There has been a lot in the press since last week regarding a new alliance between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Otzma Yehudit party. While there has been no formal unification between Likud and Otzma Yehudit to date, we felt that the following statement should be made and shared with all of you.
Debbie Minkoff
President
Alan Klugman
Interim Executive Director
STATEMENT
The Jewish Federation of Madison has a longstanding policy to remain neutral on internal political matters within the State of Israel and does not financially contribute to ANY political candidate or party. We are compelled, at this time, to stand side by side with other Jewish organizations, including AIPAC and AJC in distancing ourselves from the recent alliance publically announced between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the Otzma Yehudit party. The latter’s views are reprehensible and do not reflect the spirit of our Jewish Federation or the ideals of inclusion that remain the very foundation of modern Zionism. We remain committed to the many non-political projects and programs we support in Israel, including those of IREP (the Israel Religious Expression Platform) that promote religious pluralism in the Jewish State.