24 dec 2016
A major American department store chain has been selling products imported from Bethlehem as products of Israel, despite Bethlehem being located in the occupied Palestinian territory, according to a report from a public radio station in Texas, US.
KETR reported last week that Bethlehem mayor Vera Baboun was “astonished” after she discovered that Neiman Marcus, which is based in the Texas city of Dallas, was selling nativity scenes that were crafted from olive wood in the occupied West Bank town, but labelled as products of Israel.
“This is illegal," Baboun told KETR. "It’s not Israel. Bethlehem is Palestine."
"It’s unacceptable ... From our side, from the olive wood store and from their side," she added. "God knows how much we are working in order to keep this a traditional and a national Bethlehemite product. And this is very important."
PLO official Xavier Abu Eid viewed the case as an attempt to "normalize" Israel's illegal annexation of Palestinian territory.
"To say that Bethlehem is part of Israel is not only an attempt to normalize the annexation of occupied territory. But it's also an attempt at fooling the consumers. The consumers have the right to know from where the product is coming. And this product in particular is coming from Bethlehem, Palestine," KETR quoted Abu Eid as saying.
A Neiman Marcus spokesperson did not directly respond to KETR’s request for comment, and only informed the radio station that their import division was "in charge of making sure all of our imported products, fashion, fur, home goods, etc. are properly labeled in accordance with all applicable laws."
However, Katrina Skinner, a spokeswoman for the US Customs and Border Protection, told KETR that origin labels bearing the name "Bethlehem, Israel" would not in fact be in compliance with federal regulations.
"With respect to the specific inquiry concerning the use of the marking 'Made in Bethlehem, Israel,' the language would be considered not legally marked in accordance with the policy stated in T.D. 97-16 because Bethlehem is within the West Bank," she said.
According to KETR's report, Neiman Marcus could face fines for not complying with the regulations, which increase “for egregious violations like undermining foreign sanctions, or for mislabeling products to indicate they were from areas subject to less taxes.”
US policy mandates that products made in in the occupied West Bank cannot bear the label “Made in Israel” -- guidelines established mainly to prevent Israeli settlers from using the label, as the US views Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegitimate.
However, the guidelines also apply to products made in the West Bank by Palestinians.
Regulations distinguishing Israel from the Palestinian territories date back to the 1990s. The Clinton administration issued the rules in 1995 and 1997 requiring unique origin labels for imports manufactured in Israel, as opposed to those produced in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.
According to the Palestinian Postal Services, demand from online shoppers for Palestinian products -- specifically olive wood handicrafts -- have noticeably increased over 2016.
Meanwhile, Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka reported earlier this year that the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine has stifled Palestinian economic growth while producing billions of dollars in Israeli revenue.
KETR reported last week that Bethlehem mayor Vera Baboun was “astonished” after she discovered that Neiman Marcus, which is based in the Texas city of Dallas, was selling nativity scenes that were crafted from olive wood in the occupied West Bank town, but labelled as products of Israel.
“This is illegal," Baboun told KETR. "It’s not Israel. Bethlehem is Palestine."
"It’s unacceptable ... From our side, from the olive wood store and from their side," she added. "God knows how much we are working in order to keep this a traditional and a national Bethlehemite product. And this is very important."
PLO official Xavier Abu Eid viewed the case as an attempt to "normalize" Israel's illegal annexation of Palestinian territory.
"To say that Bethlehem is part of Israel is not only an attempt to normalize the annexation of occupied territory. But it's also an attempt at fooling the consumers. The consumers have the right to know from where the product is coming. And this product in particular is coming from Bethlehem, Palestine," KETR quoted Abu Eid as saying.
A Neiman Marcus spokesperson did not directly respond to KETR’s request for comment, and only informed the radio station that their import division was "in charge of making sure all of our imported products, fashion, fur, home goods, etc. are properly labeled in accordance with all applicable laws."
However, Katrina Skinner, a spokeswoman for the US Customs and Border Protection, told KETR that origin labels bearing the name "Bethlehem, Israel" would not in fact be in compliance with federal regulations.
"With respect to the specific inquiry concerning the use of the marking 'Made in Bethlehem, Israel,' the language would be considered not legally marked in accordance with the policy stated in T.D. 97-16 because Bethlehem is within the West Bank," she said.
According to KETR's report, Neiman Marcus could face fines for not complying with the regulations, which increase “for egregious violations like undermining foreign sanctions, or for mislabeling products to indicate they were from areas subject to less taxes.”
