Democrats for Israel - Los Angeles

News

  • 6 Jan 2023 5:03 PM | Anonymous


    Democrats for Israel – Los Angeles reminds its members and supporters that elections to choose delegates to the California Democratic Party Convention are being held thru January 22. Any registered Democratic voter in the state can vote for the delegates from THEIR Assembly District, at ANY CADEM election site over the next few weeks.

    Below is a list of DFI LA members who are running, listed by Assembly District. Following that list is a list of voting sites, and the day (and hours) that site will be open.

    We need to get these members elected. There WILL be anti-Israel resolutions introduced at the CA Democratic Party convention. We need these leaders at that convention, to push back on those attempts to single out Israel for criticism, and to keep the Democratic Party’s official position one of support for Israel and the two-state solution!!


    Vote for these candidates:

    AD 40 Gregg Solkovits

    AD 40 Renay Grace Rodriguez

    AD 40 Lorraine Lundquist

    AD 40 Brandon Zavala

    AD 42 Jeremy Wolf

    AD 42 Murtaza Mogri

    AD 42 Jodie Cooper

    AD 42 Jonathan M Zasloff

    AD 44 Analisa Swan

    AD 44 Armond Aghakhanian

    AD 44 Paul Kujawsky

    AD 46 Jessica Yas Barker

    AD 46 Bari Worth Girvan

    AD 46 Greg Girvan

    AD 46 Daniel Spitzer

    AD 47 Patrick Weiss

    AD 51 Naomi Goldman

    AD 51 Debbie Paperman

    AD 51 Louis Abramson

    AD 51 Isabel Storey

    AD 51 Jonah Platt

    AD 51 Caroline Torosis

    AD 51 Jane Wishon

    AD 51 Barry Snell

    AD 55 Darrel Menthe

    AD 55 Linda Lucks

    AD 55 Rachel Pearl Bracker

    AD 59 Lauren Klatzker

    AD 66 Tony Hale

    AD 66 Scott Houston

    AD 69 David Alpern

    AD 69 David Rosen

  • 23 Oct 2022 5:13 PM | Anonymous



  • 28 Sep 2022 5:57 PM | Anonymous

    Watch: Arnold Schwarzenegger visits site of Nazi German death camp Auschwitz and meets a Holocaust survivor. Urges world to TERMINATE hatred: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMUy_QzPH2s

    Article https://fortune.com/2022/09/29/arnold-schwarzenegger-visits-auschwitz-meets-holocaust-survivor-urges-world-to-terminate-hatred/

    Schwarzenegger visits Auschwitz

  • 25 Aug 2022 5:54 PM | Anonymous


    From:
    "Rep. Sherman" <repsherman@mail8.housecommunications.gov>
    Date: August 25, 2022 at 4:10:11 PM PDT

    Supporting Israel in Congress - from Congressman Brad Sherman

    I am writing to provide you an update on my recent work related to Middle East policy in Congress.

    For 26 years, I have served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where I am the second most senior Democrat. I currently serve as the Co-Chair of the House’s Israel Allies Caucus, where I work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Since 1997, I have spoken at every annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington D.C. 

    Fighting Back Against the UN’s Biased Commission of Inquiry

    In 2021, the United Nations (UN) adopted a resolution to create a biased and illegitimate permanent Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate supposed Israeli war crimes. Unsurprisingly, this outrageous COI appointed biased commissioners - one of whom recently made anti-Semitic comments about a so-called ‘Jewish lobby.’

    To combat these efforts, I joined a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging him to immediately remove the COI commissioner who made these insidious comments and disband the COI altogether. I also previously wrote to Secretary of State Blinken urging the Administration to defund the COI by reducing the U.S.’s contributions to the UN by the cost of the COI.

    Lastly, I cosponsored H.R.7223, the COI Elimination Act, which would make it official U.S. policy to seek the abolition of the COI and reduce U.S. contributions to the UN by 25% of the amount budgeted for the COI. I will continue to fight against outrageous anti-Israel bias at the United Nations and in all international organizations.

    Supporting the Iron Dome

    Israel continues to face unprecedented threats, from Hamas to Hizballah to Iran. Hamas fires rockets to kill as many Israeli civilians as it can. Each rocket fired at Israel is a war crime, whether or not it achieves Hamas’ bloody objective.

    Accordingly, Congress is committed to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) and its ability to defend itself, by itself, against persistent threats. U.S. aid to Israel is only ½ of 1% of our national security budget and the best investment we can make in our own security.

