New York, NY, May 2, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the UNESCO Executive Board’s newest resolution relating to Jerusalem and other issues. The U.N.’s cultural and scientific organization’s latest resolution was harshly critical of alleged Israeli actions and policies. But, in contrast to recent resolutions, affirmed Jerusalem’s significance to the three monotheistic religions, among other changes. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO,…

New York, NY, March 24, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today congratulated David Friedman on his confirmation to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. ADL said it was looking forward to working with the new ambassador, and expressed hope that, going forward, Friedman would account for and respect the diversity of pro-Israel views throughout the Jewish community and broader American public. Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair, and Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO,…

Jerusalem, March 7, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed concern over two draft bills aimed at limiting the volume of speakers in places of worship approved in a preliminary reading by the Knesset. “The call to prayer is of great religious significance to Muslims and is not just a technical issue,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “Since the establishment of the State of Israel, mosques have been free to broadcast the call to prayer. Given…

New York, NY, December 23, 2016...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution that holds Israel and its settlement policy “in the West Bank and East Jerusalem” responsible for the lack of progress on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. ADL stated that it was outraged with the U.S. failure to veto this “biased and unconstructive” resolution, which only further complicates efforts to renew trust and restart…

New York, NY, December 22, 2016...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on the United States to veto a one-sided resolution expected to be voted on in the Security Council later today that holds Israel and its settlement policy “in the West Bank and East Jerusalem” responsible for the lack of progress in Israeli-Palestinian negotiation. The draft resolution, which is to be introduced by Egypt, names Israeli policies specifically as being responsible for “imperiling the…

New York, NY, November 2, 2016 … Reacting to tensions today at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called for the implementation of the January 2016 agreement by the Israeli cabinet to establish a permanent and official space for mixed gender prayer at Judaism’s holiest site. “The tension demonstrates yet again the urgent need to establish the egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel, to which the Israeli government is committed,” said…

New York, NY, October 26, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for “manufacturing history” with yet another resolution seeking to erase the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the holy sites. The resolution, entitled “Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls,” also included a long litany of biased accusations against Israel. The resolution was voted on and approved by secret ballot, with 10 voting in favor,…

New York, NY, October 13, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned yet another in a series of resolutions passed today by the UNESCO Executive Board, which, it said, “essentially expunges the 3,000 years of Jewish connection to Jerusalem.” Similar resolutions have been adopted by UNESCO political bodies in the past.  The resolution passed today continued to refer to the Temple Mount/Holy Sanctuary solely by its Islamic name, Haram al Sharif, and referred to…

New York, NY, September 27, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today mourned the passing of Israel’s longest serving and most prominent leader and statesman, former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair, and Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement: Literally present at the creation of the Jewish state, Shimon Peres was the diplomatic, political and social innovation face of Israel over a seven decade…

New York, NY, September 13, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today hailed the announcement of a military aid agreement between Israel and the United States, calling it “a resounding and tangible” demonstration of the enduring U.S.-Israel relationship. The new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) provides Israel with the largest defense aid package in American history - $38 billion over the next decade. The existing aid agreement expires in 2018.  The agreement…

Jerusalem, July 27, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly condemned passage in the Knesset of the “mikvah law,” which bars the ritual immersion of converts by non-Orthodox rabbis in public mikvahs (ritual baths), saying that it is using a state-funded facilities to discriminate.  Immersion in the mikvah is the final step in the process of converting to Judaism.  The law, initiated by MK Moshe Gafni, strives to override the Israeli Supreme Court…

New York, NY, July 15, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed today’s statement by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, who condemned attempts to deny the Jewish connection to Jerusalem. At UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, currently meeting in Istanbul, a draft resolution on the Old City of Jerusalem is being negotiated. A similar resolution in April by UNESCO’s Executive Board condemned Israel for alleged “Jewish fake graves” on the Temple…

New York, NY, July 14, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly condemned the decision by Israel’s Supreme Rabbinical court to reject the authority of prominent New York Orthodox Rabbi Haskel Lookstein by invalidating his conversion of an American woman to Judaism. ADL called the court’s decision a “slap in the face” to American Jewry, including those who have chosen to join the Jewish people, and said it highlights just how extreme the Israeli…

New York, NY, June 30, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed horror and outrage over the brutal murder of a 13-year-old Israeli girl by a 17-year-old Palestinian terrorist. Hallel Ariel was stabbed to death by the terrorist, who entered her bedroom in the settlement of Kiryat Arba earlier today. The attacker, who was shot and killed by a security guard, had reportedly posted on social media of his intentions to be a martyr. “This tragic attack on an…

New York, NY, June 29, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) draft platform for affirming America’s “longstanding commitment to Israel’s security, to Israel’s existence as a Jewish,  democratic state,” the pursuit of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for breaking new ground in opposing the BDS movement. The platform draft breaks important new ground in…

New York, NY, June 27, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the announcement of an agreement between Israel and Turkey that will restore full diplomatic relations and renew the economic, military and political cooperation the two countries have long enjoyed. “The restoration of Israeli-Turkish relations is a significant and welcome achievement, not just for these two long-time allies, but as a marker of regional cooperation and stability,” said Jonathan A…

Expresses Disappointment for Church’s Endorsement of Report Calling for Alternatives to Two State Solution New York, NY, June 27, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed disappointment at a number of problematic Israel-focused motions endorsed last week by the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly, including a report calling on the church to explore alternatives to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an overture advocating the church study…

Jerusalem, May 4, 2016 … On the occasion of the publication of the Hebrew version of former Israeli Ambassador and current Knesset Member Michael Oren’s book, “Ally: My Journey Across the American Israeli Divide,” the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) congratulated Mr. Oren on this milestone and took the opportunity to put to rest a controversy that arose surrounding the book’s original publication last year. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the…

New York, NY, April 19, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the bombing of a Jerusalem city bus which injured over 20 people, two of them seriously. “We deplore the horrific attack in Jerusalem, the first bus bombing in a long period of time, and an act of terror that brings back nightmares for many in Israel,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, and Carole Nuriel, Acting Director of ADL’s Israel Office. “Violence directed at civilians is…

New York, NY, April 18, 2016… The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on the United States to take a strong stand against Palestinian Authority efforts to present a one-sided resolution harshly critical of Israel at the Security Council, saying it would in no way advance Israeli-Palestinian bilateral negotiations.  In a letter to Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, ADL stressed that the U.S. should object to the resolution because it is both one-sided…