US policy mandates that products made in in the occupied West Bank cannot bear the label “Made in Israel” -- guidelines established mainly to prevent Israeli settlers from using the label, as the US views Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegitimate.
However, the guidelines also apply to products made in the West Bank by Palestinians.
Regulations distinguishing Israel from the Palestinian territories date back to the 1990s. The Clinton administration issued the rules in 1995 and 1997 requiring unique origin labels for imports manufactured in Israel, as opposed to those produced in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.
According to the Palestinian Postal Services, demand from online shoppers for Palestinian products -- specifically olive wood handicrafts -- have noticeably increased over 2016.
Meanwhile, Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka reported earlier this year that the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine has stifled Palestinian economic growth while producing billions of dollars in Israeli revenue.
19 dec 2016
Jewish scholars and students have released statements urging the US House of Representatives and President Obama to reject the controversial “Antisemitism Awareness Act”.
In a recent initiative by US based organization Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish scholars and students signed statements urging both the House of Representatives, as well as President Obama, to reject the act.
The scholars’ statement has already been signed by individuals from New York University, Penn State University, Brown University, Standford University, UCLA and more. It reads:
“As scholars of Jewish studies, we strongly object to “the Antisemitism Awareness Act” which is soon to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would officially categorize as antisemitic “demonization,” “de-legitimation” and “the use of double standard” regarding Israel. This intentionally vague definition is dangerously susceptible to manipulations, and threatens to further diminish freedom of speech and academic freedom on our campuses.
The overly broad language has the potential to define any criticism of Israeli policy as antisemitic. This could include frank discussions of the impact of Zionism, campus disagreements about the future of Israel/Palestine, and in fact, much of what falls under Jewish Studies in all facets, including courses.
This is fundamentally contrary to the educational processes of learning critical thinking and disparate points of view, and hurts our ability to prepare students to take on global challenges ahead of us.
By potentially targeting those offering criticism of the State of Israel, many of whom are Jews themselves, (and not the white supremacists emboldened by President-elect Trump), this bill fails to confront the real threats facing Jews in America. Instead, this bill poses a threat to human rights advocates, scholars, and students. It is no coincidence that many of these students are Muslim and/or people of color, and are facing similar targeting from a resurgent far-right.
American Jews do not need protection from passionate young activists organizing for justice. Rather, we need to join with justice-seeking people everywhere to fight white supremacy, racism and the genuine antisemitism that are reemerging in the very highest levels of government. Therefore, as scholars of Jewish studies, we call upon all those who are committed to fighting racism and safeguarding academic freedom to speak out against this misguided and dangerous bill.”
Following a similar appeal the statement signed by Jewish students explains:
“Dear Members of the House of Representatives and President Obama,
As Jewish students, we urge you to reject the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, and to protect free speech on campuses across America. We are Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, and secular Jews; and we are deeply concerned about the rise of real anti-Semitism in white supremacist movements in this country, including the appointment of real anti-Semites like Stephen Bannon to powerful positions in the upcoming Trump administration. But this bill does little to protect us, as Jewish students, from these dangers. Rather, it serves to limit our freedom of expression around the vital issues of our time.
Regardless of our personal political views, we recognize that criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights, including support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, is not inherently anti-Semitic. The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, however, conflates legitimate criticism of the policies of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism, using a problematic definition of anti-Semitism never intended for use on college campuses. Kenneth Stern, the author of the original EU definition upon which the State Department definition is based, has urged you to reject the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, and to not use this definition to restrict speech on college campuses. [http://jkrfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Letter-to-members-of…[PDF]
At a time when freedom of expression is under threat across the country, we need to be protecting and expanding speech, not restricting it. We urge you not to pass the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, and instead to take meaningful action to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other forms of bigotry on the rise across the country.”
via Jewish Voice for Peace and the Palestinian BDS National Committee.
In a recent initiative by US based organization Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish scholars and students signed statements urging both the House of Representatives, as well as President Obama, to reject the act.
The scholars’ statement has already been signed by individuals from New York University, Penn State University, Brown University, Standford University, UCLA and more. It reads:
“As scholars of Jewish studies, we strongly object to “the Antisemitism Awareness Act” which is soon to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would officially categorize as antisemitic “demonization,” “de-legitimation” and “the use of double standard” regarding Israel. This intentionally vague definition is dangerously susceptible to manipulations, and threatens to further diminish freedom of speech and academic freedom on our campuses.