    U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs such as the Iron Dome, Arrow 3, and David’s Sling systems have saved countless Israeli civilian lives and prevented further escalation of hostilities. I have been a vocal proponent of funding and replenishing the Iron Dome.

    When Hamas launched 4,500 rockets targeting Israeli civilians in the spring of 2021, I sent a letter to the Department of Defense urging the Biden Administration to continue its support of Israel’s safety and security by replenishing the Iron Dome.

    I was proud to vote for supplemental funding to replenish the Iron Dome this September, which passed with overwhelming support in the House.

    When this critical funding was blocked by a Republican Senator, I sent a letter urging President Biden to put his weight behind this issue by specifically requesting that Congress include supplemental funding for Israel’s Iron Dome in an appropriations bill to circumvent this Senator’s delay.

    I then sent a second letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee urging the $1 billion in Iron Dome replenishment funding to be included in the FY2022 appropriations bill.

    As a result, the FY2022 appropriations legislation included this funding, and it passed the House this March.

    Security Assistance to Israel – $3.8 Billion is a Floor, Not a Ceiling

    I am a strong supporter of the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Israel and the United States, committing $3.8 billion in annual defense assistance through 2028. I also support the right of Congress to appropriate more aid than the MOU calls for.

    To ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge, we need to do more to help Israel and must ensure our weapons transfers to other states in the Middle East do not erode that advantage.

    I joined Rep. Schneider in introducing H.R. 849 – Guaranteeing Israel’s QME Act of 2020. This legislation would require consultation with the Government of Israel prior to the sale of any advanced weapon system to the region to ensure Israel maintains its QME.

    Remembering Israelis Lost to Terrorism

    Ahead of the 50th Anniversary of the Munich Massacre, I joined my colleague Burgess Owens in introducing a bipartisan House Resolution calling for a moment of silence in Congress and at all future Olympic Opening Ceremonies in honor of the eleven Israeli athletes who were brutally murdered by a group of Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

    The massacre of eleven Israelis during the 1972 Munich Olympics remains one of the darkest chapters in Olympic history.

    As we near the 50th anniversary of this hateful act, I will continue to fight to memorialize the victims and pass this resolution to provide a powerful reminder of the need to continue combatting bigotry, anti-Semitism and terror in all its forms.

    U.S.-Israel Energy, Agriculture, and Technology Cooperation

    All too often when people think of Israel, they think of a recent terrorist attack. When people think of Israel they should think not of tsuris, but of science. 

    In 2007, I authored the legislation that established the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Program. Since its inception, Congress has provided $39.7 million for the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperative Agreement program, fully matched dollar for dollar by the Government of Israel. Since 2009, the program has leveraged over $47 million in private sector investment.

    The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Program supports joint U.S.-Israel research and development in energy efficiency and alternative power, including biofuels, energy storage, new solar and wind projects, electric vehicles, and increased grid efficiency.

    Last year, Congress established two new cooperative initiatives to leverage U.S.-Israel collaboration to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as enhance development cooperation in the areas of water resources, agriculture and energy storage between USAID and Israel in developing countries.

    Innovative and cutting-edge technology is increasingly necessary to keep us all safe. The U.S.-Israel BIRD Homeland Security program facilitates cooperative projects between two-partner entities, one from the U.S. and one from Israel, and leverages government investments through partnerships with the academic and private sector to identify gaps in critical capabilities while building stronger connections between the U.S. and Israel.

    Every year I lead a package of bipartisan letters to the Appropriations committee that continue and expand funding for cooperative bi-national COVID-related and health technologies research, U.S.-Israel cooperation to address sustainability challenges in the developing world, homeland security, agriculture, and energy research.

    This year, my package of letters was signed by over 80 bipartisan Members of Congress.

    Normalization of Israel’s Diplomatic Relations With Its Neighbors

    Normalizing relations between Israel and its regional neighbors has been an enduring goal of the United States, and one I continue to work towards.

    I am a cosponsor of the Israel Relations Normalization Act, which will create strategies to strengthen and expand peace and normalization agreements in the region, as well as monitor the emergence of laws that would hinder this critical goal.

    I also continue to promote normalization efforts through my meetings with foreign dignitaries as a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In November, I met with the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and Ambassador Lalla Joumala.

    We discussed the progress of Morocco-Israel diplomatic ties following Morocco’s agreement to normalize relations with Israel last year.

