Young Israel Calls Out the U. S. State Department on its Hypocrisy

י' לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ד

Matzav: Young Israel Calls State Department Stance On Yerushalayim Contrary To Us Law And Inconsistent With Secretary Kerry’s Record As A US Senator
February 9, 2014

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) on Friday defended Israel’s right to build new housing for its residents and condemned those who reprimanded the Jewish State for its recent decision to construct new residential units in Jerusalem.

Following the announcement that Jerusalem officials approved the construction of a total 558 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Har Homa, Neveh Yaakov, and Pisgat Zeev, the U.S. State Department expressed opposition to the new construction.

The following is a statement from NCYI President Farley Weiss:

“With its religious, historical, and cultural significance to the Jewish people, the importance of Jerusalem’s status as the eternal capital of Israel cannot be overstated. The State of Israel has a legal and historical right to construct new housing units within the confines of its capital city.

We are especially troubled by the U.S. State Department’s criticism of the decision to build new housing units in Jerusalem and its further questioning Israeli sovereignty over the city. The State Department’s position runs counter to the provisions of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which makes clear that it is U.S. law that a united Jerusalem is recognized as the capital of Israel and called for the moving of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. The State Department cannot assume a position that is diametrically opposed to U.S. law, which is what it has inexplicably chosen to do in this situation.

It is especially ironic that although Secretary of State John Kerry voted for the Jerusalem Embassy Act during his time in the U.S. Senate, the State Department under his leadership contends that the future status of Jerusalem is somehow up for discussion.

In July 1999, 84 Senators wrote a letter to then-President Clinton and urged him to comply with the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act (a copy of the letter is attached). Among the signatories of the letter, which was spearheaded by Republican Senator John Kyl of Arizona and Democratic/Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, were current Secretary of State John Kerry, current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In addition, Senators Charles Schumer and John McCain signed the letter. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Well, at least one American Jewish organization out is expressing something, somewhat related to the Torah justification of Jewish claims to Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital. Of course, I would have appreciated something a lot stronger and more direct. And, of coure, like any American Jewish organization it has a need for the employment of Western based reasoning, such as calling out hypocrisy.

Young Israel was right to do so. But, it would be nice if we, as a people, were finally ready to stand up and say, "All of Eretz Yisra'el belongs to us! End of story! Send us money or not! We don't care!"

Well, at least Young Israel did not express any offensive by any of the recent, Torah-based statements of religious Members of K'nesseth. Whereas, even the Orthodox Union [OU] and Rabbinical Council of America [RCA] did.

You get what you get. But, what do I know? I have only lived here in Israel, in spite of the difficulties in doing so. (sarcasm here)

Young Israel has it partly right, and part of their communities are in Israel. That is more than what can be said of most other American Jewish organizations, whose support for Israel as the only true Homeland of the Jewish People is lukewarm at best.