How Hady Amr represents Biden to the Palestinians
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JA NUA RY 6 , 2023 ♦ 14 TEV ET, 578 3
THE WEEKLY PRINT
How Hady Amr represents Biden to the Palestinians; Nachman Shai’s
goodbye; Inside Israel and Jordan’s new bid to rehabilitate the Jordan
River; A hip-hop artist in the Holy Land; British TV judge Rob Rinder’s
crowded docket; A Jewish nonprofit is changing the way a Florida city
responds to 911 calls; and How an emergency vehicle in Jerusalem came
to be known as ‘Bikey McBikeface’.
JANUARY 4, 2023
How Hady Amr represents
Biden to the Palestinians
As the first U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs, Hady
Amr talked to Jewish Insider about his hope of improving life for
the Palestinians and helping keep the peace in the region
By Gabby Deutch
T
he same day President Joe Biden Blinken said Amr’s goal is to “strengthen our goal. [Hady]’s a very pragmatic guy.”
was inaugurated two years ago, engagement with the Palestinian people.” Amr wouldn’t disagree. His background
Hady Amr was sworn in at the He is essentially an envoy to a state is in development economics, not
State Department as the deputy assistant that doesn’t yet exist, and his message to diplomacy. His goal is to make life better,
secretary for Israeli and Palestinian Palestinians adds up to two words: Trust even incrementally, for Palestinians in
affairs. While Biden faced an urgent set of me. He is a deep believer in the two-state the West Bank and Gaza, on projects like
challenges both global and domestic, Amr solution, but in his new role he will not be increased 4G internet access in the West
was tasked with keeping things stable in focused on the peace process. Bank, or the new 24/7 opening hours of the
the Holy Land, not pursuing any sweeping “Certainly, we would all love to be Allenby border crossing between Jordan
diplomatic agendas. standing in the Rose Garden with a two-state and the West Bank.
This past November, Amr got solution, obviously, but I don’t think any of “How do we move to making a world
a promotion: He’s now the special us believe today that’s going to be possible,” more equal for people?” Amr asked.
representative for Palestinian affairs, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides told “Whether that equality comes in the form of
first time Washington has appointed a Jewish Insider when asked about Amr’s access to water or access to work or access
representative to the Palestinian people role. “But we can keep a vision of a two-state to freedom of movement, better security,
and leadership. Secretary of State Tony solution alive. We can work towards that equal justice, that’s the legacy I want to leave
1behind in any and every bit of work that I who served as the U.S. envoy to the Israeli- At the time, Martin Indyk was running
have.” Palestinian peace process in the Obama the Center for Middle East Policy at the
A child of the 1960s, Amr was born in administration. “In practice, it’s extremely Brookings Institution. He hired Amr to go to
Lebanon and moved to the United States at difficult to do.” Qatar and start an outpost of the think tank
a young age, where he grew up in suburban “We’re focused,” Amr said at the in Doha. Amr spent the next four years, from
Northern Virginia. His prevailing worldview November press briefing, “on the future and 2006 to 2010, running Brookings Doha.
comes from Martin Luther King Jr. lifting up the lives of ordinary Palestinians.” “He was just fabulous,” Indyk recalled.
“I was drawn to public service after Like Amr, Biden supports a negotiated A few years later, in 2013, Indyk brought
learning about the activism of Martin two-state solution. But unlike his Amr onto his peace process team to work
Luther King Jr., and his commitment to Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, on economic issues. It was Amr’s first time
equality,” said Amr, who is 55. “My political Biden has taken less of an initiative to working full-time on the Israeli-Palestinian
consciousness is about equal rights. It’s make that happen. There is no special issue.
about equal justice.” His hero spoke of a envoy to the peace process; no team in the Scott Lasensky, who served as a senior
country where all children could grow up U.S. government is now actively focused on advisor to former U.S. Ambassador to
with dignity and opportunities and the bringing the two sides to the negotiating Israel Dan Shapiro, worked with Amr in
ability to achieve the same American dream. table. the trenches of the Obama administration.
That’s also the prism through which Amr The Palestinian Authority is rife with Lasensky recalled the ease of working
views his work with the Palestinians. corruption and led by an aging president, with Amr, as opposed to some of the more
“We believe Palestinians and Israelis, like with no successor in sight. Israel just difficult diplomatic personalities.
people everywhere, are entitled to the same completed its fifth election in nearly four “As I think back to my time in
rights and the same opportunities,” he told years and last week swore in a right-wing government, I sometimes wonder what
Jewish Insider in December during an hour- government, with several prominent anti- was going on in the minds of those who
long phone interview. “To have a happy, safe, Arab voices. On Tuesday, U.S. officials screamed or threw things or slammed the
secure, prosperous future, their lives need contacted senior officials in Prime Minister phone down. He was never one of those
to be as equal as possible, because they’re Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to people,” said Lasensky. (At the recent Zoom
living in a tiny area, in an interconnected criticize National Security Minister Itamar bar mitzvah of Lasensky’s son, Amr offered
manner. And they’re joined at the hip.” Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount in webcam advice.)