    Specifically, we discussed Morocco’s commitment to enact the steps outlined in this agreement including their plans for opening an embassy in Israel and the recent start of direct flights.

    Promoting Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education

    Encouraging reconciliation and envisioning a path toward mutual acceptance among new generations of Palestinians and Israelis remains critical.

    Unfortunately, Palestinian Authority textbooks stymie this goal by teaching children to accept violence, glorify terrorism, promote antisemitism, and reject peace.

    Palestinian textbooks erase Israel from maps, refer to Israel only as “the enemy,” and ask children to sacrifice their lives to “liberate” all of the land between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea. One such example is a 5th grade textbook which encourages students to emulate Dalal al-Mughrabi, a convicted terrorist who perpetrated the 1978 Coastal Road massacre which killed 38 Israeli civilians - including 13 children.

    That’s why I re-introduced my legislation, the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act, which ensures the United States prioritizes ending the normalization of violence and antisemitism in Palestinian Authority school curriculums.

    This legislation unanimously passed the Foreign Affairs Committee in the last Congress and will require the Secretary of State to submit annual reports reviewing the education material used by the Palestinian Authority.

    I will always work for peace and against incitement.

    -----------------------

    I would like your input on how I can be most effective in strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance. Please share your input with me at Brad.Sherman@mail.house.gov or you can reach us by phone at (202) 225-5911.

    Office of Congressman Brad Sherman | BradSherman.house.gov

  • 30 Jul 2022 7:13 PM | Anonymous

    Democrats for Israel - Los Angeles turned out in support of Pilar Schiavo, who is running for the 40th Assembly District seat. Seen here at a Schiavo campaign canvass on 7/30/2022 are (from left to right) Schiavo, California Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon, Christy Smith Candidate for Congress in the 27th CD, DFI-LA President Gregg Solkovits, DFI-LA Vice President Michelle Elmer.

  • 14 May 2022 3:02 PM | Anonymous

    DFI-LA president Gregg Solkovits, and board member Miran Kalaydjian were invited to Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) 2022 Candidate Meet and Greet event on Friday, May 13, 2022.


    With Araz Parseghian - SCAD President


    With Armond Aghakhanian - Burbank Unified School District Board of Education President


    With Bob Blumenfield


    With Christy Smith - Congress District 27 candidate


    With Daniel Hertzberg


    With Elizabeth and Manuel Magpapian - SCAD Legal Advisor


    With Kevin James - candidate for city attorney


    With Paul Koretz

  • 25 Apr 2022 8:39 PM | Anonymous


    DFI-Los Angeles Candidates Endorsements - November 2022

    Bolded (with large photo) is 'Strong Support' | Rest of listed names are 'Support', unless noted as Neutral

    ------------------------------------------------
    ASSEMBLY

    AD 40
    Pilar Schiavo - Support

    AD 41
    Chris Holden - Support          

    AD 42
    Jacqui Irwin - Support

    AD 43
    Luz Rivas - Support

    AD 44
    Laura Friedman
     - Strong Support

    AD 46
    Jesse Gabriel (CA Legislative Jewish Caucus member) - Strong Support

    AD 48
    Blanca Rubio (CA Legislative Jewish Caucus member) - Strong Support

    AD 51
    Rick Chavez Zbur - Strong Support

    Louis Abramson - Support

    AD 52
    Wendy Carillo - Support

    AD 53
    Freddie Rodriguez - Support

    AD 54
    Miguel Santiago - Support

    AD 55
    Isaac Bryan - Support

    AD 56
    Lisa Calderon - Support

    AD 57
    Reggie Jones-Sawyer - Support

    AD 62
    Anthony Rendon - Strong Support

    AD 64
    Blanca Pacheco - Support

    AD 65
    Mike Gipson - Support

    AD 66
    Al Muratsuchi - Support

    AD 69
    Josh Lowenthal - Strong Support

    ------------------------------------------------
    STATE SENATE

    SD 20
    Caroline Menijvar - Support
    Daniel Hertzberg - Support

    SD 22
    Susan Rubio (CA Legislative Jewish Caucus member) - Strong Support

    SD 24
    Ben Allen (CA Legislative Jewish Caucus member) - Strong Support

    SD 26
    Maria Elena Duranzo - Support

    SD 32
    Bob Archuleta - Support

    ------------------------------------------------
    LOS ANGELES COUNTY

    Seat 1 - Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
    Hilda Solis - Support

    Seat 3 - Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
    Bob Hertzberg - Strong Support

