Fresh Updates from RAC

The national debate around how to best prevent gun violence took on an international dimension when, on Tuesday, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a treaty to regulate international trade in small arms. The Obama Administration has played a critical role in crafting and developing this treaty and the United States joined 154 countries that voted for it; only three countries voted against it (Syria, Iran and North Korea), and twenty others abstained.

The treaty – which includes tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber weapons, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and launchers, small arms and light weapons – would require that sellers of munitions take steps to ensure that the weapons are not likely to be used in the abuse and violation of human rights.

Much of the discussion around this treaty has focused on Bashar Asad and the Syrian government who, despite well-documented human rights abuses and killing of countless civilians, have continued to receive arms shipments from abroad. Anna McDonald, an analyst for Oxfam International, said of this treaty, “This treaty won’t solve the problems of Syria overnight, no treaty could do that, but it will help to prevent future Syria, It will help to reduce armed violence. It will help to reduce conflict.” Syria was joined by North Korea and Iran in an attempt to block the treaty from coming to a vote late last week.

In order for the treaty to take effect it needs to be ratified by at least fifty countries, and that is likely to be a difficult fight. President Obama, who has repeatedly expressed support for the treaty, will likely face intense resistance in the Senate, where it must pass with a two-thirds majority. The National Rifle Association has come out strongly against the bill saying that it could infringe on the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. There is likely to be considerable resistance from arms manufacturers as the United States is the leading exporter of arms around the world. Finally, there is little appetite for any international treaty for some in Congress, as particularly in light of last year’s disappointing vote on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Religious Action Center has been engaged in a number of actions to help prevent gun violence over the past several months (make sure to call your Senator through Faiths Calling on April 9^th in advance of their vote on a domestic gun violence prevention package! ) and we will continue that work as the attention of U.S. lawmakers turns toward considering this treaty.

When President Obama announced his intention to visit Israel, analysts worried that the President’s trip would be more of a tourist trip than diplomatic mission. Over the last few days, President Obama has erased such skepticism.

Among the many highlights of his visit, the American President met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli President Peres, and President Abbas, who leads the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Yet, it was President Obama’s speech to an electric crowd of young Israelis that may finally revitalize peace negotiations.

Affirming the United States’ commitment to Israeli security and well being, the President declared:

“I’m proud that the security relationship between the United States and Israel has never been stronger. (Cheers, applause.) Never. More exercises between our militaries. More exchanges among our political and military and intelligence officials than ever before. The largest program to date to help you retain your qualitative military edge. These are the facts; these aren’t my opinions. These are facts.”

What was so powerful about the President’s speech was his willingness to speak from his heart, despite understanding the political risks of doing so. Warning against the growing skepticism in the possibility for a two-state solution, President Obama explained:

“I believe that peace is the only path to true security. You can be — (applause) — you have the opportunity to be the generation that permanently secures the Zionist dream, or you can face a growing challenge to its future. Given the demographics west of the Jordan River, the only way for Israel to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable Palestine.”

President Obama described that peace is necessary, just, and possible. But, he also expressed that peace must be actively pursued. He continued:

“Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace and that an independent Palestine must be viable, with real borders that have to be drawn. (Cheers, applause.) I’ve suggested principles on territory and security that I believe can be the basis for these talks.”

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, welcomed President Obama’s remarks as “perhaps the most important in recent memory by an American president.” He continued to explain that, “the powerful recognition of Israel’s right to exist was important, as well his eloquent and heartfelt recognition of the challenges and the opportunities that Israel faces as it seeks a peaceful and hopeful future.”

Before leaving Israel, President Obama visited the graves of Theodor Herzl and Yitzhak Rabin, symbolically tying together their two inspirational visions; Herzl as the founder of the Zionist dream before the birth of the modern state of Israel, and Rabin championing the maintenance of that dream through the pursuit of peace.

Image courtesy of Larry Downing/Reuters

Last week 38 experts including members of the national security teams of the last 7 administrations, retired congressmen and senators, and 9 retired generals and admirals sent a letter to congress asking members to approve aid to poor countries to combat climate change and assist with adaptation. Despite the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, the drought in the Midwest and Southwest, and a record number of forest fires, the United States has thus far been able to band together to bounce back from the disasters brought on by climate change. However, many in the developing world have not been so fortunate. Though the debates in Washington about our fiscal solvency might paint a different picture, the reality is that the United States is able to afford to pay the excess costs incurred from climate changes.

In the words of Vice Admiral McGinn, former Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs, speaking in 2009, “We have less than 10 years to change our fossil fuel dependency course in significant ways. Our nation’s security depends on the swift, serious and thoughtful response to the inter-linked challenges of energy security and climate change. Our elected leaders and, most importantly, the American people should realize this set of challenges isn’t going way. We cannot continue business as usual.”

It doesn’t get much more serious than that.

Image Courtesy of Partnership for a Secure America.

If you’ve kept up your habit of reading RACblog religiously (you’re supposed to check for updates three times a day, right?), then you must know that February has been Jewish Disability Awareness Month. While most of our JDAM coverage has focused on the struggle for inclusion in the United States, as the month draws to a close I’d like to highlight some of the issues confronting persons with disabilities worldwide.

Read more…

Next month we will mark one year since the horrific shooting of a Rabbi, his two children, and one other student outside of Ozar Hatorah, a Jewish school in Toulouse, France. As we approach the solemn anniversary of this tragedy, a new report suggests that the very anti-Semitism that fueled such a senseless act not only remains prominent across Europe, but is indeed growing. Read more…

In a letter to Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Israel’s Chief Rabbis called for the creation of a task force to study the proliferation of anti-Semitism in Europe, and to develop a plan to reduce anti-Jewish violence. The call from Rabbi Yona Metzger and Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar comes on the heels of a recent attack on a Jewish student visiting Italy, which shed light on the rising rates of anti-Semitism in Europe. Read more…

In one of the last acts of the 112^th Congress, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 134, “Condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.” The resolution, which passed with bipartisan support, is the 12th of its kind to pass the house since 1982. Read more…

We all know the talking points by now. Our 24-hour news cycle has covered it constantly – Congress and the Administration are at an impasse over the so-called fiscal cliff. The expiring Bush tax cuts, reaching the debt ceiling, the looming threat of sequestration, finalizing the fiscal year 2013 appropriations bills – these are all pieces of the bigger challenge of our growing national debt. And it’s unclear how Congress will tackle any of these issues before the clock runs out.

What’s at risk in this showdown? Downgrading of the United States’ credit rating. Increased tax rates for all Americans.

Read more…