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Straight Facts #4

The facts that you need to know! WIZO is committed to helping you to become great Ambassadors for Israel.
Edition #4

June 23, 2016

Shalom Chaverot,

The summer is in full swing here in Israel and although we have endured tragic terror attacks, Israelis have defiantly proven that we will not allow this to stop us celebrating life. In the days that followed the horrendous terror attack in Sarona in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel’s citizens poured into the restaurants and shops, determined to show solidarity and choose life.

Israel faces many challenges – from security threats to BDS, growing global anti-Semitism to media bias but this will not stop us from reaching out, fulfilling the tenet of Tikkun Olam and of course, partying up a storm.

This edition of Straight Facts offers tips and tools on the issues above and we ask you to share them with your communities.

If you have any questions or feedback, you are always welcome to email me at rolenemarks@yahoo.com

Come and join our party in Israel this summer as we welcome Adam Lambert on September 12th, Sia on August 11th, Beyonce on October 26th, and many others who will join us in celebrating our vibrant, thriving democracy. We have a lot to be proud of.

 

 

Warmest regards,

Rolene Marks

World WIZO Executive: Public Diplomacy & Hasbara


 

 

The IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) adopts working definition of Antisemitism:

 

How do we define Antisemitism? IHRA, The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, adopted the following working definition of Antisemitism under Romanian Chairmanship in Bucharest on the 26th of May. The parameters are clearly defined in the documents below:

 

https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/sites/default/files/press_release_document_antisemitism.pdf

 

For IHRA's press release and IHRA Chair, Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu, introduction of the definition please see:

 

 https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/media-room/stories/working-definition-antisemitism

 

 

 

MASHAV at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey

 

We are super proud of Israel’s incredible humanitarian outreach, even to countries that we don’t have diplomatic ties with. Tikkun Olam at its best!

 

The first World Humanitarian Summit (23-24 May 2016) convened in Istanbul, under the auspices of the UN Secretary General. For the first time in five years, an Israeli delegation of senior officials, headed by MFA Director General Dr. Dore Gold, was in Turkey, to present Israeli humanitarian aid throughout the world. The summit, attended by heads of state, aimed to raise world consciousness, contribution and commitment to humanitarian activity during natural disasters and man-made conflicts, which take a heavy human toll.

 

 http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/mashav/Latest_News/LatestNews/WHS-DG-Israel-Pavilion.jpg

 

View some of Israel’s extraordinary work here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52YVKXPEcPE

 

 

Israel at 68 – What are the changing regional threats?

 

One of Israel’s foremost experts on national security, Brig-Gen Yossi Kupperwasser, weighs in on the current situation in the Middle East and the threats facing the region. Watch the video clip below:

 

Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser is Director of the Project on Regional Middle East Developments at the Jerusalem Center. He was formerly Director General of the Israel Ministry of Strategic Affairs and head of the Research Division of IDF Military Intelligence.

 

http://jcpa.org/video/israel-68-changing-threats-israel/

 

 

Another South African demolishes the Apartheid comparison

 

The comparison between Israel and Apartheid South Africa is libelous and belittles the suffering of the true victims. The best way to counter the accusations is to see Israel for yourself. South African academic, Rabelani Dagada did just that and wrote this article:

 

http://www.sabreakingnews.co.za/2016/05/09/israel-is-not-an-apartheid-state/

 

 

How to write letters to the editor – like a superhero!

 

Many of us feel very frustrated when we read an article in the press that is either extremely biased against Israel or missing vital facts. We can all be pro-activists in ensuring balanced, factual reporting. HonestReporting, Israel’s premier media watchdog shows us how to do it here:

http://honestreporting.com/write-letters-editor-action-hero/