Israel Advocacy

Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle advocates on behalf of Israel and for a just peace by:

• Gathering Jewish agencies together to share in advocacy programming, dialogue and consensus building within our own diverse community.
• Managing an Israel Speakers Bureau comprised of individuals who can bring both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities together in dialogue on Middle East issues. Speakers can speak on a range of topics including Middle East and Israeli history, the peace process, current challenges to reaching peace, daily living in Israel, current affairs and more (Speakers Bureau in partnership with StandWithUs Northwest)
• Serving as an important resource on Israel to the local media
• Presenting the Jewish community consensus on Israel in Olympia
• Serving as Seattle’s liaison with the Israeli Consulate based in San Francisco
• Managing the Israel Programming Committee

Defeating I-97

Initiative 97, or I-97, the measure that would have required City of Seattle pension funds to be divested from companies doing business in Israel, was defeated because of the leadership of the No On I-97 Committee. On September 10, 2008 a King County Judge ruled the initiative process could not be used to direct pension fund investments. Without the early work of the No On I-97 Committee, opponents like the Jewish Federation would have had to mount a costly, lengthy and potentially divisive political campaign.

2009 Rally in Support of Israel

On Sunday, January 11, 2009, the Jewish Federation convened over 40 Jewish organizations to host a community-wide rally in support of Israel. The rally brought the local Jewish community together in support of and solidarity with Israel and her southern region, which had been under regular rocket attack by Hamas militants for months. Over 1,500 community members joined the Jewish Federation for the largest West Coast rally for Israel.