Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh fighting in court against proposed city referendum targeting Israel

[Mosby]

[JEWISH GROUP]

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and leaders of several synagogue congregations have filed legal challenges to a proposed voter referendum targeting those who do business with or in Israel.

They argue that passing the referendum would hurt and endanger Jewish houses of worship and organizations.

"Targeting our Jewish community, time and time again. Two weeks ago, the Federation held a press conference after the antisemitic graffiti at the Federation and at the Chabad of Squirrel Hill was found. This referendum is the latest action against our community," said Jeff Finkelstein, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

The legal filing challenges a petition to put a referendum on the November ballot. The referendum would prohibit "investment or allocation of public funds, including tax exemptions, to entities that conduct business operations with or in the state of Israel, unless and until Israel ends its military action in Gaza" and fully allows humanitarian aid there.

https://www.wtae.com/article/israel-gaza-war-pittsburgh-referendum-legal-challenge/61869869

[BrianTheEVGuy]

1. Interesting

Our business unit was considering a Pittsburgh office and evaluating it as a site.

One of the requirements for a site is a diverse and welcoming environment. This ballot initiative is likely to get Pittsburgh knocked off the list for consideration, as we don’t want to open offices in places that will target our Jewish employees, associates and customers for abuse.

And as a business that does business with Israeli people and businesses, we certainly won’t want to be targeted for explicit antisemitic discrimination.

[question everything]

2. I hope that your organization will notify the City of Pittsburgh

[BrianTheEVGuy]

3. Good point

I believe they’re working with local groups. Not sure if they’re government affiliated or not, but they did notify when Tampa and Houston were taken off the list for similar reasons.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Good news

Pittsburgh Israel-boycott referendum is dead after DSA declines to defend it in court

The Pittsburgh group behind a ballot referendum that would compel the city to boycott Israel said it won’t defend the measure against multiple legal challenges, ending its longshot bid to make November’s ballot.

The Democratic Socialists of America chapter announced it would not defend the effort on Sunday night, the evening before a scheduled court date for multiple challenges to the referendum. The local Jewish federation, several rabbis and the city controller all challenged the referendum in court, while both of Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators condemned it and a staffer in the mayor’s office resigned after revealing she had signed it.

“We have made the difficult but strategic decision to withdraw our petitions so that we can come back stronger, more experienced and fully ready to continue fighting for a free Palestine with all avenues available to us,” the Pittsburgh DSA chapter tweeted.

Claiming that “politicians and interest groups” are “afraid of this referendum because they know if it goes to a vote, it wins,” the group added, “Unfortunately, today their efforts to push us off November’s ballot succeeded.”

Jewish groups celebrated the move as a victory.

more...

DSA = Disgusting Shitty Anti-Semites