The Simon Wiesenthal Center, (“the Center”), a global human rights NGO, has issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s comments on Jews and their political affiliations:
“We believe that, since 1948, the overwhelming majority of American Jews, irrespective of party affiliation, unequivocally support the State of Israel.
“We also affirm that this bipartisan support is absolutely essential to the future well being and security of the Jewish State.”
“To say otherwise, and depend only on one party – particularly in these turbulent times of increased hate and anti-Semitism – weakens and divides the most important Jewish community in the Diaspora,” said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the Center’s founder and president, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Center’s associate dean and director of global social action.
“It was President Jimmy Carter who presided over the Camp David Accords and Republican Ronald Reagan who helped open the gates of freedoms for Soviet Jewry.
“It was Democratic President Harry Truman who made the historic decision that the U.S. would recognize the State of Israel and Republican Donald Trump who moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
“The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which has never endorsed candidates or political parties, reiterates its call for both parties to reduce the rancor that harms the bipartisanship so desperately needed by our democracy.”