Observers of Biden administration policy the Old City, according to State Department
on Israel will recognize in Amr’s comments spokesperson Ned Price. (Amr declined to *****
the echo of a line — which Amr helped comment on the new Israeli government.)
author — that has now become de rigueur in 2022 was the deadliest year in the West From the beginning of the Biden
Foggy Bottom and at U.S. embassies in the Bank since 2006, and the security situation administration, Amr helped undo several
Middle East. continues to deteriorate. For Amr, success of former President Donald Trump’s
“The Palestinian people deserve a state will be hard to define and even harder to policies regarding the Palestinians, namely
of their own that’s independent, sovereign, achieve. the cancellation of aid to the Palestinian
viable and contiguous, in addition to Authority and the United Nations Relief and
deserving to live — along with Israelis — ***** Works Agency (UNRWA). He has also been
safely and securely while enjoying equal a strong advocate for the reopening of the
measures of freedom, prosperity and How did Amr get here? The answer, as it U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, which served
democracy,” Amr said in a November press often is in Washington, is that he knew the Palestinians and was shuttered when Trump
briefing. Everyone from President Joe Biden right person. moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from
to Blinken, down to Amr and any official Amr’s first government position was in Tel Aviv. The Israeli government has to give
working on Middle East issues, has used that the Clinton administration, when he had a its sign-off for the opening of any foreign
line: that Israelis and Palestinians deserve desk job at the Pentagon. He then worked on diplomatic outpost and has thus far not
“equal measures of freedom, prosperity and Vice President Al Gore’s 2000 presidential approved the reopening of the consulate.
democracy.” campaign. Afterward, during the political Amr has amassed some critics who
It’s an idealistic goal, but achieving it — wilderness of the George W. Bush years, he allege that his desire to work with the
and finding a way to measure that success, joined a think tank and started a consulting Palestinian Authority necessitates forgiving
absent a negotiated end to the conflict — business. some of the PA’s more egregious behavior,
remains difficult.. In the years after Sept. 11, his firm sought such as its “martyr payments” to the families
“That wasn’t there before, that the to finesse American messaging to Muslims of terrorists, banned under the 2018 Taylor
United States will proceed in a way that is around the world who distrusted U.S. global Force Act.
designed to try to establish equal treatment leadership, and Amr wrote policy proposals “The administration is doing a very bad
for Israelis and Palestinians,” said Martin suggesting how the U.S. could improve job. They’re not making known that the PA
Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel public diplomacy to the Muslim world. is rewarding and incentivizing terror,” said
2Sander Gerber, a hedge fund executive and gotten over those barriers unscathed, but to support the East Jerusalem Hospital
activist who helped write the Taylor Force they were tough. In some ways, it’s gone the Network, which Biden announced while
Act. “I found [Amr] to be clear-sighted on other way, that you can only have a Jewish in Jerusalem in July; improving water flow
the problematic aspects of the Palestinian ambassador to Israel,” Lasensky told JI. to Palestinians; and approving thousands
Authority, and he wants to find some kind “Arab Americans, I think, are still dealing of work permits for Palestinians in Gaza
of solution. He’s deeply committed to two with more of the questions and suspicions to work in Israel. He also pointed out that
states for two peoples. But he understands as a class.” one of Blinken’s first civil society meetings
that the Palestinian Authority needs to Amr, who declined to speak about his in 2021 was with the Palestinian American
undergo serious reforms for that to happen.” faith, has Jewish, Muslim and Christian community.
In the November press briefing, Amr family members, and he identifies as “We are engaging, and we are not walking
said the U.S. will continue to “build our Muslim. through the world with blinders on, to hear
relationship with the Palestinian Authority,” “The notion that’s about in the the concerns that the community has,” Amr
and pledged to work with the PA to Jewish community that somehow there’s said.
deescalate tensions in the West Bank. “We’re something wrong with Hady Amr in his Palestinian leadership and many left-
also going to engage with the Palestinian position because he’s an Arab American wing pro-Palestinian activists have criticized
Authority on important reforms that we is just wrongheaded,” said Indyk. “What’s the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreements
believe are important to make Palestinian good for Jewish Americans should be good that normalized relations between Israel
society more vibrant and more free,” he said, for Arab Americans. Americans cannot have and several Arab nations. For decades, the
without naming specifics. a double standard.” prevailing foreign policy worldview in the
“His reputation on the right is that he’s In his role, Amr sees himself most of Middle East had been that Israel could not
not a friend to Israel. I have not found that to all as a representative of the United States, have strong relationships in the region until
be the case,” Gerber added. rather than any one constituency or ethnic the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was resolved.
“I think that that’s probably characteristic group. “Israel’s growing integration and broad-
of the far right, where people are suspicious “I’m working on behalf of the United based opportunities it creates — this is
of anyone who supports a Palestinian States. I am here to advance U.S. interests,” something that we can leverage to improve
state,” said Michael Koplow, chief policy he explained. His goals are not his alone: the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank
officer at Israel Policy Forum, who authored “The president has said, Israelis and and in Gaza,” Amr told JI. “I think there’s
several reports with Amr during the Palestinians equally deserve to live safely real interest, particularly with Morocco, to
Trump administration. “I don’t think it’s and securely and enjoy equal measures of work for ways to improve quality of life for
representative of Israelis writ large.” freedom, security and prosperity. That’s the Palestinian people. When a country like
Still, Amr has managed to gain the what I’m working towards, along with a two- Morocco shows that it is able to work with
support of a number of groups in the U.S. state solution, and those are the pillars of my Israel, and work with the Palestinians to take
Jewish community and the Palestinian and work.” steps to make improvements for Palestinian
Arab American communities. After Amr’s lives, it makes it easier for other countries to
appointment to be special representative ***** normalize relations with Israel.”
for Palestinian affairs, the American Jewish How does Amr measure his success, and
Committee congratulated him in a tweet, Before ever reaching a peace accord, or the nebulous goal of what he described as
calling Amr “our friend.” even making the small improvements Amr “preserving a horizon of hope”?
At J Street’s national conference desires, he knows he needs to lower the It starts with a family tradition he
in Washington in December, Blinken temperature in the region. incorporated into his office culture.
mentioned Amr in his address and received “The big charge now, clearly, and he “The way I think about my family and
raucous applause. (Amr did not speak at the knows it very well, is that the situation in the my work is this: “How did I — how did we
confab, but when he attended its gala dinner, West Bank is explosive,” Indyk said. — make the world a better place this week?”
he was quickly mobbed by attendees.) “We are remaining actively engaged he told JI. Amr, his wife and children discuss
After Israel’s founding, the State with Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that question every Friday night over dinner.
