Sunday Morning Playbook: ICC Reactions, Chabad Rabbi Murdered in UAE, & California School District Hit with Lawsuit
This Is Your Sunday Morning Playbook Heading Into Thanksgiving Holiday Week
Inside this week’s Playbook:
Global and Local Reaction to ICC Arrest Warrants: A breakdown of the polarizing international responses to this controversial decision.
ICYMI: ICAN K-12 Work Featured on Fox News: Highlighting our advocacy for Jewish students’ safety and inclusion in schools.
Missing Chabad Rabbi in UAE Raises Security Concerns: A troubling disappearance that underscores the risks Jewish leaders face abroad.
U.S. House Passes Bill to Strip Terror-Sponsoring Nonprofits of Tax-Exempt Status: Examining this milestone legislation and its implications.
City of Brookline, Mass Kills Ceasefire Resolution—Again: A closer look at how local governments are navigating controversial international issues.
PLUS: Northern California School District Hit with Lawsuit for Antisemitism: What this case means for protecting Jewish students in education.
Global and Local Reaction to ICC Arrest Warrants
The ICC’s recent decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders has sparked mixed reactions. Here’s a closer look at some of the responses:
United States and Allies
U.S. Leadership: The Biden administration criticized the ICC’s decision, labeling it a "dangerous precedent" that undermines Israel’s right to self-defense. The U.S. reiterated its support for Israel as a vital ally and expressed concerns about the court’s politicization.
Hungary: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban openly rejected the ICC's authority, offering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a state visit and safe passage. Hungary framed the warrants as biased actions against a democratic nation under attack.
Argentina and Others: Several other U.S. allies have joined in denouncing the ICC’s decision, reflecting skepticism about the court’s focus and its perceived political motivations. READ THE LATEST.
U.S. State Officials
This chart visualizes the social media engagement of state officials reacting to the ICC's recent arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. A total of 18 posts were recorded, with a majority (78%) expressing anti-Israel reactions, compared to 22% offering support for Israel.
Among the state-level officials engaging on social media about the ICC's recent actions regarding Israel, Elliot Forhan (D-OH), outgoing State Representative for Ohio's 21st House District, led with nine posts critical of Israel. He was followed by Bernabe Riefkohl (PR), the outgoing Puerto Rican Resident Commissioner, who contributed three posts similarly critical of Israeli policies. Other anti-Israel posts came from Representative Tim Read (D-NH) and Representative Maria Sanchez (D-RI), each with one post.
On the pro-Israel side, Representative David Livingston (R-AZ), Representative Ryan Shannon (R-OK), Representative Tom Kimbrell (R-SC), and Representative Rachel Panitch (D-GA) each posted once in support of Israel, reflecting a stark contrast in the debate over the ICC's actions. This divergence highlights the polarized reactions among state officials.
Elliot Forhan, the outgoing Democratic state representative from Ohio, was notably active on X, publishing several posts critical of Israel and expressing support for the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the March 2024 Democratic primary for Ohio's 21st House District, Forhan placed third, receiving only 12.1% of the vote, behind Eric Synenberg who won with 45.4%.
Eric Synenberg, an attorney and Beachwood City Council member, subsequently secured the seat in the general election. Representative-Elect Synenberg is recognized for his pro-Israel stance, advocating for strong U.S.-Israel relations and supporting Israel's right to self-defense.
The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN) strongly opposes the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These actions represent a deeply flawed and politicized use of international legal mechanisms, targeting a democratic nation for its legitimate efforts to defend its citizens against terrorism.
Watch: ICAN K-12 Work Featured on Fox News
U.S. Senate candidate and community leader, Christina Pascucci, appeared on Fox News with Trace Gallagher to highlight the UTLA's teacher's union's veto over California legislators and Governor Newsom as they collude to subvert educational standards and groom elementary school students to become activists for Palestine.
Missing Chabad Rabbi in UAE Raises Security Concerns
The disappearance of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan Chabad emissary serving in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has prompted a high-profile investigation by Israeli and UAE authorities. Rabbi Kogan has been missing since Thursday, November 21, 2024, after failing to attend scheduled meetings and ceasing communication with his family. His sudden disappearance has raised alarm, particularly amid heightened tensions in the region.
UPDATE: Israel confirms Chabad emissary murdered in UAE.
“This antisemitic murder will not go unanswered. Today, there is a Jewish state of Israel which will track down the murderers and those who stand behind the attack. Those seeking to destroy our people and the State of Israel will fail”, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Global Advocate.
U.S. House Passes Bill to Strip Terror-Sponsoring Nonprofits of Tax-Exempt Status
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 9495, the "Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act," by a narrow margin of 219-184 (clerk.house.gov). This landmark legislation targets nonprofit organizations that provide material support to terrorist groups, revoking their tax-exempt status under U.S. law.
