A couple of months have passed since our last update. Most of that time was spent in promoting pro-Israel organizations and initiatives that we are partnering with worldwide and particularly in the United States. The following is a concise description of the network of international parliamentary caucuses that we are working closely with in order to promote the basic tenets of the Israeli Initiative. Further down the page you will find a description of the two campaigns that are currently being run in the States regarding the status of Jerusalem. We would greatly appreciate your sending this update on to any friends or family you have in the United States in order to further promote these important campaigns.

Congressional Israel Allies Caucus
In 2006 pro-Israel Congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives formed the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. The caucus is bi-partisan with two Democrat and two Republican co-chairs and is active on a broad spectrum of issues in support of Israel. Membership includes influential Representatives such as Eric Cantor, Mike Pence and Shelly Berkley.

International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation
Pioneered by MK Rabbi Binyamin Elon, the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation (IIACF) was formed in order to set up caucuses of pro-Israel Members of Parliament in parliaments around the world and to serve as the umbrella for coordinated activities of these caucuses.The IIACF is dedicated to the purpose of promoting communication and information sharing between parliamentarians and legislators around the world who share a belief that the State of Israel has the right to exist in peace within secure borders. IIACF website: www.iiacf.org

Since then additional caucuses have been formed in the U.S.A., Canada, Brazil, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Malawi, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and list continues to grow. Together these Caucuses work to bring a coordinated and unified voice on issues and legislation regarding Israel from across the globe. For a list of these caucuses and their Chairman, please see:
www.iiacf.org/international/member_nations

In the USA, the IIACF is working to support the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and provide pro-Israel Jewish and Christians with a voice and a connection to its members. This is accomplished by activating the Caucus through events, news updates, advocacy campaigns on faith based issues, and lobbying efforts.

The IIACF is currently running two campaigns regarding the status of Jerusalem. The first – Born in Jerusalem – has to do with a case currently being tried in the American Supreme Court regarding American citizens who were born in Jerusalem and are demanding that the American authorities officially state in their passports that their place of birth is Jerusalem, Israel – which the American government has refused to do up until now for political/diplomatic reasons. In order to view the website that has been set up in order to enlist support for this effort, please see: www.borninjerusalem.org



Jerusalem’s fate is hanging in the balance.

This September the Palestinians will be going to the UN in a bid for statehood. Yet recent developments in negotiations could bring the future of Jerusalem into question even sooner.

“In a last-minute effort to stop the Palestinians from seeking unilateral recognition at the United Nations in September, the Mideast Quartet is planning to present a new international peace plan at a summit in Washington on July 11,” Ha’aretz reported earlier this month. However, as the EU, UN, Russia and US Quartet members gathered in Washington a few weeks ago, they could not even issue a statement regarding how to move forward.

The peace plan under current consideration would be based on President Obama’s Middle East Policy speech on May 9 which called for a two state solution with borders based on 1967 lines (i.e. 1949 Armistice Lines) with mutually agreed upon land swaps. President Obama is determined to achieve “peace” at the expense of the Jewish people’s biblical inheritance. The “land for peace” paradigm has not worked for the last quarter of a century and there is no logical reason to suggest it will succeed in the future. Now, not only is all of Judea and Samaria in peril, but this means Jerusalem is on the chopping block.

Now is the time to ensure Jerusalem remains united under Israeli sovereignty. Since 1967 Israel has ensured that their Holy City has remained open to people of all faiths. For the past 44 years, the city has thrived under Israeli rule. The holy sites of all religions have been protected and freedom of religion has been safeguarded. Ironically, the most holy site to the Jewish people – the Temple Mount – is the least free place in the entire city. In an act of goodwill in 1967, Israel handed over control of the Temple Mount to the Muslim Waqf (Muslim religious authorities) and to this day, Jews and Christians are prohibited from praying on the Temple Mount.

Act today for Jerusalem’s future. Log on to www.recognizejerusalem.comand petition your US Representative to sign on to the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2011. This bill would officially recognize Jerusalem as the united capital of Israel and would relocate the US Embassy to its proper place in Jerusalem. This act would honor a commitment the US made to Israel in 1995 and would signify to the world that the US stands with its allies.

Jerusalem is not a bargaining chip – it is the eternal, undivided capital of the State of Israel.

Washington needs to hear your voice.

As always, we'd love to hear your comments and questions,
The Israeli Initiative
www.Israelinitiative.com