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Press Release – JINSA Condemns Decision by Presidents Conference to Politicize Anti-Iran Rally

- Friday, September 19, 2008 |

(Washington, D.C.) – Tom Neumann, Executive Director of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), today sent a letter to Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, strongly opposing the decision by the Conference of Presidents to disinvite Gov. Palin to speak at a rally scheduled for Monday, September 22 to protest the appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations, and questioning why member organizations had not been consulted before this drastic action was taken.

Earlier this week, Sen. Clinton learned that Gov. Palin was also invited to speak at the rally and chose to withdraw her participation, essentially trivializing would have been a united, bipartisan demonstration of opposition to the Iranian government. Yesterday, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, under pressure from the Obama campaign, withdrew its invitation to Gov. Palin.

The text of Neumann’s letter follows:

Dear Malcolm:

When I heard the disturbing news that the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations had allegedly chosen to disinvite vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, I was in a state of disbelief. I cannot and do not believe that you, the consummate professional, could have made such an inappropriate and foolhardy decision.

My first instinct was that, as a member of the Conference of Presidents, JINSA would disassociate itself from the rally to be held on Monday. Nothing, however, could be more important on the American agenda than preventing Ahmadinejad’s Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Therefore, we must remain united in opposition.

So while we cannot withdraw from the rally, we want to be very clear that we not only dissent from the decision to disinvite Governor Palin, but we condemn in no uncertain terms those within the Conference of Presidents who chose to impose their narrow partisan agenda on a very important undertaking.

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, as a member organization, was not consulted on the decision, as I’m sure was the case with many other members. I call for those who are responsible for this decision to step forward and speak in their own name and not hide behind the skirts of the Conference of Presidents. In disgracing themselves they disgrace us all.

Tom Neumann
Executive Director
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs

For further information or to arrange an interview with Tom Neumann, JINSA Executive Director, contact Jim Colbert at 202-667-3900.

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian educational organization established in 1976 to educate the public on national and international security issues, including the importance of an effective U.S. defense capability and the key role of strategic allies, including Israel, to promote democratic values in the Middle East.