Legislative Progress:
September 9, 2024: Introduced by Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), David Kustoff (R-TN), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Dina Titus* (D-NV).
September 11, 2024: Unanimously passed by the House Committee on Ways and Means.
November 12, 2024: Failed to pass the House under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority; the vote was 256-145. (Clerk of the House)
November 21, 2024: Passed the House with a vote of 219 in favor and 184 against. (Clerk of the House)
Next: On to the U.S. Senate.
*ICAN Nevada supported
HOW IT WORKS: Revocation of Tax-Exempt Status for Terrorist-Supporting Organizations under H.R. 9495
H.R. 9495 includes provisions to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations identified as supporting terrorism and outlines a process for this revocation:
Identification of Terrorist-Supporting Organizations:
The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to determine if an organization supports terrorism. This determination can be based on information from various sources, including intelligence reports and law enforcement agencies.
Revocation Process:
Upon determining that an organization supports terrorism, the Secretary of the Treasury will issue a notice of revocation to the organization, specifying the reasons for the action.
Effective Date of Revocation:
The revocation of tax-exempt status becomes effective on the date the organization is designated as supporting terrorism.
Publication of Revocation:
The Secretary of the Treasury is required to publish the names of organizations whose tax-exempt status has been revoked due to support of terrorism.
Reinstatement of Tax-Exempt Status:
An organization may apply for reinstatement of its tax-exempt status by demonstrating that it no longer supports terrorism and has implemented measures to prevent future support. The Secretary of the Treasury has discretion to grant or deny reinstatement based on the evidence provided.
These provisions aim to prevent the misuse of tax-exempt entities for financing terrorist activities by establishing a clear process for revoking and potentially reinstating tax-exempt status.
Controversy and Opposition:
The bill has faced opposition from civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Critics argue that granting the Treasury Department the authority to unilaterally revoke tax-exempt status could suppress dissent and target nonprofits without due process.
City of Brookline, Mass Kills Ceasefire Resolution—Again
For the second time this year, the City of Brookline, Massachusetts, opted to avoid debate and a formal vote on a controversial ceasefire resolution related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. On Thursday night, Brookline’s Town Meeting voted to table the resolution, effectively killing it, with 175 votes in favor, 50 against, and 10 abstentions.
The resolution, which called for an immediate bilateral ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, was introduced by Town Meeting members Omar Mabrouk, Emma Nash, Lisa Guisbond, and Neveen Taher. The motion to table—a rarely used parliamentary maneuver—was spearheaded by Precinct 11 member Shira Fischer, who co-filed it with 70 co-signers. Fischer defended the decision, stating, “Addressing international affairs with non-binding resolutions is not a good use of our time given the many vital local issues we also need to address, especially when town leadership does not have a unified stance.”
BONUS: At the same meeting, a resolution to establish Jewish American Heritage Month in Brookline passed unanimously, with nine abstentions.
Northern California School District Hit with Lawsuit for Antisemitism
The Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) in California is under fire after families of six Jewish students from Menlo-Atherton and Woodside High Schools filed a lawsuit alleging the district failed to address rampant antisemitism, creating a hostile educational environment. The case highlights the growing concerns over antisemitism in California’s public schools and underscores the urgent need for accountability and action.
Disturbing Allegations
The lawsuit, filed in November 2024, details a series of alarming incidents:
Swastikas and Hate Speech: Jewish students reported swastikas etched on school property, antisemitic slurs, and harassment by both students and faculty. In one case, a school administrator allegedly downplayed swastika graffiti as "spiritual symbols from Japanese Buddhism." (PR Newswire)
Hostile Classroom Environment: The suit accuses certain teachers of promoting antisemitic stereotypes, including perpetuating narratives about Jews controlling media and societal systems, which contributed to an unwelcoming classroom culture. (Almanac News)
Administrative Failure: The families claim the district systematically ignored complaints and failed to take meaningful action to protect Jewish students, leaving them vulnerable to ongoing discrimination. (ABC7 News)
Seeking Justice
The families are represented by The Deborah Project, an organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism in education. The lawsuit aims to secure injunctive and declaratory relief to ensure Jewish students have access to a safe and equitable learning environment.
“This lawsuit is a wake-up call for educational institutions across the country. Antisemitism cannot be ignored or minimized under any circumstances,” a representative from The Deborah Project stated.
Broader Implications
This case reflects a troubling trend in California and beyond, where surging antisemitism in schools is threatening the safety and inclusion of Jewish students.
For ICAN, this case highlights the importance of advocating for policies that protect Jewish students, hold institutions accountable, and promote education about antisemitism. The outcome could set a critical precedent for ensuring the safety and inclusion of Jewish students in public education.