacked Costa-Gavras’s film Hanna K., which addresses the Palestinian
issue, as well as the documentary Women Under Siege, which depicts the
lives of Palestinian women in refugee camps. It has even, at times, attacked
certain American films (such as Sophie’s Choice) on the grounds that
they deviate from what it considers the accurate portrayal of Jews.
The Media and Security Role of B’nai
B’rith
The league works to justify and
explain Israeli policies that may provoke controversy within American public
opinion such as the 1982 Lebanon War emphasizing that these policies serve not
only Israel’s interests but ultimately U.S. interests as well. Nevertheless,
the league sometimes directs criticism at the Zionist
state when its actions cause embarrassment to the Jewish community in the
United States. For example, in 1977, the league criticized Israeli settlement
policy; its president at the time stated: “The Likud government’s announcement
of the establishment of new settlements could alienate the Jewish community in
the United States from the broader public, thereby placing it in a position
that harms its ability to influence the American administration.”
To achieve its objectives, the league
monitors and tracks individuals, groups, and organizations that are anti-Jewish
and opposed to Israel and Zionism. It also collects data and information on
them and oversees all activities related to Israel and the Middle East in the
United States through its offices spread across the country. The league
provides the results of this surveillance to Israeli intelligence through advisers
and the Israeli embassy, as well as to U.S. intelligence via the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI).
The Anti-Defamation League is
registered as a religious organization, which exempts it from submitting public
annual reports as required by U.S. law. It is also tax-exempt. B’nai B’rith
appoints most of the members of its leadership bodies, as well as the staff of
its offices spread across the United States, and it has branches in both
Jerusalem and Paris.
Hillel Student Clubs (Hillel
Institutions)
Hillel, an organization affiliated
with B’nai B’rith (Sons of the Covenant), encompasses student centers and clubs
found at most universities in the United States. These clubs are typically run
by a salaried director, assisted by a number of students. The concept of Hillel
clubs was essentially modeled on a similar idea developed by a Protestant
preacher who believed it was necessary to reach Christian youth and therefore
established such clubs. Later, Dr. Chotsey Baldwin (a Christian professor of
biblical studies) felt that Jewish youth were likewise drifting away from their
faith, so he contacted the rabbinical establishment and urged it to establish
Hillel clubs.
Hillel clubs organize cultural,
social, and religious programs, as well as interfaith dialogue. Like most
Jewish organizations, Hillel clubs have become Jewish fronts for the Zionist
organization; accordingly, they focus on reminding American public opinion of
the Nazi genocide of the Jews, encouraging immigration, and defending the
Israeli point of view.
Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations
An American Jewish organization
commonly known as the “Conference of Presidents.” This conference serves as a
representative body for 37 American Jewish organizations, expressing their
collective views on matters related to Israel and other international issues.
It is active within American political circles to advance Zionist objectives.
This organization originated
informally in 1955 with a conference that brought together the leaders of major
American Jewish organizations to examine issues related to Israel, as well as
topics of particular interest to the Jewish community in the United States. In
1960, the conference decided to change its temporary and ad hoc nature by
organizing itself on a permanent and stable basis and granting its procedures
formal status. Consequently, an administrative body was established, and a
fixed budget allocated. In 1966, the members decided to form a representative
body for the organizations rather than for their leaders, and Nahum Goldman
became its first president.
Although the Conference of Presidents
does not constitute a lobbying group in the legal or practical sense, it can be
regarded as a diplomatic arm of the official Zionist lobby (the American-Israel
Public Affairs Committee) in the United States. Within this framework, the
conference carries out a number of key tasks and functions.
1. Coordinating the
positions of Jewish community members worldwide, particularly in Israel which
is given absolute priority on the conference’s agenda thus providing an
internal platform for community members to address these issues.
2. Resolving differences
among community members regarding their positions on Israel and other
international issues in a calm manner, aiming to achieve consensus. The
conference’s legitimacy and influence stem from its role as the spokesperson
and political representative of the Jewish community. This function is
particularly important when disagreements arise among American Jewish organizations
over certain Israeli policies especially those enacted under Likud leadership,
such as the Lebanon War. The conference is careful not to publicly disclose any
disputes or splits, viewing such exposure as a sign of betrayal.
In fact, the structure of the
conference facilitates this approach, as its membership consists of established
and well-known leaders of organizations that generally share common interests,
thereby fostering consensus. The conference has been criticized for suppressing
dissenting opinions within the community, particularly those critical of
Israeli policies. A notably significant irony is that Alexander Schindler, the
former president of the American Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish
Organizations who had been a staunch supporter of the Zionist state and opposed
any public Jewish protest against it later became an outspoken critic of Israel
during Likud’s rule. He called for adopting an identity independent of Israel
and emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Zionist movement does not
become subordinate to the Knesset.
3.The conference
interprets the position of the Jewish community and communicates it to the U.S.
government, policymakers, the media, the Israeli government, and other
countries and international organizations.
4.The conference seeks to influence the position of the U.S. government
and the American public, and communicates this position to the Israeli
government.
5.The conference acts as an interpreter of Israeli positions for the
U.S. government.
The conference adopts the Israeli
government’s stance on major issues and emphasizes promoting the view that
Israel’s security and strength are a key interest of U.S. policy and strategy.
To achieve this, the conference publishes documents, organizes pro-Israel
conferences, and holds private meetings with American and international
political leaders as well as leaders of Jewish communities in other countries.
It also maintains close relationships with members of the American media.
In certain matters, the conference
seeks to influence the U.S. Congress by mobilizing American Jews (through the
organizations participating in the conference) to send letters and telegrams to
their representatives in the House and Senate, urging them to take positions
aligned with Israeli interests. Additionally, the conference oversees media
campaigns, organizes demonstrations, and supervises press conferences.
While the American-Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC) focuses on Congress, the conference concentrates on
the executive branch, including the U.S. President.
The conference elects a president
approximately every two years, who is usually the leader of one of the groups
affiliated with the conference. The Conference of Presidents is funded through
fees and donations paid by its member organizations. In 1982, its budget
amounted to approximately $350,000.
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Source: Encyclopedia of
Jews, Judaism, and Zionism.
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