Women’s March Leader Shares Post Blaming Jewish Establishment For Mosque Attack

March 24, 2019 By Marcy Oster

(JTA) — A co-leader of the Women’s March shared a post blaming the “American Jewish Establishment” for its role in the attacks on two New Zealand mosques, and then apologized.

Bob Bland on March 17 shared a post from Jesse Rabinowitz, a social justice advocate, who wrote that: “The same language and hate that folks spew against Sisters Linda Sarsour and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) killed 54 Muslims in New Zealand. You can’t stand in solidarity with the Muslim community and simultaneously disavow Muslim women for speaking their truths. American Jewish Establishment, I’m looking at you.”

The share was not accompanied by any additional statement from Bland.

In the comments section, a follower called out Bland for suggesting that “that you cannot feel sympathy for the tragedy that happened if you do not agree with Linda and Ilana.” The comment also added: “My biggest fear that the entire purpose of your post was to somehow insult or shame Jews.”

Bland apologized saying that “it has come to my attention that some people are upset that I shared Jesse’s post. I was juggling 2 kids on a Sunday + not being mindful. I’m sorry. I do agree with the first 2 sentences that Jesse said, except I would extend it to all establishment politicians of both parties, of any or no faith. Words matter and I should have clarified.”

The Zioness movement also posted a screenshot of Bland’s share, writing: “The Women’s March, Inc. is attacking Jews again. Somehow, we still aren’t desensitized to their never-ending cycle of deeply anti-Semitic slurs.”

“Calling out antisemitism is not bigotry against Muslims. We’ve witnessed this enough times: the zero-sum game these women are playing literally leads to horror. Jews and Muslims are in fact targeted by the same heinous actors within the white nationalist movement across the globe, which is why Jews and Muslims of conscience have come together in solidarity during crises like we witnessed in Christchurch and in Pittsburgh.”

This story "Women’s March Leader Blames Jews For Mosque Attack" was written by Marcy Oster.

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After Solicitation Charge, Robert Kraft Apologizes - But Doesn’t Say For What

March 24, 2019 By Marcy Oster

(JTA) — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in his first comments since he was charged with soliciting prostitution in Florida, publicly apologized.

“I am truly sorry,” Kraft said in a statement issued on Saturday and first reported by ESPN. “I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard.”

Kraft, 77, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution last month. He was one of some 100 men caught up in raids on massage parlors in Martin County. The charges concern visits by Kraft to the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in the city of Jupiter, near where he keeps a home. There is video evidence of all the men who were charged, according to Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr. Kraft has been fighting to keep the video from going public.

“Throughout my life, I have always tried to do the right thing. The last thing I would ever want to do is disrespect another human being. I have extraordinary respect for women; my morals and my soul were shaped by the most wonderful woman, the love of my life, who I was blessed to have as my partner for 50 years,” Kraft said in the statement.

Kraft’s wife Myra died in 2011 at the age of 68 of cancer.

Kraft has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has a court date scheduled for March 28. Kraft said he has not responded to the charges “in deference to the judicial process.”

Prosecutors have offered to drop the charges against Kraft and 24 of the other men in exchange for fines, community service and an admission they would have been found guilty if the case went to trial, Mike Edmonson, spokesman for the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office told CNN. Kraft is against accepting such a deal, according to reports.

This story "Robert Kraft Apologizes After Solicitation Arrest" was written by Marcy Oster.

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At AIPAC, Democratic Majority Leader Aims Fire At Ilhan Omar

March 24, 2019 By Ron Kampeas

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives told AIPAC that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. was not representative of the Democrats when it comes to Israel.

“When someone accuses American supporters of dual loyalty I say accuse me,” Hoyer said to cheers Sunday at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, saying the “overwhelming majority” in Congress continues to support Israel. “Let’s have debates on policy instead of impugning the loyalty of Israel’s supporters.”

Omar last month started a debate that his split the party when she said she felt pressure to pledge “allegiance” to Israel. She previously said that AIPAC purchased support in Congress through campaign donations. (AIPAC does not support candidates, although its activists are expected to.)

Hoyer also appeared to criticize Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., a Palestinian American who backs endind assistance to Israel and who plans to lead a lawmakers’ tour of the West Bank to rival the one Hoyer leads to Israel every year with the assistance of an affiliate of AIPAC, as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., who has defended Tlaib and Omar.

“This August I will lead what I expect to be the largest delegation ever” to Israel, Hoyer said. “There are 62 freshman Democrats,” he said, and cocked his ear. “You hear me? 62 — not three.”

This story "At AIPAC, Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer Hits Ilhan Omar" was written by Ron Kampeas.

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Defiant AIPAC Opens Conference Emphasizing Diversity

March 24, 2019 By Ron Kampeas

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, under fire from the left in a way it has not been for years, opened its conference with an emphasis on political and identity diversity, but also took a defiant tone.

As it has in previous years, the policy conference started Sunday with a diverse array of activists declaring “I am AIPAC,” but this year, a number mentioned their credentials as progressives, and a high school student said: “When people say my generation is losing faith in Israel I am an example of why they are wrong.”

MoveOn, a progressive grassroots organization, has called on Democratic presidential candidates to boycott the conference. Candidates generally do not appear at AIPAC in non-election years, and none had planned to this year, but the appearance of compliance with the demand has created a crisis for AIPAC’s brand – bipartisanship.

The boycott was spurred in part by a battle between AIPAC and its allies in Congress, and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who accused AIPAC of purchasing support for Israel with political contributions, and then said she felt pressure to pledge “allegiance” to Israel. (AIPAC does not donate to candidates as an organization, but its activists are expected to.) Omar was seen as invoking anti-Semitic slanders, including dual loyalty and Jewish control.

“The scurrilous charge of dual loyalty is a signal, and that signal amplified by social media is now empowering people who have long opposed our cause, our movement, and frankly everything we have built,” Howard Kohr, AIPAC’s CEO said in a fiery opening speech Sunday morning. “When they try to silence us we speak up, and when they tell us to sit down we stand up, we stand up, We. Stand. Up.”

This story "Defiant AIPAC Opens Conference Emphasizing Diversity" was written by Ron Kampeas.

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Romania Announces It Will Move Embassy to Jerusalem

March 24, 2019 By Aiden Pink

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă announced Sunday that her country will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Speaking at the opening session of the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, Dăncilă explained that her government would soon make the move after having undergone a nearly year-long legal and political consultation.

Romania would become the first European Union country to make the move, which has already been done by the United States and Guatemala. The Prime Minister of Honduras and President of Cabo Verde also announced at the conference that they would open embassies in Jerusalem.

Dăncilă, who also currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, pledged to defend the Jewish state in the European Union.

She also announced three new government initiatives: Citizenship for descendants of Jewish Romanians who were forced to renounce their citizenship when they left the country under the communist regime, a new compensation program for Holocaust survivors, and promising to open the government archives to specialists from the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romaina “in order to know the truth about their past during the two world wars.”

Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com or on Twitter, @aidenpink

This story "Romania Announces It Will Move Embassy to Jerusalem" was written by Aiden Pink.

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