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I'm proud to be a Mets fan.
New York Mets Stand Up to Anti-Israel Pressure
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
In the face of far-left, Arab and Muslim opposition, the New York Mets organization has decided to honor its commitment to rent its Caesar's Club for a fundraiser benefiting the Jewish community of Hevron.
Shortly after the venue for the Hebron Fund dinner in support of the Jews of Hevron was publicized, eleven organizations sent a letter to the Mets management calling upon them to disallow the event at Citi Field. Signatories included organizations from Israel, the US and the Palestinian Authority, some of which oppose Israeli sovereignty altogether and others which oppose any Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria.
Despite their own opposition to a minority of Jews living among the Arabs of Hevron, in their November 3 letter the organizations attempted to present the planned fundraiser as "actively promot[in racial discrimination". They further presented the argument that the "New York Mets will be facilitating activities that directly violate international law and the Obama administration's call for a freeze in settlement construction...." The warning that the fundraiser would run counter to the US president's stated policy position was repeated throughout the letter.
Nonetheless, the Mets organization stood firm in the face of the call to boycott the event supporting a Jewish presence in the Biblical city of Hevron. The annual Hebron Fund event is slated to take place as planned on Saturday night, November 21.
The news of the Mets' decision was greeted by both Jewish organizations and individuals with expressions of great admiration. The National Council of the Young Israel Movement, representing organized Jewish communities and synagogues in the United States, wrote to the New York Mets management:
"Your refusal to be intimidated by abhorrent acts of coercion by the groups calling for the cancellation of the Hebron Fund event is extremely noteworthy. By rejecting the hate-filled calls to inhibit the Hebron Fund’s freedom of expression and standing firm in its beliefs of what is right, the New York Mets organization displayed a degree of intestinal fortitude that is genuinely appreciated not just by our organization, but by the greater Jewish community."
In his official letter, National Council of Young Israel President Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, Esq., noted, "In essence, the Hebron Fund dinner is a celebration of the human spirit. The New York Mets organization is not facilitating a political event; rather it is enabling a salute to a group of men, women, and children whose determination and inner strength have allowed them to remain in their communities, despite desperate attempts by Israel's adversaries to drive them from their homes."
The new Jewish advocacy organization, Z Street, called upon supporters of Israel "to thank the New York Mets... for standing up against intimidation by defamers of Israel, posing as 'civil and human rights' activists. ...Thank you for stepping up to the plate and hitting a home run for truth and the Jewish people!"
Last year's Hebron Fund dinner was held at the Marriott Marquis in New York. Eight far-left and Arab organizations called for a boycott at the time and gathered a handful of people to protest outside the venue. The Hebron Fund claims that last year's anti-Hebron Fund pressure was "organized by a few anti-Israel Jews affiliated with the Arab Adalah organization, whose main work is fighting against consensus organizations such as Friends of the IDF and pushing their Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel." Hebron Fund Director Yossi Baumol claimed that last year one of the far-left activists smashed the headlights of his vehicle. |
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