Department had an informal policy of to urge them to work cooperatively to lower “Whose lives did we improve this week? ‘I
keeping Jews out of positions that dealt with tensions and discourage armed conflict. wrote a memo that was great’ doesn’t cut it.
Israel. Indyk broke that streak when former And, you know, specifically we’re urging Whose life is better because of what we did
President Bill Clinton named him the first Israel to ensure policies and procedures do that week?” ♦
Jewish U.S. ambassador to the Jewish state. not lead to civilian harm,” Amr said in an
Lasensky has discussed this difficult October speech to the Arab Center D.C.
history, which also kept Arab Americans In that presentation, Amr ticked off
from important State Department positions Biden administration actions: hundreds of
that touched on the Arab world, with Amr. millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians,
“The Jewish community largely has largely through UNRWA; $100 million
3DECEMBER 23, 2022
Nachman Shai’s goodbye
‘There are eight million Jews in the Diaspora and whether they are
under pressure from antisemitism, or living full and happy lives, they
should be on our radar screen, and we should look at them, work with
them, help them and see them as members of our own family’
By Ruth Marks Eglash
N
achman Shai has long been a Days before the government he has been concerned at the lack of compassion and
major figure in Israeli-Diaspora a member of is replaced by the incoming sensitivity already being displayed by the
relations, dating back to his time government of long-serving leader Benjamin new government – a coalition of right-wing
as a senior vice president at United Jewish Netanyahu, Shai talked to JI about his parties.
Communities, now known as the Jewish concerns for Israel-Diaspora relations under “As far as I know, there is not any
Federations of North America. But in June the new coalition, his achievements while candidate for the ministerial position, but
2021, as a member of then-Prime Minister in office and his steadfast belief that it is that’s the least important concern,” he said.
Naftali Bennett’s coalition government, he time to change the nature of Israel-Diaspora “What is more important is that they are
was tapped for Israel’s top role working with relations and for Israelis to start asking trying to adapt the same mode of operation
the diaspora — and immediately faced an Diaspora Jews “what they need from us.” to the relationship between Israel and
unprecedented crisis. “The very fact that an official Diaspora that they applied internally in the
Days after the collapse of a residential representative of the government of Israel country.”
building complex in Surfside, Fla., home to a was asking Jews in the Diaspora this Voices within Netanyahu’s coalition
sizable Jewish community, Shai, who served question was a revolution,” Shai, who have expressed a desire the change key
as a member of the Knesset for the Labor founded and co-chaired the Knesset caucus aspects of the Law of Return, a unique
party from 2009-2019, arrived to South to strengthen Israel-Diaspora ties, said. immigration law that grants anyone
Florida with a team from Israel’s Homefront “There are eight million Jews in the Diaspora with one Jewish grandparent the right to
Command’s Search and Rescue unit, who and whether they are under pressure from citizenship, overthrow recent recognition of
assisted in rescue-and-recovery efforts. antisemitism, or living full and happy lives, non-Orthodox conversions to Judaism and
Shai himself was there to show support and they should be on our radar screen, and we dismiss non-Orthodox claims to alternative
comfort to the Jewish community there. should look at them, work with them, help or pluralistic prayer at Judaism’s holiest site,
“It was my second or third week in the them and see them as members of our own the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
job, and I believe that it changed the course of family.” “The Diaspora was not a player in the
the dialogue,” Shai told Jewish Insider. “The “And this should be done as a election campaigns and no Israeli was asked
Jewish community suffered tremendous governmental obligation, not as a just ‘It’s to vote on the question of [non-Orthodox]
casualties, scores of people were killed and a nicety,’” he added. “It’s something we conversions, the Kotel or changing the Law of
the fact that an official spokesperson from have to work for, and that’s the difference Return, but now they [the new government]
the State of Israel came, stayed with them, in the relationship between Israel and [the] has so much power and are trying to apply
spoke to them and addressed them in their diaspora at this stage.” the same momentum to the Israeli-Diaspora
synagogue sent a message that we hadn’t Shai, who spent two years prior to his relationship, which is terrible,” Shai said.
thought so important before. The feedback I posting as minister as a visiting professor “The relationship between Israel and
got was that it mattered to them very much.” on U.S. college campuses, said that such an Jews in the Diaspora was always based on a
In the year and a half since Shai approach was critical, particularly in dealing certain set of ideas and values,” he continued.
parachuted in to support a grieving Jewish with the surge of antisemitism worldwide “If Jews in the Diaspora — in America, in
community, his work — from providing — and in the U.S. He said he would like to Britain, in France — now ask themselves,
support to Jews fleeing the war in Ukraine see Israel, and his ministry in particular, Is this the same Jewish democratic state?
to pushing Israelis to pay attention to the spearheading an international effort to Is this the same democracy that we were
rise in global antisemitism to launching combat antisemitism. so proud of? Is this the same government
initiatives bridging the gaps between Israeli Shai’s delicate and sensitive approach to system that takes care of minorities, of
and Diaspora Jews — has focused on working with Diaspora Jewish communities human rights, of justice, of law and order
changing the way the Jewish state views the is one that was not always adopted by his and so on? I think the answer now is shaky,
global Jewish community. predecessors in the role, and he is very it’s no longer clear.”
4“All denominations of Judaism should be “I was hoping that this government will Jews outside of Israel.”
treated the same way by the government of survive for three years,” lamented Shai in “So, I’m really going to miss it, not only
Israel, and specifically by this ministry,” said the interview, adding that visiting Jews as a politician, but also on a personal level,
Shai, who lists among his achievements the in the Diaspora over the past 18 months as I wonder where is my state is going and
establishment of a department for Jewish made him realize that having such a diverse what it will mean for my children and eight
renewal, aimed at strengthening a handful coalition consisting of right- and left-wing grandchildren in the future,” he concluded.♦
of local organizations engaged in exploring politicians, Jews and Arabs, including nine
what it means to be Jewish. female ministers, “was so important for
JANUARY 3, 2023
Inside Israel and Jordan’s new bid to
rehabilitate the Jordan River
‘In Israel, what’s happening now is a bit like a dream come true,’
one Israeli environmental activist said. ‘If you came here 10 years
ago, nobody would have thought that such a thing could happen.’
