ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY to undermine U.S. complicity in the regular UN assaults on Israel. ZOA West Coast organized an event in Montara (CA) with author Edwin Black, who introduced his plan to defund and replace the UN with a more accountable world body, called the Covenant of Democratic Nations. Mr. Black spoke of the history of the UN’s founding, out of the ashes of the no-longer-relevant League of Nations, and drew the conclusion that the UN has also outlived its effectiveness to achieve its stated goal of promoting world peace through diplomacy. The UN has not been able to prevent or cease conflicts since its establishment and has demonstrated a warped approach to confronting world problems. Every year, the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council issue countless resolutions against Israel’s democracy while ignoring the real human rights violations of Israel’s Arab neighbors and rogue states like Iran and North Korea. The solution Mr. Black proposed would see the UN defunded and a new world body established with strict criteria for admission: adherence to democratic values, protection of human rights for all citizens, and respect for the rule of law. The program featuring Mr. Black was graciously hosted by the Pellegrini family and also helped expose ZOA to many non-Jews who are concerned 44 about UN overreach. ZOA West Coast also organized two events with Joel Pollak, senior editor of Breitbart News. After the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, many falsehoods were perpetuated by Jewish community leaders against the president and his cabinet appointees, including the former executive chair of Breitbart News, Stephen Bannon, who was appointed as White House chief strategist, a senior advisor to the president. The ADL, San Francisco JCRC, and Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect displayed unprecedented partisanship and leveled charges of anti-Semitism against Bannon and other Trump nominees. In his presentation, Mr. Pollak cleared up many misconceptions about Breitbart News and Bannon, his former boss. He spoke to ZOA members in Menlo Park and to a group called Nob Hill Republican Women in San Francisco, sharing excerpts and experiences from his latest book, “How Trump Won.” Joel Pollak, chief editor of Breitbart News, addresses Nob Hill Republican Women in San Francisco Mr. Pollak noted ZOA’s careful analysis and balanced approach to President Trump’s victory and subsequent political appointments. ZOA expressed concern where justified, yet also defended appointees in the face of baseless charges of anti- Semitism from politicized Jewish organizations. He praised ZOA National President Morton Klein for his political astuteness to seek engagement with the new administration, while many Jewish community leaders preferred to sow political discord to satisfy their partisan donor base. ZOA’s West Coast chapter exhibited a larger presence in the Jewish community in the spring of 2017. ZOA was represented at the official welcome reception for Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, a year after he was prevented from speaking at San Francisco State University by anti- Israel protestors. ZOA West Coast also arranged a tour of San Francisco Jewish landmarks for Israel Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Uri Ariel and his delegation. Additionally, the West Coast chapter was represented at the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces’ commemoration of the 50-year anniversary of the Six-Day War. The event honored the three Israeli soldiers immortalized in the famous photograph depicting their liberation of the Kotel (Western Wall) in the Old City of Jerusalem. In Los Angeles, ZOA West Coast operated a booth at the Celebrate Israel Festival, the largest Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) celebration on the West Coast. Mr. Pollak noted ZOA’s careful analysis and balanced approach to President Trump’s victory and subsequent political appointments. ZOA expressed concern where justified, yet also defended appointees in the face of baseless charges of anti- Semitism from politicized Jewish organizations.
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