IfNotNow
“You represent American Jews, not Israelis,” interjected an audience member named Nathan. “No, I represent the United States,” responded Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.).
“All that I have ever said on [the Israeli-Palestinian conflict] is that U.S. foreign policy should be even-handed. That’s all—even-handed,” he said in response to a question at a New Hampshire town hall from an activist affiliated with the anti-Israel group IfNotNow.
Canary Mission launched a campaign and report revealing a strategic partnership between IfNotNow and American Muslims for Palestine, a group that has incited and celebrated violence against Israelis, denied Jewish peoplehood and mocked the Holocaust on social media.
The group has approached several leading Democrats to voice support against a term that has often been used by anti-Israel groups in the attempt to delegitimize Israel.
Two IfNotNow activists approached Warren, who was campaigning in New Hampshire, with one of them telling her, “We really love the way you’re fighting corruption. We’d really love it if you also pushed the Israeli government to end occupation.”
“An organization that claims to represent Jewish values found nothing wrong with disturbing Jews who wanted to pray on Shabbat,” said former IDF soldier Leibel Mangel of IfNotNow.
Nearly two decades later, a record 48,000-plus young Jews from 67 countries (and an additional 8,300 Israelis who travel with them) left everything familiar to spend 10 days connecting with Israel, Israelis, their Jewish selves and each other.
These days, campuses are increasingly battlefields where chief among the spoils are the hearts, minds and loyalties of the next generation of the Jewish people.
Members push to change the Israeli narrative, including among youth at Jewish summer camp.
While explaining its unique, immersive version of Israel and Zionist education, Eitan Goldstein, director and spokesman for Habonim Dror North America, was exceedingly clear on one point: “Israel’s right to self-determination remains affixed in our ideology and how we educate.”
While young people were getting ready for their flights to Israel, they were asked about their knowledge of certain issues and policies, with their answers recorded.
An ongoing discussion of how to present the nuances of Israel education at summer camps and to Jewish youth groups.
