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BAHRAIN (WJC)—The crown prince of the Gulf state of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, has called on Arab governments to communicate more with Israelis. “We need fresh thinking if the Arab Peace Initiative is to have the impact it deserves on the crisis that needlessly impoverishes Palestinians and endangers Israel's security. This crisis is not a zero-sum game. For one side to win, the other does not have to lose,” he wrote in an op-ed published by the ‘Washington Post’.
“The reality is that peace is a process, contingent on a good idea but also requiring a great deal of campaigning - patiently and repeatedly targeting all relevant parties. This is where we as Arabs have not done enough to communicate directly with the people of Israel. An Israeli might be forgiven for thinking that every Muslim voice is raised in hatred, because that is usually the only one he hears. Just as an Arab might be forgiven for thinking every Israeli wants the destruction of every Palestinian,” the crown prince wrote, adding that Arabs had to reach out to Israeli media to get their message across in Israel.
"Essentially, we have not done a good enough job demonstrating to Israelis how our initiative can form part of a peace between equals in a trouble land holy to three great faiths," al-Khalifa declared.
Erez Halfon, former director general of absorption ministry, now Nefesh B' Nefesh vice chair
 JERUSALEM – Nefesh B’Nefesh on Sunday, July 19, announced the appointment of former Director General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, Erez Halfon (photo at right), as Vice Chairman of the organization. Halfon will assume the new position on September 1, 2009 and be responsible for enhancing the organization’s strategic partnerships with Israeli government bodies and agencies, and furthering its ties within the Jewish world .
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Nefesh B’Nefesh, as it experiences a record year of Aliyah, with over 3,000 Olim arriving this summer alone, and as its operations are increasing in order to meet the growing demand.
Halfon will be joining the organization after serving as Director General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption for nearly three years, in which time he instituted various reforms which vastly improved the absorption process for Olim and returning citizens. Most celebrated among them was the implementation of an extensive international campaign to attract returning citizens back to Israel, including the introduction of new tax breaks for Olim and returning citizens. As Director General, he was responsible for 650 employees while overseeing a budget of over NIS 1.5 billion.
Prior to his tenure at the Ministry, Halfon served under Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert (2001-2006) during which he served as special counsel to the Prime Minister with regard to the Municipal Councils, was a member of the special planning forum for the Prime Minister as well as additional leading supporting roles for each Prime Minister.
“We are privileged and deeply honored that Erez Halfon has decided to continue his work towards enhancing western Aliyah, by joining Nefesh B’Nefesh,” said Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh Tony Gelbart. “His wealth of experience, dedication to Aliyah and intimate knowledge of Israeli governmental bodies will be an invaluable resource to our organization and will greatly help improve the Aliyah process for Olim.”
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“After working closely with Nefesh B’Nefesh over the last few years and observing their dedication, professionalism and major achievements in increasing western Aliyah, I am excited to join the organization,” said Erez Halfon. “I look forward to continuing to help further improve the Aliyah process for Olim by working with Nefesh B’Nefesh, from within, to meet this challenge.”
“Having such a prominent key player in the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption join our executive team, as we approach the milestone of bringing our 25,000th Oleh, is a significant achievement for the organization,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, NBN Co-Founder and Executive Director. “Erez has been a true friend and supporter and we are confident that his commitment and passion for Aliyah will be an invaluable resource in helping us bring thousands more Jews to Israel.”
Film festival organizers reject British director's demand for boycott of Israel-supported films
MELBOURNE, Australia (WJC)—British film director Ken Loach has announced his intention to retract his film from the International Film Festival in Melbourne in protest against "the partial support [the festival] grants to Israel." In a letter to festival organizer Richard Moore, Loach announced he would pull his film "Looking for Eric" from competing in the festival because it receives sponsorship from Israel. "Palestinians, including artists and academics, have called for a boycott of events supported by Israel," wrote Loach in his letter, parts of which were published in Australian newspaper ‘The Age’.
Loach said the boycott was not directed against independent filmmakers from Israel or their films, but against the State of Israel, its "illegal occupation of Palestinian land, destruction of homes and livelihoods" and "the massacres in Gaza." Israel does not directly support the Australian festival, but funds flights of Israeli filmmakers invited to present their work there.
Moore he would not “submit to blackmail.” Contrary to the Australian film festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival bowed to Loach's demands two months ago and returned Israel funds intended to finance the participation of Israeli director Tali Shalom-Ezer in the event. Loach then also threatened to boycott the program along with festival artists, filmmakers, and spiritual leaders.
Barracks where Anne Frank once imprisoned are destroyed in fire
WESTERBORK, The Netherlands (WJC)—Fire has destroyed a barracks in the Netherlands where Jews and Gypsies were kept pending transfer to the Nazi death camps. Teenager Anne Frank, the author of the later famous ‘Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl’, worked there before her deportation. The fire on Saturday completely destroyed the barracks at Westerbork, near the northern Dutch city of Groningen.
A museum dedicated to Frank had planned to take over the building later this year. Dirk Mulder, director of the Holocaust memorial at Westerbork, told AFP: "It was an industrial warehouse where batteries were dismantled. Anne Frank and her sister Margo worked there for about four weeks." Since 1957 the barracks had been used as an agricultural warehouse. Published in more than 70 languages since its discovery and first release in 1947, Anne Frank's diary remains one of the world's most-read books.
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