The Women's March and Anti-Semitism

The leaders of the Women's March need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and consider their own biases before they can legitimately galvanize women to confront and condemn injustices perpetrated by others.

Concerns about anti-Semitism permeating their leadership ranks are real and must be addressed. Their association with the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, who has historically made racist comments regarding Jews, is disturbing, and their failure to denounce anti-Semitism is disconcerting. Their misgivings and marginalization of their Jewish colleague raises legitimate questions about possible prejudice.

While recently at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, I was reminded of the integral role American Jews played in the civil rights movement, and how they stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1963 March on Washington and 1965 March on Selma, Alabama. We desperately need to harken back to a time when Jews and African-Americans stood together to protest injustice.

As anti-Semitism in the U.S. increases, the Women's March should reassess its affiliation with controversial anti-Semitic figures and ascertain how different communities can unite toward a common goal. Achieving social change is important, but acknowledging one's own personal imperfections and partialities prior to doing so is paramount.

Condemning Hamas at the UN

The UN General Assembly’s recent failure to adopt a resolution condemning Hamas is not a blow to the United States, President Trump or Ambassador Nikki Haley; rather, it is a blow to the UN’s legitimacy, credibility and purported impartiality.

While Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union, mocks the international community by continuing to openly engage in terrorism, the UN turns the other way. Although it seemingly never squanders an opportunity to censure Israel through the passage of countless reproachful resolutions, the fact that the UN has never approved a resolution condemning Hamas is disgraceful and a dereliction of its duty.

The rejection of this resolution is a tacit endorsement of Hamas’ terrorist activities by those who opposed the measure, which include firing rockets at civilian targets, digging terror tunnels in order to infiltrate Israel and engage in terrorism, and murdering Israelis nationals. The UN had a golden opportunity to express its disapproval of a notorious terrorist organization, yet it regrettably and inexplicably dropped the ball.