Projects

12/11/2006

Media Alert: Member of Knesset Ophir Pines-Paz Completes U.S. Tour

MK Ophir Pines-Paz recently made headlines in Israel by resigning from the Israeli cabinet to protest the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party to the post of Minister of Strategic Threats. MK Pines-Paz has previously served as Minister of the Interior, as Labor Knesset faction Chair, and is one of the most popular and widely respected Labor party leaders. In resigning, he also announced his candidacy for the Labor party leadership. MK Pines-Paz was the only Labor Minister to resign on this issue, taking a principled stand against the positions espoused by Lieberman and his party.

Ameinu recently hosted a four city tour with MK Pines-Paz from Friday November 30th through December 6th, including New York, St. Louis, Chicago and Washington, DC. During the tour Ophir addressed the Lebanon war and the search for peace in its wake, as well as domestic issues facing Israel. In addition, he discussed his role in the Inner Security Cabinet before and during the war and his resignation from the Cabinet after Lieberman was invited to join the government.

Highlights, Audio Clip, and Speech Transcript of the Tour

MK Pines-Paz made campus appearances at New York University (NYU) and Washington University in St. Louis. At NYU MK Pines-Paz addressed students and faculty at the Bronfman Hillel Center at a Shabbat event. At Washington University, an open lecture was co-sponsored by the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Political Science Departments, providing a broad opportunity for students and faculty to hear the guest lecturer. At separate events at the university, MK Pines-Paz met with university and Jewish communal leaders as well.

Ophir addressed public events hosted by synagogues in NY (Stephen Wise Free Synagogue), St. Louis (Shaare Zedek Synagogue) and Chicago (Temple Beth Israel). The St. Louis event was preceded by a dinner, which served as the inaugural event for the new Ameinu chapter in the city. Attendance was impressive, particularly taking into account the snow and ice storm that “welcomed” MK Pine’s Paz arrival to the Midwest. In Chicago the visit was co-sponsored by Chicago Peace Now and the well-attended public event was preceded by a leadership dinner, which included the presence of the Consul General of Israel for the Midwest.

The Washington DC portion of the tour featured a standing room only luncheon co-sponsored with the New Israel Fund. MK Pines-Paz also attended the presentation of the Iraq Study Group report and held meetings on Capitol Hill.

In Chicago, MK Pines-Paz also addressed the Jewish Community Relations Council, whose membership consists of 46 Jewish organizations in Chicago. A transcript of his remarks can be found here

Ophir met members of the press, including an interview with Chicago Public Radio’s Jerome McDonnell for the program WorldView. You can hear the interview here. http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/audio_library/wv_radec06.asp

MK Pines-Paz was scheduled for additional New York events including a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, however the airport strike in Israel delayed his arrival, forcing the cancellation of some meetings.