By Ruth Marks Eglash
I
n the Bible, the Jordan River is described Then-Israeli Environment Minister becoming priorities.
as a gushing body of water, risky for Tamar Zandberg, from the left-leaning In his recent New York Times column,
the high priests carrying the ark of the Meretz party, also described the declaration Thomas Friedman, who has long touted
covenant to cross. Today, if the people of as “an expression of the connection between the environmental crisis as a factor that
Israel reached these reedy banks, they would Israel and Jordan, neighboring countries could ultimately force peace on the region,
have no problem skipping over the almost with a river flowing between them.” referred to the declaration between Israel
dried-up stream; their only hesitation might But such efforts by Israel and Jordan and Jordan and expressed hope that it
be the pollution. to safeguard and revive the shared stream would now nudge the countries in a new
Over the last 50 years, the river’s annual have been discussed before. Nearly 30 direction.
flow has dropped drastically — from more years ago, when the two countries signed Environmental activists are hopeful too.
than 1.3 billion cubic meters per year to less their peace agreement, provisions were laid “In Israel, what’s happening now is a bit
than 30 million cubic meters. The climate out for rehabilitating the river, including like a dream come true,” Nadav Tal, water
crisis, coupled with regional conflicts and the environmental protection, agricultural officer for the Israel office of EcoPeace, a
practical needs of people in the surrounding pollution control, liquid waste restrictions regional environmental nonprofit that has
countries, have turned the Jordan’s waters and pest control. There were also plans to long been pushing for cleanup of the river,
into a pitiful trickle. create nature reserves and protected areas, told Jewish Insider recently. “If you came
At the recent United Nations Climate as well as tourist and historical heritage sites here 10 years ago, nobody would have
Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm along the river’s banks. thought that such a thing could happen.”
el-Sheikh, Egypt, Israeli and Jordanian As relations between the countries Tal took Jewish Insider to Yardenit, a
officials appeared to recognize the need for deteriorated, however, little changed in the tourism site just south of the Sea of Galilee
action. Ministers from both countries signed status of the iconic waterway. Israel and where some Christians believe John first
what was touted as a historic “Declaration Jordan, along with Syria and Lebanon, baptized Jesus and where visitors can take
of Intent” to rehabilitate the once-flowing continued to siphon off much of the clean a short, leisurely kayak trip along part of
river and ensure it is sustainable for future water, and conflicts – old and new – kept the river. Decades ago, Tal explained, Israel
generations. cooperation and conservation from rerouted most of the water that flows to the
5area from the Kinneret, first to an electrical big boost for Jordan’s fledgling water supply. is under the custodianship of Jordan. Jews
plant further south and then via its national The plan requires Israel to release some 180 refer to the site as the Temple Mount; the
water carrier to the center of the country million cubic meters into the river to clean it Western Wall sits below it.
and beyond. Human engineering currently up; a portion of that will be directed towards Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president
allows for only a small amount of freshwater Jordan. for research at the Washington, D.C.-based
and a mix of high-quality wastewater and “The Jordan River is not only a river think tank Foundation for the Defense of
saline water to reach the Jordan River, for water, it’s also important religiously in Democracies, said the river rehabilitation
which flows south to the Dead Sea. Islam, Christianity and Judaism – it’s a holy project was a “bull’s-eye if the goal was to
Located here now, however, is a newly river and we have to revive it,” explained find an issue of mutual interest to both
built wastewater treatment center, and land Abu Rashid. “It is also very important for the countries.”
has been set aside for a water desalination peace between Jordan and Israel.” But, he continued, cooperation of
plant. The renewed plan between Israel Idan Greenbaum, head of the Emek any kind with Israel has become deeply
and Jordan is to clean up the river’s water Hayarden regional council, concurred, unpopular in Jordan, where some elements
supplies, boost the flow of cubic meters and saying that the waterway had been of the population even derided receiving gas
divert a significant amount from here to neglected for far too long and the cleanup from its Jewish neighbor.
Jordan, one of the world’s driest countries. was now essential for both sides. “Quiet cooperation between the two
Tal, who is also EcoPeace’s field “We have a very peaceful border with countries seems to be the only cooperation
coordinator for the Jordan Valley, calls the Jordan,” Greenbaum, who lives on the that really works in recent years,” said
rehabilitation project “urgent.” Israeli side of the river just south of the Sea Schanzer, who recently authored a report
“We have to do it now because the of Galilee, said. “All that separates us is the on Jordan’s place in the Abraham Accords
pollution is still continuing,” he said. “We’ve river and a fence. When there are dangers normalization process with Israel. “Israeli
already seen what happens when we neglect in Jordan – brushfires, agricultural diseases intelligence, military assistance and
nature. Take the Dead Sea, for example; we and other natural disasters – it crosses over continued provision of water and energy
neglected the Dead Sea, we allowed water quickly into Israel.” happen out of the eye of the Jordanian
diversion and industry, then nature took “Those who live in this area do not have public, but the interaction of the two
its revenge with sinkholes, destroying the the privilege to fight with our neighbors,” countries in just about every other way has
infrastructure and the people there are now Greenbaum continued, adding, “we pay been fraught with tension.
