StandWithUs
Encyclopedia
StandWithUs is a non-profit pro-Israel
education and advocacy organization
based in Los Angeles
. As of 2009, it has branches in Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Michigan, Chicago, Seattle, Orange County, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, the UK, Australia, and Israel.
It describes itself as "an advocacy organization that promotes education and understanding that will bring a secure future for Israel and her neighbors." StandWIthUs has an annual budget of about $4 million.
The executive director and founder of StandWithUs is Roz Rothstein.
The organization trains U.S. & Canadian student leaders to "act as campus emissaries of the Jewish state." These students are referred to as "Emerson Fellows". In 2007, 38 students were chosen and trained for this program.
Again, in 2008, 38 students from the U.S. and Canada were chosen and trained as Emerson Fellows.
trip for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26 from around the world. StandWithUs’s program is only Taglit-Birthright Israel trip that is geared for students interested in adventure, politics, government, journalism, and diplomacy.
In May 2007, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a pro-Palestinian organization, paid for a poster campaign in the Washington, D.C. subway system
. In response, StandWithUs arranged for their own poster campaign, with some posters showing Palestinian children with military gear. "Teaching children to hate will never lead to peace," one ad reads.
promotes the Megaphone Desktop Tool, an on-line tool which allows users to easily send messages promoting their positions to online polls and blogs.
, StandWithUs has received funds from a "web of funders who support organisations that have been accused of anti-Muslim propaganda and encouraging a militant Israeli and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East."
J Street
head Jeremy Ben-Ami accused StandWithUs of "thuggish smear tactics" in the lead-up to J Street's 2009 national conference.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
education and advocacy organization
Foreign policy interest group
A foreign policy interest group, according to Thomas Ambrosio, is a domestic advocacy group which seeks to directly or indirectly influence their government's foreign policy.-Historic development:...
based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. As of 2009, it has branches in Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Michigan, Chicago, Seattle, Orange County, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, the UK, Australia, and Israel.
It describes itself as "an advocacy organization that promotes education and understanding that will bring a secure future for Israel and her neighbors." StandWIthUs has an annual budget of about $4 million.
The executive director and founder of StandWithUs is Roz Rothstein.
Structure
StandWithUs is also known as "Israel Emergency Alliance". It has several divisions:- StandWithUs - working with communities to advocate for a just and secure peace for Israel
- StandWithUsCampus - assisting college & high school students in North America with Israel advocacy & education
- StandWithUs International - working with students in Israel, Europe, Australia, and South Africa
- United4Freedom - a speaker's bureau funded by the Jewish Community Foundation
- Stand4Facts - "Stand4Facts is a dynamic web-based tool developed in collaboration with recent college graduates, academics, and student activists, to help you understand and respond to the rash of anti-Israel rallies and speeches on campus."
- LearnIsrael - donates pro-Israel books to libraries. "one of our initial objectives will be to ensure that the story of Israel is accurately represented in our nation’s libraries through books, films, online resources and other programs."
- Librarians for Fairness - A librarians' association "dedicated to bringing positive programs about Israel to libraries across the nation".
Campaigns
- Israpedia - an Israel informational created a group of Hebrew University of Jerusalem students taking part in the StandWithUs 2009 International Fellowship.
- HelpUsWin - created to present a pro-Israel perspective on the internet for Operation Cast Lead.
- Soldiers Speak Out - a grassroots movement of Israelis who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and want to share their experiences.
- In October 2009, StandWithUs campaigned against the inaugural conference of J StreetJ StreetJ Street is a nonprofit liberal advocacy group based in the United States whose stated aim is to promote American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Israel-Palestinian conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. It was founded in April 2008....
, a rival Israel lobby group. StandWithUs argued that many of J Street's funders and advisors have "opposed Israel" or have ties with Arab governments that they regard as "consistently hostile to Israel". The campaign, which consisted of telephone calls and faxes, was not perceived to be effective given the conference's greater than expected turnout. The attendees also included many congressmen as well as National Security Advisor General James Jones.
Durban II protests
In response to the controversial Durban II conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2009, StandWithUs organized protests and rallies around the world against the various conference speakers and the UN. At a few events, some protesters donned clown costumes "because it illustrated the 'absurdity' of having human-rights violators such as Libya, Cuba, and Iran heading a human-rights event" and "The Jewish protests at Durban II showed we won't remain silent and signified the attitude of 'never again.'"The Emerson Fellowship
Again, in 2008, 38 students from the U.S. and Canada were chosen and trained as Emerson Fellows.
The StandWithUs Fellowship
The organization trains 150 fellows on Israeli campuses, who are "trained to work together for common goals that benefit Israel - within its borders and globally." Students chosen are located on the seven leading campuses throughout the country. They are judged on their linguistic abilities, community and campus activism, as well as knowledge of world affairs.Taglit-Birthright Israel trip
StandWithUs runs a Taglit-Birthright IsraelBirthright Israel
Taglit-Birthright Israel is a Jewish Israeli registered charity that sponsors free 10-day heritage trips to Israel. Birthright Israel's goals are to diminish the division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world and to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and...
trip for Jewish young adults ages 18 to 26 from around the world. StandWithUs’s program is only Taglit-Birthright Israel trip that is geared for students interested in adventure, politics, government, journalism, and diplomacy.
Transit poster campaign
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
. In response, StandWithUs arranged for their own poster campaign, with some posters showing Palestinian children with military gear. "Teaching children to hate will never lead to peace," one ad reads.
Megaphone desktop tool
StandWithUs, following an appeal from the Foreign Ministry of Israel,promotes the Megaphone Desktop Tool, an on-line tool which allows users to easily send messages promoting their positions to online polls and blogs.
Criticism
According to a report published in October 2009 by Inter Press ServiceInter Press Service
Inter Press Service is a global news agency. Its main focus is the production of independent news and analysis about events and processes affecting economic, social and political development....
, StandWithUs has received funds from a "web of funders who support organisations that have been accused of anti-Muslim propaganda and encouraging a militant Israeli and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East."
J Street
J Street
J Street is a nonprofit liberal advocacy group based in the United States whose stated aim is to promote American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Israel-Palestinian conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. It was founded in April 2008....
head Jeremy Ben-Ami accused StandWithUs of "thuggish smear tactics" in the lead-up to J Street's 2009 national conference.
See also
- AIPAC
- Christians United for IsraelChristians United For IsraelChristians United for Israel is an American pro-Israel Christian organization that defines itself as "a national grassroots movement focused on the support of Israel." It is the "largest" pro-Israel organization in the United States....
- The David Project
- Israel On Campus CoalitionIsrael On Campus CoalitionThe Israel on Campus Coalition is a pro-Israel umbrella organization founded in 2002 under the auspices of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life...
- Israel lobby in the United StatesIsrael lobby in the United StatesThe Israel lobby is a term used to describe the diverse coalition of those who, as individuals and as groups, seek and have sought to influence the foreign policy of the United States in support of Zionism, Israel or the specific policies of its government...
External links
- Organization website
- Campus website
- Organization website - International
- "Searching for a Response", Mike Levy, Jewish Journal, June 8, 2001.
- "StandWithUs Premiere", Jewish Journal, October, 2005. Premiere of StandWithUs documentary "Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech on Campus." Photo coverage of StandWithUs leaders.