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AJC Passport: Rising Anti-Semitism Across Europe Dec 14, 2018

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Earlier this week, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights released its second survey on discrimination and hate crimes against Jews in the EU. The survey's troubling results are a reminder of the pervasive problem of anti-Semitism in Europe. Katharina von Schnurbein, Coordinator on Combating Anti-Semitism for the European Commission, joins us to discuss the findings from this survey. Our second conversation is with AJC CEO David Harris, who joins us to share his insights on how European governments have reacted to anti-Semitism and the need to step up efforts to confront it.

AJC Passport: A New Path Forward for Gaza, and the Freshman Class in Congress Dec 06, 2018

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Is it possible to bring stability and reconstruction to Gaza? Ilan Goldenberg and his team from the Center for a New American Security and the Brookings Institution set out to answer this question in their new report, "Ending Gaza's Perpetual Crisis: A New U.S. Approach." Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, joins us to discuss the report's recommendations and the state of U.S. policy towards Gaza. We are also joined by Julie Fishman Rayman, AJC Director of Political Outreach, to help guide us through the incoming freshman class in Congress.

AJC Passport: Stunning Report on European Antisemitism Nov 29, 2018

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One in three Europeans knows little or nothing about the Holocaust, one in four thinks Jews have too much influence in finance, and one in five thinks Jews have too much influence over the media and global politics. A devastating new report by CNN has found that antisemitism is alive and well in Europe. Joining us to discuss the troubling findings is CNN's Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward, who led the network's investigation. Our second guest is AJC Europe Director Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, who joined us to discuss how European governments have been responding to antisemitism across the continent and what steps still need to be taken.

AJC Passport: Rockets Slam into Israel and Trigger a Political Crisis Nov 16, 2018

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This week, Israel experienced the worst bombardment since 2014 as Hamas fired over 450 rockets into cities and communities across southern Israel. The assault left one dead and scores wounded as tens of thousands of Israeli families huddled in bomb shelters. After a ceasefire was reached, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced his resignation in protest of the agreement, destabilizing the governing coalition and drawing calls for a new election. Joining us this week to discuss the security dimensions of the latest round of fighting is AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich. Our second guest is Jerusalem Post Chief Political Correspondent Gil Hoffman, who joins us to discuss the political fallout of the week's events.

AJC Passport: The Midterm Election with Norm Ornstein Nov 09, 2018

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In a dramatic election that saw a record number of voters flock to the polls, both parties had reason to celebrate. For the first time in over eight years, Democrats will take control of the House. In the Senate, Republicans have expanded their control of the chamber. Joining us this week to discuss the trends of the election and what it means for U.S.-Israel relations is Norm Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and author of One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported. Show notes: Norm's book: https://www.amazon.com/One-Nation-After-Trump-Disillusioned/dp/1250164052/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1504014479&sr=8-1&keywords=norman+ornstein&linkCode=sl1&tag=aeor-20&linkId=cd84123a5a3664f2cb56fa463965d22a

AJC Passport: The Pittsburgh Attack and Brazil's New President Nov 02, 2018

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In the wake of the horrific attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday that left eleven dead and six wounded, AJC launched a global campaign called #ShowUpForShabbat to show solidarity with Pittsburgh's Jews and send the message that Jews will not be intimidated away from their synagogues. Joining us to discuss the tremendous response to the campaign is AJC Associate Execute Director and Managaing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer. Our second guest is Fernando Lottenberg, President of the Confederation of Jewish Communities of Brazil (CONIB), who joins us to discuss the recent election of Jair Bolsonaro, a controversial right-wing populist who was elected President of Brazil this week.

AJC Passport: Sino-Israeli Relations and Pro-Israel Evangelicals Oct 26, 2018

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This week on AJC Passport, we talk about Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan's visit to Israel and what it means for relations between the Jewish state and China. We're joined by Mercy Kuo, President of the Washington State China Relations Council and member of the advisory council of AJC's Asia Pacific Institute to discuss the visit and China's growing influence in the Middle East. Our second conversation is from one of our first episodes. It features The Atlantic's McKay Coppins on Vice President Mike Pence's Evangelical faith and the role Evangelicals play in U.S.-Israel relations.

AJC Passport: A Disappeared Journalist and Rising Extremism in Germany Oct 19, 2018

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The grisly murder of Saudi journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago has prompted unprecedented backlash in Washington, D.C. against the Saudi government. Joining us to discuss the fallout is Hady Amr, a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution and former senior diplomat in the State Department under President Obama. Our second conversation is with AJC Berlin Ramer Institute Director Deidre Berger, who joined us to discuss Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent visit to Israel as well as issues of rising political extremism in Germany. Show notes: Good for the Jews article:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/opinion/sugihara-moral-heroism-refugees.html

AJC Passport: Nikki Haley's Surprise Move and Joint Muslim-Jewish Activism Oct 12, 2018

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In a surprise move earlier this week, Nikki Haley announced that she would be stepping down from her role as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The statement prompted an immediate flurry of speculation in D.C. and on social media regarding her next steps. For the pro-Israel community, Haley's departure also raises questions on who will replace her as America's voice at the UN and whether the next ambassador will be able to fill Haley's shoes in combating rampant anti-Israel bias at the UN. Joining us to discuss Haley's departure is Ron Kampeas, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's Washington Bureau Chief. We're also joined by Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations, to discuss the AJC-convened Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC) and the successful passage of a hate crimes bill backed by both AJC and MJAC. Show notes: Article from Good for the Jews: https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/272249/the-flight-of-the-righteous-gentile

AJC Passport: Defending the Transatlantic Alliance Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

At the height of the Second World War, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill articulated a vision of a world living at peace, with free trade, human rights, and democracy at its center. After the war, their nations helped bring that vision—dubbed the Atlantic Charter—into being, creating the world we know today. But now, seven decades later, the charter and the global system it envisioned are under assault. This week on AJC Passport, we're joined by journalist, author, and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution James Kirchick to do a deep-dive into what's undermining the transatlantic alliance and the close ties between fellow liberal democracies. We're also joined by AJC Associate Executive Director for Policy Jason Isaacson to discuss AJC's newest initiative to reaffirm the transatlantic partnership with the help of a few prominent friends. Show notes: James's Yale campaign in the WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/im-running-to-restore-yale-values-1528054042 AJC's transatlantic partnership: https://www.ajc.org/TransatlanticUnity

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