really suffering.” the price of politicians who are not careful “Much of this tension derives from a
“That will happen here, too, eventually. If with their decisions. When there is unrest in decision taken on the part of the royal court
we don’t fix problems in nature, it will come Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount, it impacts and the political elite in Amman to engage
back to hurt us,” Tal continued, giving the us here.” in vitriolic rhetoric against Israel,” Schanzer
example of a recent discovery of cholera in Greenbaum recalled a 2017 incident continued. “The Israelis continue to absorb
nearby Syrian waters. “Nobody’s had cholera in which the guard at Israel’s embassy in this quietly, but they are growing frustrated.”
here for decades, but it’s a waterborne Amman opened fire, killing two Jordanian Greenbaum also expressed frustration
disease in places with poor sanitation. It’s all nationals, one who was attempting to carry over the quiet cooperation and the impact of
pretty straightforward.” out an attack. At the time, Prime Minister political unrest between the countries, but
Mansour Abu Rashid, a former major Benjamin Netanyahu praised the guard for said he was optimistic for the river renewal
general in the Jordanian armed services his bravery, sparking a diplomatic crisis project. Roughly 14 kilometers (9 miles)
who describes himself as a peace activist with Jordan; a few weeks later, Greenbaum of the Jordan River is under his regional
and who has been involved in efforts to said, rabies-infected wildlife crossed over purview and, he said, the plans include
rehabilitate the river from the Jordanian the border from Jordan, putting human life creating a national park and protected
side, told JI that renewing the waterway at risk. nature reserve.
was important for both countries, but was “Right now, relations with Jordan are “EcoPeace knows how to work with
essential for his homeland. very good,” he said. “We are trying to grow the Jordanians and the Palestinians on
“As you know, Jordan is one of the them, but it’s hard because of the situation environmental projects, they can bring the
poorest countries in the world in terms of internally in Jordan.” sides together,” he said, adding, “Besides,
water,” he explained. “In Israel, there is now There has been some unrest in the we don’t have much of a choice here but
enough water for drinking, for industry and Kingdom over the rising cost of living to partner with our neighbors. If we don’t
for agriculture from desalination plants, and dissatisfaction with the rule of King cooperate it will be a problem for all of us.”
but in Jordan we have around four million Abdullah II, but the country is also closely In Jordan, Abu Rashid said he was also
refugees from neighboring countries and watching as Israel’s new government, hopeful that the important project would go
there’s not enough water to support us and which includes right-wing figures who have ahead, regardless of the decisions made by
them.” argued for a change in the status quo at the Israel’s new government.
Abu Rashid said the declaration signed Haram al-Sharif, which contains the al-Aqsa “They aren’t giving us water out of
between Israel and Jordan at COP27 will be a Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which mercy for Jordanians, it is written in
6an international agreement signed by Abu Rashid added: “In areas of military optimistic the plan would move ahead.
the leaders of both countries and the and security, Jordan and Israel have good There are always uncertainties, he told JI,
parliaments of the countries,” he said. cooperation, but this is not enough. I hope “but what we do know is that there is now
“People have to respect what has been on other issues such as politics, trade, a will and a channel of communication that
signed and the new government must industry, water, tourism and cross-border we need to keep open.” ♦
continue to supply Jordan with water as cooperation they can do the same.”
mentioned in the peace treaty.” EcoPeace’s Tal also said he was
JANUARY 3, 2023
A hip-hop artist in the Holy Land
As a ‘music ambassador’ with the U.S. State Department, Mahogany Jones
uses rap and poetry to build bridges among Jews and Arabs in Israel
By Gabby Deutch
O
ver the years, eager diplomats from with Jewish Insider. “I take a break and I the State Department, including Bosnia,
around the world have come to the peek outside and I see, like, this tuba, and I Uzbekistan, Iraq and Finland. She works
Holy Land, hoping to be the ones see an accordion and instruments. I’m like, with local populations that are experiencing
to finally make peace between Israelis and ‘What is going on?’” Her drummer slipped tensions or distrust, like in Israel; she also
Palestinians. outside to check out the scene, and she sent arrives in these countries as an American
Earlier this month, a very different kind some of the people in her workshop to ask goodwill ambassador, to help people trust
of ambassador landed on the shores of the the musicians if she could join in. the embassy and the U.S. government
Mediterranean: Mahogany Jones, a hip-hop “They’re like, ‘Hey, come on.’ We’re personnel who are there to offer services to
artist who for the past decade has served as rapping. It’s going down. They’re playing them.
an American music ambassador, traveling klezmer,” Jones continued. Even though “A lot of times people may be intimidated
to conflict zones around the world to teach she came up in New York’s spoken-word or not comfortable with coming to the U.S.
lessons on hip-hop, art and activism on scene two decades ago, at the same time as Embassy and my role is being, like, ‘Hey,
behalf of the United States. artists like Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Erykah I’m human too, and a lot of the negative
She toured in Israel for a week, leading Badu, this was her first impromptu street misnomers that you have about what
workshops and playing in concerts that performance. “It took me — I lived in New Americans are like, I’d like to just, in-person,
brought together hundreds of Jews, York City. Street performance happens all dispel those,’” said Jones. She wants to
Muslims and Christians — both on the stage the time. I was too chicken. I come all the way help young people feel free to express
and in the audience. She played shows in across the globe, with a klezmer band, it’s themselves, to be who they are and to feel a
Nazareth and Jerusalem with System Ali, a not fazed by a hip-hop street performance.” sense of comfort and belonging.
Jaffa-based band whose members are a mix Jones, 44, first gained attention for her “You do programs like this with artists
of Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel. music more than two decades ago, when she like Mahogany Jones, who has done this in
One day, when leading a workshop in won BET’s “Freestyle Friday” program four so many different difficult spaces, because
Haifa, she heard the sound of live music times in a row. Her newest album, “Better,” they’re able to bridge those divides and
outside and left her perch to freestyle with came out last month. But throughout her create that safe space in which different
the klezmer band that was playing on the career, Jones became best known for her actors can share their culture, can share who
street. activism (what she calls “artivism”) around they are,” said Paul Rockower, who used
“I was doing my workshop, but all of a the world and in Detroit, her adopted to lead Next Level, the State Department
sudden I hear this magical music,” Jones hometown. program that uses hip-hop to foster
recalled in a Wednesday phone interview She has been to 16 countries with cross-cultural connection, and is now the
7executive director of the Jewish Community hip-hop and poetry to their students. traveled to Israel before. “It was beautiful.