    Lindsay Horvath - Strong Support

    Seat 5 - Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
    Janice Hahn - Support

    Los Angeles County Accessor
    Jeffery Prang - Support

    Los Angeles County Sheriff
    Robert Luna - Support

    ------------------------------------------------
    CITY OF LOS ANGELES

    Los Angeles Mayor
    Karen Bass - strong support

    Los Angeles City Attorney
    Hydee Feinstein Soto - Support

    Los Angeles City Controller
    Paul Koretz - Strong Support

    Seat 3  Los Angeles City Council
    Bob Blumenfield - Strong Support

    Seat 5  Los Angeles City Council Sam Yebri - Strong Support

    Katy Young Yaroslavsky - Support

    Seat 7  Los Angeles City Council
    Monica Rodriguez - Support

    Seat 13  Los Angeles City Council
    Mitch O’Farrell - Strong Support

    Hugo Soto-Martinez - Oppose

    Seat 15  Los Angeles City Council
    Tim McOsker - Support

    Los Angeles Unified School Board, Seat 4
    Nick Melvoin - Strong Support

    Los Angeles Unified School Board, Seat 6
    Kelly Gonez - Support

    Los Angeles Community College District, Seat 4
    Sara Hernandez - Support

    ------------------------------------------------
    CITY OF LONG BEACH

    Seat 3  Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees
    Sunny Zia - Strong Support

    Mayor of Long Beach
    Suzie Price - Support


    ------------------------------------------------
    CONGRESSIONAL HOUSE DISTRICTS

    CA-26 Congress
    Julia Brownley - Support

    CA-27 Congress
    Christy Smith - Support

    CA-28 Congress
    Judy Chu - Support

    CA-29 Congress
    Tony Cardenas - Strong Support

    CA-30 Congress
    Adam Schiff - Strong Support

    CA-31 Congress
    Grace Napolitano - Support

    CA-32 Congress
    Brad Sherman - Strong Support

    CA-34 Congress
    Jimmy Gomez - Support

    CA-35 Congress
    Norma Torres - Support              

    CA-36 Congress
    Ted Lieu - Strong Support

    CA-37 Congress
    Sydney Kamlager - Strong Support

    Jan Perry - Strong Support

    Sandra Mendoza - Support

    CA-38 Congress
    Linda Sanchez - Support

    CA-42 Congress
    Robert Garcia - Support

    CA-43 Congress
    Maxine Waters - Support

    CA-44 Congress
    Nanette Barragan - Strong Support

  • 16 Apr 2022 10:47 AM | Anonymous


    Idina Menzel, Ilana Glazer, Rachel Bloom and several other Jewish celebs discuss antisemitism on YouTube show

    In “Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Antisemitism,” a YouTube special released on Thursday 4/14/2022 a cohort of Jewish celebrities: Idina Menzel, Ilana Glazer, Rachel Bloom, Skylar Astin, Michael Twitty, Hannah Einbinder, Alex Edelman, Tommy Dorfman, Josh Peck, Hari Nef, and Michael Zegen discuss the current global rise of anti-Semitism.

    Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj-pWmsOIyQ

    Article - https://www.jta.org/2022/04/14/culture/idina-menzel-ilana-glazer-rachel-bloom-and-several-other-jewish-celebs-discuss-antisemitism-on-youtube-show

  • 6 Apr 2022 6:46 PM | Anonymous


    Tel Hashomer, also known as the Sheba Medical Center, in suburban Tel Aviv, has set up a field hospital in Ukraine. Israel's field hospital is the first foreign medical team to arrive and begin caring for hundreds of refugees each day. Medical volunteers are caring daily for long queues of people, many of them elderly.

    The Los Angeles Jewish Journal has published a first person account - https://jewishjournal.com/my-turn/346691/what-israel-is-doing-in-ukraine




    More pictures of Israel's field hospital in Ukraine were published in the Jerusalem Post - https://www.jpost.com/international/article-702315

  • 13 Mar 2022 8:15 PM | Anonymous

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Israel for its ongoing efforts to help facilitate an end to Russia’s destructive war with Ukraine as he and his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. Blinken told Lapid that any initiative to try to halt the conflict would be welcome as long as it is consistent with US, NATO, and European principles and that Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.

    Read more about Israel's efforts for a diplomatic resolution: https://www.timesofisrael.com/blinken-tells-lapid-us-very-much-appreciates-israeli-mediation-in-ukraine

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