EIPA Organizes Press Trip to Israel, Meeting Survivors and Leaders, Including IDF Officers, Near Gaza Border

March 19, 2024
Our EIPA colleagues arranged a press trip to Israel. The agenda included a visit to Kibbutz Kissufim near the Gaza Strip to meet survivors of the October 7th Hamas massacre.
They also met Gadi Yarkoni, Mayor of the Eshkol Regional Council, and visited the site of the Nova Re’im music festival massacre.

Other highlights included meeting Youssef Ziadna, an Arab-Israeli Bedouin driver, Israel’s Zaka first responders, and IDF officers for a field briefing on the Gaza border, along with female soldiers who bravely fought Hamas on October 7th, including Colonel Livni Ben Yehuda.

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EU seeks to rally against anti-Semitism

Under Germany’s presidency, the member states are planning to take decisive action against antisemitism in Europe in light of increase anti-jewish conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December, the heads of state and government seek to adopt a declaration at the next EU summit to establish a uniform approach within the European community against all forms of hatred towards Jews.
“It is our constant, shared responsibility to protect and support Jewish life actively,” says the draft resolution, which is set under the preamble: “Anti-Semitism is an attack on European values.”
The initiative to develop binding guidelines was put on the agenda by Germany, which holds the EU Council Presidency until the end of the year. Two years ago, the member states committed themselves to national strategies against anti-Semitism the first time.
Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was observed how anti-Semitic prejudices were openly conducted.
Among other things, the declaration calls for “awareness of anti-Semitism in all political areas” and the tackling of “a cross-cutting issue in which various government agencies and policy areas at local, national and European level should be involved.”
Recently, a study by the Israeli foreign ministry indicated how anti-Semitism significantly increased ever since the pandemic had started, particularly in regard to conspiracy theories.
According to the analysis, most anti-Semitic statements connected with the world health crisis were posted online in the US, France, and Germany.
The EU’s plan states that “anti-Semitic conspiracy myths are often the first step that can lead to hatred, hate speech, incitement to violence, and hate crimes.”
The latter is why the heads of state and government and the European Commission seek to upgrade the European anti-Semitism commissioners’ work.
In drawing up the declaration, they worked closely with the Jewish organizations and responsible specialist politicians in Europe. There is positive progress at the European level; however, the effects are not yet reaching the Jewish Europeans. The latter is why the EU Commission also seeks to present a common strategy with further concrete measures against anti-Semitism next year.
Within the member states, the new EU agreement is intended to provide authorities such as public prosecutors and police forces and social institutions such as schools in the future as a practicable basis for assessing anti-Jewish tendencies.
Germany’s council presidency has been under the radar due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The upcoming December declaration, however, could mark a significant moment, nonetheless.
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Despite European Jewish leaders’ protests, watch belonging to Hitler auctioned in the U.S.

’’The items only give succour to those who idealize what the Nazi party stood for or offer buyers the chance to titillate a guest or loved one with an item belonging to a genocidal murderer and his supporters,” wrote Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) in a letter co-signed by 34 leaders of Jewish communities in Europe – write Yossi Lempkowicz.

Despite protests by European Jewish leaders, a gold watch belonging to Hitler was sold by an American auction house for over €1 million. 

The Huber timepiece has a swastika design, as well as the initials A H. It was purchased by an anonymous bidder.

The auction took place on Friday despite the call by 34 European Jewish leaders on Alexander Historical Auctions house in Chesapeake City, Maryland, to cancel the auction.

Among other Nazi items auctioned were a dog collar belonging to Eva Braun’s terrier, Wehrmacht toilet paper and cutlery and champagne glasses of senior Nazi figures.

 

The auction house’s president Bill Panagopulos, dismissed the protests. He said:  “What we sell is criminal evidence, no matter how insignificant. It is tangible, real in-your-face proof that Hitler and Nazis lived, and also persecuted and killed tens of millions of people. To destroy or in any way impede the display or protection of this material is a crime against history.’’