Relations Council of Greater Phoenix. “I was trying to teach, ‘How do we use art Everyone was so open. Everyone was just so
A short documentary film from Jones’ to unravel uncomfortable conversations?’” gracious. Of course the food was incredible.
time in Sarajevo shows her animatedly she said. She focused on pedagogy, rather Haifa was like Brooklyn on steroids. Tel
leading a group of teens in a call-and- than engaging participants in those Aviv was like, I don’t know, like L.A. meets
response: “I love … hip hop!” It’s the first uncomfortable conversations — they Amsterdam meets all of your favorite places
day of the program, and they’re smiling but grew close to each other through music, in the world, like rolled up into one.”
tense; by the end of the program, two weeks rather than having politically charged She saw the beauty of a small, ancient
later, they’re freestyling and dancing in an conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian place where the world’s three religions
onstage performance. conflict. commingle, where any random date tree
“The tools in my bag that I can share “I wanted them to take away [from the might have biblical significance and every
with you, you can use them to be free, workshop] being able to create safe spaces stone could be an archeological wonder. But
be comfortable. You may not be the next for their students to feel comfortable enough it was “sobering,” too, Jones added, seeing
Eminem or whatever, right? But you get an to make mistakes, feel comfortable enough and feeling the tension there.
opportunity to express yourself, to be more to share their creativity feel comfortable “Here I am in Nazareth, and it’s 6 o’clock.
comfortable with yourself, to express and enough to share their vulnerabilities,” she It’s December. There’s a huge Christmas
talk about things that matter to you in ways said, adding that she also shared the “nuts tree. I’ve just passed the nun, I just passed
that matter, whether that’s through poetry and bolts” of hip-hop and songwriting. a monk. And I’m listening to the [Muslim]
or whether that’s through rap,” said Jones. “I Participants in workshops included call of prayer, and five minutes ago, I saw
want to share that with you.” Jews and Muslims, Christians and Druze, somebody just pull out their [prayer] mat,”
Jones was invited to Israel by Polina religious and secular Israelis, men and she recalled.
Levy Eskinazi, in the embassy’s cultural women, and people from different economic “To see that and to be, like, man, what’s
affairs unit. The trip was supposed to backgrounds. The American Embassy’s wrong with us, we can’t figure it out? ‘I live
take place nearly three years ago, but the intention in organizing Jones’ tour was on this side of my beliefs, I live on that side
COVID-19 pandemic intervened. to “create a better society that is more of my beliefs.’ But hey, we’re all on the same
“We were looking for an amazing tolerant and respectful and therefore more side, and we’re all sharing space,” she noted.
American artist who is also an educator, democratic, resilient and strong.” “It’s complicated, but every day we are doing
who can easily connect with diverse This trip was doubly meaningful for what we need to do to figure it out, and to
audiences and with young people. All these Jones, a Christian, who got to visit religious honor our traditions and to honor who we
led us directly to Mahogany Jones,” Eskinazi sites she had read about since childhood. are, and to somehow still figure out how
told JI. “I knew it was going to be spiritually we’re going to do life together.” ♦
In Israel, Jones worked mainly with moving for me. I didn’t know that it was
educators to teach them the skills to bring gonna be fun,” said Jones, who had never
8DECEMBER 23, 2022
British TV judge Rob Rinder’s crowded docket
Rinder, known as a popular daytime barrister on the U.K.’s
ITV, has sought to connect with his Jewish roots
By Jenni Frazer
R
obert Rinder — berobed TV judge, longer count as a minority. two Holocaust films he made, painful and
popular presenter on a breakfast Rinder appears to transcend this personal, drawing on his family’s story —
show and a contestant on the British conversation, because, he told Jewish Insider one of which pulled in eight million viewers
original of “Dancing with the Stars” — is in a recent interview in London, “I’m not just and very positive reviews.
nearly ubiquitous on Britain’s TV screens. For culturally Jewish. It is the inescapable label Along with being the grandson of a
good measure, he writes an advice column placed upon you. But I am also religiously Holocaust survivor, Rinder’s mother, Angela
for the tabloid national newspaper The Sun, Jewish. I am very publicly proud of being Cohen, heads one of the U.K.’s foremost
co-presents the BBC show “Amazing Hotels: Jewish, and having a Jewish platform and survivor charities, the 45 Aid Society. He
Life Beyond the Lobby” and is taking part having simcha, or delight, in my Judaism. is also understood to be fronting a major
in a Christmas pantomime, a much-loved I’ve never personally experienced overt program next year marking Israel’s 75th
tradition in British theater. And on top of anti-Jewish racism myself, but have been anniversary by telling the stories, side-by-
that, he runs marathons for charity and has alongside people who have. I do think, side, of three British Jews and three British
a legal thriller novel in the works. though, that the tragic reality is the sense in Palestinians. Rinder explained that he
But Brits got to see another side of which Jewishness is not taken as seriously strongly believes that “TV has a place in
Rinder’s essential, sunny optimism in in the same way as other identities.” difficult conversations, such as the stories
2018 when he appeared on the British His answer, he says, is to try to introduce about the building of Israel.”
roots-journey show, “Who Do You Think people to his faith and hope that they can Because of his abiding interest in the
You Are?” That was when he discovered see the joy he takes in being Jewish — very Holocaust and his family connection,
more harrowing details about his maternal unusual for a public personality in Britain. Rinder has had a long relationship — one
grandfather’s Holocaust experience, some In two recent popular TV food shows, for that predates his celebrity — with survivors
of which he knew already when he traveled example, one at Passover and a second at and the children of survivors.
with him to Poland as a student, seeing Rosh Hashanah, Rinder appeared and spoke Harry Spiro, a survivor who came
a glass factory where his grandfather, knowledgeably about the festivals and why from the same hometown, Piotrkow, as
Morris Malenicky, had worked as a slave Jews observe them in the way they do. “I Rinder’s grandfather, first met the adult
laborer. Malenicky was liberated from love festivals and shul-going and Torah. Rinder during a return visit by the latter
Theresienstadt as the war ended, and then When I try to share that with other people, to Windermere, the English Lake District
joined 300 other young Jews in England’s it’s always through the prism of celebration village where the Jewish orphans from the
Lake District, becoming one of the so-called and inclusion.” Holocaust first arrived in 1945.
