Inbal Axelrod’s Post

The Antisemitism Money and Power Network—and How to Smash It By Danielle Pletka Commentary June 17, 2024 The mushrooming of anti-Semitic violence and activism on campuses across the United States is not an organic or spontaneous development. Money is flowing from the Arab world to universities, nongovernmental organizations, and professional terrorist sympathizers across the country. That money is paying for, organizing, educating, publicizing, and fanning the flames not simply of Israel-bashing, but of eliminationist Jew-hatred. It demands a major response. Congress has begun investigating. Hearings in which university presidents have been unable to articulate any kind of standard that would protect Jewish students are driving headlines and major changes in leadership at elite educational institutions. Now key committees are digging into offshore efforts to direct and support campus anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activity. But things are a bit chaotic on Capitol Hill. Congress is moving in scattershot fashion, with multiple bills sponsored by a myriad of members. Little that is lasting can be accomplished in this way. What is needed now is a systematic survey of the problem, backed by the federal investigative power of agencies like the FBI, followed by a careful legislative response. That, in turn, will raise a host of complex issues that must be addressed if we are to change the game and rip out the anti-Semitism in our institutions at the root.

Recently I submitted a Comment on another person's Post that Trump & his Minions are threatening to create a type of dictatorship disguised as a representative democracy like Orban has done in Hungary. A Trumpista challenged that conclusion and stated that I didn't know anything about the strong democracy that exists in Hungary. I have to admit that I have not studied current Hungarian government in any detail, but the references to it I have encountered reenforce my opinion that it is a dictatorship disguised as a democracy. Such as this excerpt from the attached Op-Ed ultimately sourced to a detailed study by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "In addition to repressing critical voices in academia and the media, the autocratic leaders Trump admires have regularly tried to crush the congeries of advocacy groups, think tanks, humanitarian organizations and philanthropies often referred to as “civil society.” Hungary, for example, passed what it called the “Stop Soros” law, which criminalized helping refugees and migrants apply for asylum. More recently, Hungary enacted a “sovereignty law,” which, as a report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace put it, “offers the ruling party and the Secret Service vast powers to accuse and investigate any groups or individuals that influence public debate and may have had foreign training or contact for any part of their work.” That Carnegie report, written by Rachel Kleinfeld and published in March, offers a stark warning that something similar could happen here. In fact, Kleinfeld argues, it’s already started." #votebiden2024 #savedemocracy #savetheenvironment

What Europe will look like in the next five years will depend on how EU civil society organizes after the Open Society Foundation’s departure. Here's my op-ed in today's POLITICO Europe analysing the many implications of Open Society Foundations retreat from the EU ahead of the next EU elections and policy cycle. "Historically, no other foundation has done more to build and support European civil society. And it is this entrenched, ubiquitous nature of OSF support for EU civil society, combined with its massive funding capacity and professional support, which makes its sudden decision to leave deeply consequential. Seen from this perspective, the Soros retreat couldn’t come at a worse time for the European project, as it is being challenged by nationalist and populist parties dismissive of the bloc’s underlying “open” values, and that will soon find themselves free of the scrutiny that OSF-backed organizations strive to exercise". https://lnkd.in/ePKZ7zCk #soros #OSF #opensocietyfoundation

Read our blog for Alliance magazine where Angelika Arutyunova and Maia Tabidze reflect on the recent Ariadne Network and Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) meetings in Tbilisi, on an ongoing crisis in Georgia, and get a sneak peek into our ongoing research ´Where is the Money for Intersectional Movements in Central Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central and North Asia (#CEECCNA) Regions?´ The research revealed several critical funding trends for the regions: 〰 The dominance of emergency funding 〰 Loss of funding 〰 Lack of multi-year funding Find more here https://lnkd.in/eSy4GWx8

In May, Hillel International—the largest Jewish campus organization in the world—reported a 700 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses since October 7, more than 1,500 separate incidents in all. The anti-Semitic wave took multiple forms that are breathtaking in the way they have broken seemingly unbreakable norms—extolling Hitler and lamenting the failure of the Holocaust; demands that Jews “go back to Poland”; omnipresent glorification of Hamas and the attacks of October 7; calls for Hamas (and Iran) to attack Tel Aviv; denial of the events of October 7; attacks on Jewish institutions like Chabad and Hillel, as well as synagogues, Jewish fraternities, and even “visibly” Jewish students. (The rise of the expression “visibly Jewish” is itself a predation that deserves more attention.)

