Unprovoked Attack on Jews in Lyon
Jews attacked as they walk to synagogue.
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First Publish: 6/2/2013, 9:52 AM
Attack on hassidim (illustrative)
Screenshot
Anti-Semitism continues to plague France. According to local media outlets in Lyon, two Jewish residents of the city were attacked Saturday as they walked to a local synagogue.
The two were attacked by three men of Arab origin in an unprovoked, sudden assault.
The two Jews shouted for help. Neighbors began to arrive at the scene, and the attackers fled.
Police arrived as well, and began to investigate. They discovered that the attack had been captured on film by security cameras at a nearby store. Investigators expressed hope that the film would lead to the attackers’ quick capture.
One year ago attackers brutalized three Jewish men in an unprovoked assault in Lyon. Two of the victims were hospitalized.
A short time later the Chief Rabbi of Lyon received a letter threatening attacks on Jews.
The two were attacked by three men of Arab origin in an unprovoked, sudden assault.
The two Jews shouted for help. Neighbors began to arrive at the scene, and the attackers fled.
Police arrived as well, and began to investigate. They discovered that the attack had been captured on film by security cameras at a nearby store. Investigators expressed hope that the film would lead to the attackers’ quick capture.
One year ago attackers brutalized three Jewish men in an unprovoked assault in Lyon. Two of the victims were hospitalized.
A short time later the Chief Rabbi of Lyon received a letter threatening attacks on Jews.
Expert: Jewish Students Are on the Anti-Semitic Battlefront
The BDS movement is gaining strength at university campuses and is placing Jewish students at the battlefront, says Dr. Charles Asher Small.
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By Elad Benari & Yoni Kempinski
First Publish: 6/3/2013, 4:16 AM
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is gaining strength atuniversity campuses and is placing Jewish students at the battlefront, according to Dr. Charles Asher Small.
Dr. Small, who heads the Institute for the Study of Global Anti-Semitism and Policy, spoke to Arutz Sheva at the 4th conference of the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism which was held in Jerusalem. He took part in a session at the conference which explored the issue of anti-Semitism on campuses.
The mission, according to Dr. Small, “has to be two-fold.” The first one is to deal with what is happening within the corridors of the university.
“I think it’s very important that leaders of the university and leaders of the Jewish community become aware of the issues and confront them. There should be no space for bigotry on campus,” he said.
The second front is “the battle of ideas,” according to Dr. Small.
“We need to battle and expose the ideas of how orientalism and post-modernity didn’t perceive what the Arab Spring is really about, because we’re not allowed to critique Arab societies,” he said.
The students, as the “soldiers” in the battlefront against anti-Semitism, are “on their own,” said Dr. Small.
“By creating awareness in the community we have to back up people who are fighting for the end of hatred, the promotion of true human rights and democracy and to stop these reactionary forces, either in the corridors of the campus or even in the classrooms of the finest universities,” he said.
BDS Movement Suffers Defeat in U.S.
A resolution calling for the boycott of Israeli firms will not be put to a vote at the TIAA-CREF upcoming shareholders meeting.
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By Elad Benari, Canada
First Publish: 5/31/2013, 10:31 PM
boycott sign
Flash 90
A resolution calling for the boycott of Israeli firms will not be put to a vote at the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund’s (TIAA-CREF) upcoming shareholders meeting.
The move comes after the pensionfund giant received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to "take no action" on a submission by pro-Palestinian Authority Arab activists. This followed the company's warning by an Israeli civil rights group that passage of the resolution would violate NY and Federal law.
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center, stressed that the development was "a major defeat for the extremist Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement taking aim at Israel."
Darshan-Leitner underlined that her group discussed "concerns with the SEC and pointed out that the resolution was in violation of anti-boycott laws. We noted that TIAA-CREF's corporate charter limited its functions to 'aiding and strengthening nonprofit colleges, universities,' and we could not understand how a biased resolution like this could properly be presented to their membership."
Last month, the Tel Aviv-based Shurat HaDin informed TIAA-CREF's leadership that any attempt to implement the boycott resolution would be illegal.
The letter noted that New York law defines boycotts as "unlawful discriminatory practice" and that any decision to “refuse to buy from, sell to or trade with, or otherwise discriminate against any person, because of the…creed…[or] national origin" was unlawful and even places secondary actors, aiding the policy, under liability.
The letter pointed out that the Ribicoff Amendment to the Tax Reform Act of 1976 also makes it a federal violation to "participate in or cooperate with an international boycott."
Darshan-Leitner stressed that if measures were to be actually taken against Israel, Shurat HaDin would immediately file suit on behalf of Israeli businesses against TIAA-CREF and to ensure enforcement of state and Federal anti-discrimination laws.
"We seek to make sure Israeli companies are not harmed as a result of a newly-adopted policy of discrimination. The BDS movement was looking for a big public forum to spew their hatred. The SEC ruling has now put an end to all that. It is an important victory and we are grateful that the SEC gave TIAA-CREF authorization to ignore extremism," Darshan-Leitner added.
TIAA-CREF, a Fortune 100 financial services group, is the leading retirement provider for employees in the academic and medical fields. It currently serves over 3.7 million people. The group is headquartered in New York City, and has major offices in Denver, Charlotte and Dallas.
Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center is an Israel-based organization dedicated to enforcing basic human rights through the legal system and represents victims of terrorism in courtrooms around the world. Its clients include American, European, and Israeli citizens. It is unaffiliated with any political party or governmental body.
In November, Shurat HaDin, representing 24 Americans living in Israel, filed a civil action against the State Department, claiming the latter was funding Arab terrorism in the Judea, Samaria and Gaza.The suit, filed in the district court for Washington, D.C., claims that the State Department has failed to observe congressional safeguards, transparency, and reporting requirements in its funding of the Palestinian Authority.
In December, Shurat HaDin represented two families of American citizens in their successful $338 million lawsuit against the government of Syria.
The decision found that the government of Syria was responsible for providing material support and resources to the Kurdish Workers Party ("PKK"), a terrorist organization designated by the U.S. State Department.
(Arutz Sheva’s North American Desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)
n New York: Am Yisrael Chai
Video: thousands took part in the annual Israel Day Parade in the heart of New York.
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By Eliran Aharon, New York
First Publish: 6/2/2013, 11:21 PM
Thousands of people took part on Sunday in the annual Israel Day Parade in the heartof New York.
Participants included Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon, MK Dov Lipman, Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver and Communications Minister Gilad Erdan.
L to R: Minister Gilad Erdan, Minister Sofa Landver, MK Dov Lipman, Deputy Minister Danny Danon. Photo by Pnina Sploitz