“Windermere children.” He recently returned from a quick trip “He’s interviewed me a few times at
That discovery led Rinder, 44, to dig to Morocco, where he had been filming an various Holocaust-related events,” Spiro
deeper into his Jewish past. The result, episode of the BBC show that he co-presents told JI, “and he’s always been very helpful,
two years later, was a two-part BBC with chef Monica Galetti. But no sooner putting me very much at my ease. He’s not
documentary, “In My Family: the Holocaust did Rinder arrive back in the U.K. than he changed a bit over the years. He makes all the
and Me.” Rinder’s search for stories of his plunged into rehearsals for a Christmas time in the world for you. He is a mensch.”
ancestors comes amid an ongoing debate pantomime, where well-known faces pop Maurice Helfgott, chairman of World
in Britain and America about the position up in an often slapstick family show. Rinder, Jewish Relief — the successor charity to
of Jews in the public eye, one made more to his own amusement, is playing the Mirror the organization that originally sponsored
urgent by the uptick in antisemitism on both in a version of “Snow White.” the arrival of the Holocaust orphans in the
sides of the pond. In Britain, that debate has Rinder is aware that the more “showbiz” U.K. — praised Rinder’s combination of
been spearheaded by the 2021 book (and part of his life — he appears daily on “Judge “sharp intellect with tremendous energy,
a subsequent TV documentary) by David Rinder,” a court show akin to “Judge Judy,” great warmth, a sense of humor and genuine
Baddiel, Jews Don’t Count, which argues can lead people to watch BBC documentaries preparedness to put himself out for the
that, in a world of identity politics, Jews no with a more serious slant —including the people and the causes he believes in.”
9“He is particularly involved with Jewish send someone as an assistant prosecutor or admitted their secret membership of a
causes,” Helfgott added, “but by no means to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British vegetable spread society, the Marmiteers.
exclusively. I would say he wears his heart territory in the Caribbean. An example of his put-downs: telling a man
on his sleeve. He is extremely good at “The government was suspended who had broken the sunroof control on
connecting with people emotionally.” [because of corruption allegations] and his friend’s car, ensuring that it remained
This was evident earlier this year it was decided that we [Britain] should permanently open: “Sir! Your friend once
when Rinder, who speaks Russian, briefly reimpose direct rule.” Rinder was sent out had a car, he now drives a mobile igloo!”
reported from the Ukrainian border with to work with Helen Garlick, then with the As “Judge Rinder” became popular,
Poland, inspired by the connection he had Serious Fraud Office. The case is now “11 the demand for the lawyer’s presence in
built with his Ukrainian dancing partner years in,” with one judge dying as the case various unlikely guises grew. He pooh-
Oksana Platero on “Strictly Come Dancing.” ground on, according to Rinder, and may not poohs questions about how he finds time
Platero’s family, like many Ukrainians, came conclude any time soon. to undertake all the various commitments.
under fire when Russia invaded Ukraine Even with the apparently endless “I used to work 120 hours a week when I
in February. Rinder wanted to see what corruption case, the Turks and Caicos were was counsel. The truth of the matter is that
he could do to help — and tracked down idyllic. Rinder spent time on the beach and, behind the ‘Wizard of Oz’ curtain, very little
the family in Poland, bringing them a because many of the friends he’d made goes on. When you do TV, everyone else does
wheelchair and medical supplies. at university had found success as actors, the work. It’s not really hard work, compared
Humanitarian work aside, Rinder has a Rinder used his downtime to write a script. with what so many of my legal colleagues
novel coming out next year, a legal mystery (One such friend, Benedict Cumberbatch, do. It’s a bit like standing by the goal line in
titled The Trial, which he said will be the chose Rinder to be the best man at his football, everyone else does the work and
first of a series. He moaned dramatically wedding, and conducted a civil ceremony you push the ball into the goal mouth, then
about the endeavor, declaring, “Hubris is the between Rinder and his then partner.) everyone says oh, how marvelous you are.”
answer, I didn’t realize how hard it would On returning to the U.K., Rinder was Rinder recognizes that he is unlikely to
be. I have a column in The Sun responding morosely involved in another case, but appear in court in a jury trial anytime soon,
to consumer problems, and I think that’s admits he had lost motivation for his court because of fear of prejudice for either the
important for people who have limited work. He pitched his script to Helen Warner, prosecution or the defense. But he now uses
access to justice in the U.K. And I like editing ITV’s director of daytime television. “She his high public profile to promote causes
other people’s work. So I thought, well, read it and gave it her full, aggressively close to his heart: “issues where social
novels are my pleasure, how difficult can it undivided indifference,” laughs Rinder, activism and law intersect with one another.
be? The truth is, very difficult.” adding that in fact Warner, who left TV to I especially care about housing, and do what
Rinder bats aside questions about become a best-selling novelist, later told him I can to answer consumer questions well;
his ability to juggle his schedule. His TV it was the worst thing she’d ever read. and I still teach a little, too.” ♦
appearances, he insists, owe much more Undaunted, Rinder wrote back to
to the work of production teams. “They do Warner and this time she asked him if he
all the work and I just have to turn up,” he was qualified in arbitration, because ITV
jokes, adding, deprecatingly, that the ability was seeking someone to front a court show.
to perform “a good cha-cha-cha” on a light “To be honest with you, because they were
entertainment dancing show doesn’t really all in television, I just assumed they were
rate in the grand scheme of things. talking nonsense. People in television aren’t
But prior to his public appearances, like lawyers. They spend a lot of time in
Rinder, who remains an active member meetings: one person makes the decisions
of the Bar, had an illustrious legal career, and the rest simply want to cover themselves
and might indeed have gone on to become with glory when things go well, or absolve
Judge Rinder in real life. “I began as a themselves of responsibility if things are a
defense counsel, mainly ‘bog-standard’ disaster.”
