Press Room
America-Israel Friendship League: The Arab Revolt, 2011; A Bush Redux?
America-Israel Friendship League: The Arab Revolt, 2011; A Bush Redux?
The world is watching the spreading demands for change by Arab citizens to throw off the shackles of autocratic and repressive rulers. So far, the governments of Tunisia and Egypt have fallen and demonstrations continue in Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan and Morocco, and rumblings of unrest simmer elsewhere. A brutal and bloody civil war threatens in Libya. We do not yet know whether these strivings for freedom and democracy and demands for economic reforms, educational opportunities and jobs will produce meaningful change. At AIFL we respect and admire the strivings for democratic realization and reform by those who are seeking a better life and opportunities. A true respect for human rights and participatory democracy would bring great benefits to all the peoples in the Middle East.
Democratic ideals inflame the hopes of all subjugated peoples and one never knows what it is that provides the spark which ignites the fury. The seemingly spontaneous uprising in Tunisia may have been influenced by the advocacy of the Bush Administration seeking the spread of democracy in the Middle East. The process of seeking to form a democratic government in Iraq, which is still a work in progress, has been carefully watched in Arab lands and elsewhere.
Since 1948, virtually the entire Arab world (except Egypt and Jordan who have treaties with Israel) has opposed the State of Israel, and since 1967 has adhered to the Khartoum Declaration of No Peace, No Recognition, No Negotiation with Israel and has incited the Arab peoples towards hatred and rejection of Jews and Israel. They have employed scandalous lies and propaganda in their viscous assault and since 1979 Iran has joined that chorus. Yet, it is more than slightly remarkable that in all of the protests, complaints and demands of the leaders of the new Arab Revolt the name of Israel has hardly been mentioned, nor have there been cries of sympathy and support for the demands of the Palestinian Arabs, or for an end to Israeli residential construction in the West Bank or Jerusalem. Those complaints hopefully vanish in the face of the real, sincere and desperate pleas of Arab demonstrators for recognition of their civil and human rights and their demands for participatory democracy. Perhaps the time is coming that the Arab world will see that Israel and the Jewish people are not their enemies, but indeed offer the hand of peace and friendship and the opportunity to realize a New Middle East as advocated some years ago by Shimon Peres, now the President of Israel. Under Mubarak the Egyptian government maintained a "cold peace" with Israel and resisted demands from many sources to return to the state of war which prevails between many Arab states and Israel.
Business Leader Alert
Top Israeli CEOs Come To Open Stock Exchange and Forge Closer Ties to United States
New York, NY - Fifteen prominent Israeli CEOs will arrive in New York City on Monday, November 12 for an intensive, three-day program creating new relationships between leaders of the US and Israeli business communities. The Israeli business leaders will start the US mission by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange Israel Day, Monday, November 12th.
The itinerary will also feature:
• Exclusive presentations by prominent US business leaders, including:
- James Tisch, Chairman, Loews Corporation
- Howard Lutnick, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Cantor Fitzgerald
- Floyd Abrams, Author, Speaking Freely: Trials of the First Amendment
• A tour and conversation at the United Nations with Amb. Dan Gillerman, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
• A unique view of the World Trade Center development from Larry Silverstein’s 7 World Trade Center Office.
• America-Israel Friendship League’s Annual Partners for Democracy Award Dinner with honorees Lev Leviev, Chairman, Africa-Israel Investments Ltd., Nechemia (Chemi) J. Peres, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Pitango Venture Capital and, William R. Rhodes, Sr. Vice Chairman, Citigroup, Chairman, President & CEO, Citibank.
• A private reception and tour of Christie’s Auction House.
• Timely seminars on global and U.S. economy and capital markets at Morgan Stanley.
Israeli mission leaders include Benny Gaon, Gaon Holdings, Erez Meltzer, Africa Israel Investments, Ltd. and Reuven Kuvent, D& B Israel.
The mission is co-sponsored by Dun’s 100 2007-Israel’s Largest Enterprises, Government of Israel Economic Mission to North America, NYSE Euronext and the America-Israel Friendship League. Please see attached for full itinerary.
Contact: Montieth M. Illingworth, Montieth & Co.
o. 212.336.7531 c. 718.514.1383 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
U.S. & Israeli Leaders To Be Honored at AIFL’s 2008 Partners For Democracy Award Dinner
From: The America-Israel Friendship League
Contact: David at Pop Media 201.280.6182 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
PRESS INVITE
U.S. & ISRAELI LEADERS TO BE HONORED AT AIFL’S 2008 PARTNERS FOR DEMOCRACY AWARD DINNER
Honorees are Lally Weymouth, Ambassador Dan Gillerman & Mort Zuckerman
Dialogue with honorees moderated by Emmy award winning journalist Charlie Rose
New York, NY - November 19 - The America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) will honor a distinguished group of U.S. and Israeli media, business, and diplomatic leaders at its annual 2008 Partners for Democracy Award Dinner.
The 2008 honorees include Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Former Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, Elizabeth (Lally) Graham Weymouth, Senior Editor and Special Diplomatic Correspondent for Newsweek Magazine and Mort
Zuckerman, Chairman, Boston Properties, Editor & Publisher, US News and World Report, Chairman & Co- Publisher, NY Daily News.
The annual event will take place Monday, December 1st at The Plaza and will feature a dialogue with the honorees moderated by Emmy award winning journalist, Charlie Rose. The wide-ranging discussion will focus on democracy & the Middle East including thoughts on President-elect Barack Obama’s recent victory and it’s potential impact on the region.
The 2008 Partners for Democracy Award is bestowed upon distinguished individuals and organizations who have demonstrated their support of United States-Israel Friendship. The award recognizes and pays tribute to successful efforts in the United States and in Israel that cultivate and strengthen relations, common bonds and mutual respect between the people of the two countries.
Past honorees include George P. Shultz, Former U.S. Secretary of State, Elliott Broidy, Founder and Chairman, Markstone Capital, Alan S. Elkin, Chief Executive Officer, Active International, Eli Hurvitz, Chairman, and Teva International Yitzhak Tshuva, President, El Ad Group.
When: Monday, December 1, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Plaza, Fifth Ave. and 59th St., New York, NY.
Honorees: Elizabeth (Lally) Graham Weymouth, Senior Editor and Special Diplomatic Correspondent for Newsweek Magazine
Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Former Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
Mort Zuckerman, Chairman, Boston Properties, Editor & Publisher, US News and World Report, Chairman & Co- Publisher, NY Daily News
All news media are requested to RSVP by Wednesday November 26th
To RSVP or to schedule an interview with the honorees please contact David Dorfman at Pop Media 201.280.6182 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
About the AIFL
The America - Israel Friendship League (AIFL) is a non-sectarian, non-political, not-for-profit organization strengthening ties between the people of the United States and Israel; bridging distances to reveal the beauty, the humanity, and the modern democratic values that define both nations.
Young Israelis play stress-free basketball in Jersey City
A Child Shall Lead Them
In a world seemingly gone mad, in which large numbers of folks struggle to understand what's going on around them, it is comforting to know that there are people in charge of education and publishing who have the ability and passion to impart truth.
Charlotte K. Frank is such a person. The senior vice president for research and development at McGraw-Hill Education, Dr. Frank cares deeply for people and for education. She is part of the publishing world that works tirelessly to produce and promote needed materials.
Frank started with McGraw-Hill in 1988, after a nine-year stint as executive director of the division of curriculum and instruction for the New York City Board of Education. She also taught.