We, the Undersigned, Convinced that, while remaining proud of their own national identities and history, the peoples of Europe are determined to transcend their former divisions and, united ever more closely, to forge a common destiny, Based on the Uppsala and Prague Declarations, Aspiring to be recognized as a Political Party at EU Level, Promoting the inviolable and unalienable rights of the human being, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law. Supporting the evolution of democracy on every level and assuring transparency for political processes and decision-making, Focussing on the long-term welfare of European citizens instead of big money, Emerging from the struggle for a free, open and participative internet as a truly transnational and international movement, Uniting the forces of Pirates and Pirate Parties from all over Europe to influence European policy together, but with respect for the autonomy of its members, Hoping to contribute to prosperity and peace all over Europe, Subject to the ratification of the member parties, agree to create an international non-profit association according to Luxembourgish law and determine its statutes as follows: https://lnkd.in/e6uUpf7q

Despite funding from USAID and State Department to support civil society efforts around the world to address threats to civic space, the US itself is very much part of this disturbing global trend. My colleagues at ICNL have identified 10 legal threats in the US that make it harder for nonprofit organizations and activists to do their work. Here are some examples of actions that the Federal government and States have taken in recent years: - Criminalizing the provision of social services, particularly to migrants and asylum seekers. - Charging protestors and activists with overly broad domestic terrorism or racketeering laws. - Levying large fines or felony charges against protestors or individuals/groups that provide legal or material support to protestors. The erosion of the 1st amendment and fundamental civic freedoms is not only a concern here in the US, but also for civil society around the world as laws and practices in US are frequently used to justify repressive actions by other governments (e.g., the US's Foreign Agents Registration Act is a model for other countries). To read more, https://lnkd.in/e5aA5bVT

Open Society Foundations will cut funding to European initiatives. “Yet EU financing in support of civil society and human rights is scarce and highly bureaucratic, said a second person familiar with the concerns of OSF staff. Moreover, OSF is increasingly competing with right-wing governments in EU member states that funnel cash to domestic groups which promote nationalist or hard-right ideologies that don’t align with the bloc’s liberal, multi-cultural values. It’s sort of strange that at this point when this civil society that OSF supported has finally materialized, it would defect from this battle when faced with groups funded by nationalist and far-right forces. (…) These groups will become even more influential because there won’t be any opposition to them in terms of financial support.” Totally agree. Quite incomprehensible that OSF would take such a decision. Exactly now that times ask for additional efforts to turn the tide of growing extremism as disinformation, risking to undermine and actually undermining democratic forces and leadership. #Open Government Partnership Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Democracy Without Borders Council of Europe Human Rights and the Rule of Law #freedom #tolerance #diversity #civilrights #ruleoflaw

People rely on the courts and government agencies to solve serious legal problems, find help, and achieve stability. But inequitable practices can make navigating these complex systems impossible – especially for those without legal representation. The consequences can be devastating and life changing. Denied access to rights and resources, families may be unjustly evicted, lose custody of their children, struggle to escape domestic violence, or become caught in a cycle of debt and poverty. At MA Appleseed, we believe no one should need a law degree to avoid catastrophe. Through our Access to Justice initiative, we’re working to: ✅ Standardize fair treatment in these powerful institutions, regardless of legal representation ✅ Protect the language access rights of residents and end language discrimination ✅ Expand access to self-help resources that center the needs of the most vulnerable ✅ Advocate for innovative technology solutions to create a modern, 21st century court system where all residents have equitable access to legal rights and protection ✨ Help sustain this work in 2024 and consider making a donation to support MA Appleseed today! ✨ https://lnkd.in/dgjCxhF7

As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, it is crucial to assess the ongoing challenges to the current state of human rights and explore the extent to which they are respected, protected and fulfilled.