[routine] crime. Then a very important Rinder freely admits he didn’t really
solicitor spotted me in court, and gradually know what he was doing at the start of
my practice evolved into murders, and on “Judge Rinder.” The show was screened
to cases involving terrorism and eventually in the so-called “dead zone” of weekday
defending soldiers in war crimes cases.” afternoons, but became a secret guilty
He wrote a legal textbook and then pleasure for thousands of viewers and
expanded into cases of large-scale fraud, “captured the public’s imagination.” Rinder’s
“chiefly for high-net-worth defendants.” In pithy put-downs and frequent acerbic
2010, his chambers — the group of lawyers zingers were greeted with delight, as women
working in 2 Hare Court — were asked to lined up to sue their wedding photographers
10JANUARY 4, 2023
A Jewish nonprofit is changing the way a
Florida city responds to 911 calls
The Community Assistance and Life Liaison program aims to transform the
conversation around the role of police in public safety.
By Ruben Brosbe
The article first appeared in received a different response, but — what house, not only would that take a very long
eJewishPhilanthropy. if we completely diverted them from law time [but it would] be very difficult to do,”
enforcement?” Megan McGee, police special McGee said. “Also, it would be viewed as an
I
n the summer of 2020, amid the protests projects manager for the St. Petersburg extension of the police department.”.
following the murder of George Floyd, Police Department, told eJP. The goal, said McGee and Braham, was
police and city leaders in St. Petersburg, According to Gulf Coast JFCS’ executive to provide a response to common mental
Fla., began looking for a way to respond. director, Sandra Braham, CALL is the rare health episodes and other crises that would
What emerged was a request for proposals program in which “staff are responding not result in people getting arrested, jailed or
from organizations providing social services without police. And it really truly does free committed involuntarily to mental hospitals.
to respond to certain 911 calls, in lieu of the the police to do policing.” The process for involuntary commitment in
police. Since February 2021, CALL navigators Florida is outlined in a 1971 state law called
A little more than two years later, the have responded to a range of 911 calls that the Baker Act. CALL allows responders “to
winning organization, the Gulf Coast would previously have gone to the police. assess the situation to determine if they’re
Jewish Family and Community Services, In the nearly two years since the program off their meds, to get them to the doctor and
has earned national recognition and, last began, Gulf Coast JFCS has responded to to follow up with them,” Braham said.
month, a $200,000 grant from a charitable more than 8,000 calls. According to the “Officers are limited in what they can do
arm of the National Football League for its SPPD, the city has seen a 17% reduction in with mental health crises,” McGee added, as
work leading The Community Assistance suicide deaths since the CALL program’s opposed to “somebody like a clinician who
and Life Liaison (CALL) program — which launch despite a 60% increase in calls to the has the flexibility to sit and really spend
aims to transform the conversation around police department related to suicide. time, devote time working with a client and
the role of police in public safety. The “People would call having mental health also be able to come back and have follow-
program’s overall annual budget is $1.27 episodes, or someone who’s experiencing up. I mean, that’s a huge piece that our
million, a 12% increase over last year. homelessness or sleeping in their car,” officers don’t really have the ability to do.”
“We think that what they’re doing Braham said. Now, 911 dispatchers are able When the SPPD put out the call for
could be a model or could be a template to determine whether a call may carry a proposals for the CALL program, Braham
for others to follow,” Anna Isaacson, SVP risk of violence. If not, they patch the call to felt like it was a natural fit for Gulf Coast
of social responsibility for the NFL, told Gulf Coast JFCS’ team. The organization’s JFCS because of the array of services her
eJewishPhilanthropy. “We see the impact… navigators respond in pairs. organization provides. Gulf Coast JFCS
and hope that other local organizations, “We are able to deescalate the situation to began providing counseling and family
other law enforcement agencies see the find out what’s going on and what’s causing services to the Jewish community in
success and look to replicate successful the crisis,” Braham said. “Sometimes it’s as Pinellas County, Fla. in 1960. In 1974, the
models.” simple as you know, ‘My grandmother is on social work and social services agency
There are a number of programs around oxygen and we can’t pay our electric bill.’” expanded its services and began offering
the country that pair social workers with According to both the St. Petersburg them to the broader community. Today, Gulf
police in response to certain 911 calls. By Police Department and Gulf Coast JFCS, the Coast JFCS plays a variety of roles, from
contrast, CALL does not work according CALL program has had a transformative connecting people to affordable housing
to a co-responder model. Instead, 911 impact on the community. When SPPD was to welcoming and supporting refugees, job
dispatchers screen and reroute calls to Gulf designing CALL, police officials felt firmly training and job search support, in addition
Coast JFCS mental health professionals that it should not be a co-responder model, to connecting Jewish families to Jewish life.
called “navigators.” and also that it should be led by an outside That spectrum of services positioned
“St. Petersburg made a very bold step organization. Gulf Coast to respond effectively to the wide
to identify calls for service that not only “If we tried to develop this program in- range of non-emergency 911 calls that SPPD
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