Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and seven cabinet ministers in Jerusalem yesterday (Tuesday, June 23), Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman of the Executive Natan Sharansky announced that The Jewish Agency will increase the number of Israel Fellows dispatched to college campuses abroad by more than 30% in order to help combat rising efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel. The announcement took place during a meeting between Jewish Agency leaders and Israel’s leadership as part of the Coordinating Committee of the Government of Israel and The Jewish Agency, convened during The Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors’ summer meetings.
85 Israel Fellows will be sent to 170 university campuses across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and – for the first time – South Africa and Germany, up from 65 on 120 campuses this past academic year. The 31% increase in the number of Israel Fellows and the 42% increase in campus coverage represent the program’s largest expansion since it was created in 2003.
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Interesting that this announcement takes place just days after the JNF announced the receipt of a $100 million bequest from John and Dora Boruchin of California for the very same purpose, i.e., Israel advocacy including on college campuses. Now what are the chances that these initiatives … plus others such as Stand With Us … will be coordinated and enjoy full collaboration?
perfect question…”Interesting that this announcement takes place just days after the JNF announced the receipt of a $100 million bequest from John and Dora Boruchin”
A bigger question is how effective can any of this be when Israel continues its grossly oppressive and inhumane treatment of Palestinians and that is plain for anyone to see. Putting such effort and resources into trying to change the story rather than changing the reality is really misguided and ultimately will fail.