But Jewish leaders, who sent a letter to the auction house condemning the sale, rejected the claim.’’The items only give succour to those who idealize what the Nazi party stood for or offer buyers the chance to titillate a guest or loved one with an item belonging to a genocidal murderer and his supporters,” wrote Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of Brussels-based European Jewish Association (EJA) in the letter co-signed by 34 leaders of Jewish communities in Europe.

He added, ‘’the sale of these items is an abhorrence. There is little to no intrinsic historical value to the vast bulk of the lots on display. Indeed, one can only question the motivation of those buying them. Europe suffered egregiously because of the perverted and murderous ideology of the Nazi party. Millions died to preserve the values of freedom that we take for granted today, including almost half a million Americans. Our continent is littered with memorial mass graves and the sites of death camps.’’

Over the last years, the European Jewish Association has protested several auctions of nazi items.

Alexander Historical Auctions had already faced similar rebuke for previous sales,  including one that featured the personal diaries of notorious Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele.

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National Jewish Assembly (NJA)

The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) is a prominent organisation dedicated to serving the Jewish community in the United Kingdom. With a robust commitment to advocacy, education, and community engagement, the NJA plays a pivotal role in advancing Jewish interests and promoting cultural heritage.

Through strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts, the NJA actively addresses key issues affecting the Jewish population, including combating antisemitism, advocating for religious freedom, and fostering interfaith dialogue. With a firm stance against discrimination and intolerance, the NJA champions the rights and well-being of Jewish individuals and communities nationwide.

The NJA takes pride in its comprehensive educational programmes, which aim to deepen understanding of Jewish history, tradition, and values among both Jews and non-Jews alike. Through seminars, workshops, and publications, the NJA empowers individuals to embrace and celebrate Jewish identity while promoting mutual respect and understanding across diverse communities.

At the heart of its mission, the NJA fosters a strong sense of community and belonging among Jews throughout the UK. By organising cultural events, social gatherings, and networking opportunities, the NJA cultivates meaningful connections and strengthens bonds within the Jewish community.

In summary, the National Jewish Assembly stands as a formidable advocate and champion for Jewish rights, education, and community cohesion in the United Kingdom, ensuring a vibrant and thriving future for generations to come.

https://nja.org.uk/

EIPA UK Media Advisor Tovi Borins Hosts Successful Roundtable on Iranian Regime's Terror Network and IRGC Infiltration Featuring Expert Insights from Kasra Aarabi and Beni Sabti

Our UK Media Advisor for EIPA, Tovi Borins, recently hosted a roundtable briefing in collaboration with UK Israel Future Projects, focusing on ‘The Iranian Regime’s Terror Network and IRGC Infiltration into the UK.’

The event featured distinguished speakers Mr. Kasra Aarabi, Director of IRGC Research at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), and Mr. Beni Sabti, Researcher in the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Kasra unveiled recent findings regarding Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infiltration into the UK, offering detailed insights from his newly published report.

Additionally, he addressed the Iranian regime’s reckless calculus against Western interests and delved into the critical importance of the next nine months in their pursuit of nuclearization. Beni, who traveled from Israel for the event, shed light on the Iranian regime’s strategy to expand its hegemony and revolution throughout the Middle East via proxies and propaganda apparatus.

The roundtable briefing was a resounding success, with attendance from top journalists, leading UK think tanks, analysts, and diplomatic representatives from various countries.

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The European Jewish Association is a prominent and influential organisation dedicated to representing, advocating for, and fostering the interests of the Jewish community across Europe. Founded on unity, tolerance, and inclusivity principles, the EJA bridges diverse Jewish communities and European societies.

#BringThemHomeNow #NeverAgainIsNow #NotOnMyWatch

Linkedin: @european-jewish-association
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Facebook: @ejassociation
X: @EJAssociation

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