IJAN has grown in thepast year to include five chapters across theUnited States. We are also active in IJAN's labor work group, and have active academicand student work groups.  We are buildingwork groups to focus on anti-Zionist Jewish organizing in queer, Jew of Colorand spiritual sectors.

The firsthalf of 2010 focused on organizing and hosting the 2010 US Assembly of Jews - Confronting Racism & Israeli Apartheidand participation in the organizing of the US Social Forum. The Assembly andSocial Forum were opportunities for us to come together and build our sharedpolitics, direction and relationships to create anagenda to do so. This work includes our continued participation in BDS,demonstrations and public education; the launching of an international campaignagainst the Jewish National Fund; acall for confronting Islamophobia and political repression against those whospeak out against the War on Terror; and continuing to bring a clear anduncompromising Jewish complaint against Zionism. 

Announced as avictory by its newest member, J-Street, the World Zionist Organization came out with its agenda forthe next three years: secure US support for Israel even if doing so meansaccepting a Palestinian State (whose borders, air space, water andcommunication systems Israel controls) and a freeze to further development ofsettlements (despite that they are now protected by the Apartheid wall).  IJAN isready to organize an agenda to challenge the "special relationship" between the US and Israel, that J-Street's agenda reflects, with support and pressurefrom our international comrades and partners.

This winter we willbring Hajo Meyer to the US to continue our challenge to the misuse of the Nazigenocide to justify the occupation of Palestine by drawing connections betweenthe Nazi genocide and other histories and current experiences ofdehumanization, including Palestine. This follows a successful IJAN Europe tour with Hajo Meyer last winter.

Inthe United States, IJAN spent the first half of the year preparing for andhosting the first national anti-Zionist Jewish gathering, "The US Assembly ofJews: Confronting Israeli Apartheid and Racism," from June 19-22 in Detroit. The Assembly wasa great success with over 200 participants exploring and developinganti-Zionist Jewish politics, organizing and activism. Our gathering securedover fifty endorsements from organizations in the US and internationally, wasintergenerational, and included partners from the Palestinian liberationmovement and other anti-racist, anti-imperialist struggles.

Following theAssembly we participated in the US Social Forum which brought together over15,000 activists and community members. IJAN was part of the National PlanningCouncil and with the US Palestinian Network built relationships betweenconfronting Zionism and movements against racism and imperialism, for economic,gender and environmental justice, and immigrant and indigenous rights.

Click HERE to go to the Assembly web site.

Click HERE to seevideo clips, audio excerpts and blog entries.

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