The overly broad language has the potential to define any criticism of Israeli policy as antisemitic. This could include frank discussions of the impact of Zionism, campus disagreements about the future of Israel/Palestine, and in fact, much of what falls under Jewish Studies in all facets, including courses.
This is fundamentally contrary to the educational processes of learning critical thinking and disparate points of view, and hurts our ability to prepare students to take on global challenges ahead of us.
By potentially targeting those offering criticism of the State of Israel, many of whom are Jews themselves, (and not the white supremacists emboldened by President-elect Trump), this bill fails to confront the real threats facing Jews in America. Instead, this bill poses a threat to human rights advocates, scholars, and students. It is no coincidence that many of these students are Muslim and/or people of color, and are facing similar targeting from a resurgent far-right.
American Jews do not need protection from passionate young activists organizing for justice. Rather, we need to join with justice-seeking people everywhere to fight white supremacy, racism and the genuine antisemitism that are reemerging in the very highest levels of government. Therefore, as scholars of Jewish studies, we call upon all those who are committed to fighting racism and safeguarding academic freedom to speak out against this misguided and dangerous bill.”
Following a similar appeal the statement signed by Jewish students explains:
“Dear Members of the House of Representatives and President Obama,
As Jewish students, we urge you to reject the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, and to protect free speech on campuses across America. We are Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, and secular Jews; and we are deeply concerned about the rise of real anti-Semitism in white supremacist movements in this country, including the appointment of real anti-Semites like Stephen Bannon to powerful positions in the upcoming Trump administration. But this bill does little to protect us, as Jewish students, from these dangers. Rather, it serves to limit our freedom of expression around the vital issues of our time.
Regardless of our personal political views, we recognize that criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights, including support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, is not inherently anti-Semitic. The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, however, conflates legitimate criticism of the policies of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism, using a problematic definition of anti-Semitism never intended for use on college campuses. Kenneth Stern, the author of the original EU definition upon which the State Department definition is based, has urged you to reject the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, and to not use this definition to restrict speech on college campuses. [http://jkrfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Letter-to-members-of…[PDF]
At a time when freedom of expression is under threat across the country, we need to be protecting and expanding speech, not restricting it. We urge you not to pass the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, and instead to take meaningful action to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other forms of bigotry on the rise across the country.”
via Jewish Voice for Peace and the Palestinian BDS National Committee.
16 dec 2016
Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, strongly denounced Washington’s plan to relocate the US embassy to the holy city, warning that such a step would be deemed “a declaration of war against Arabs and Muslims.”
In his Friday khutba (sermon) at the Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Sabri said that president-elect Donald Trump’s promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem was against the inalienable Muslim-Palestinian right to the holy city and violated the international resolutions that affirmed that “Jerusalem is an occupied city.”
The preacher added that Trump had made this promise during his election campaign to please the Jews in America and the world.
“If we assume that this alleged pledge has been realized and carried out, this means that America recognizes that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jews and has thus declared a new war against the people of Palestine, and also against the entire Arab and Muslim nations,” Sheikh Sabri stated.
In his Friday khutba (sermon) at the Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Sabri said that president-elect Donald Trump’s promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem was against the inalienable Muslim-Palestinian right to the holy city and violated the international resolutions that affirmed that “Jerusalem is an occupied city.”
The preacher added that Trump had made this promise during his election campaign to please the Jews in America and the world.
“If we assume that this alleged pledge has been realized and carried out, this means that America recognizes that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jews and has thus declared a new war against the people of Palestine, and also against the entire Arab and Muslim nations,” Sheikh Sabri stated.
Israeli transportation minister Yisrael Katz has called on his government to work on obtaining US recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights and giving the Palestinians some sort of self-rule in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Katz made the remarks at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center marking 35 years since the Knesset passed a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
He added that the Israeli government should also increase the number of Jewish settlers in the Golan Heights to 100,000 residents in the following years and work to achieve that.
He also called for Israel to expand the borders of Jerusalem and extend its sovereignty over the settlements surrounding it, such as Maale Adumim, Betar Illit and Gush Etzion, "just as Menachem Begin did regarding the Golan Heights 35 years ago."
In addition, Katz pledged to construct a new railway station to serve residents of the Golan Heights.
Katz praised what he called Begin’s maintenance of Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem and called for not stopping to expand and build settlements in the West Bank.
He proposed engaging in negotiations with neighboring Arab countries to grant some autonomy to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza in order to police themselves.
However, he expressed his rejection of the idea of creating a new Arab state in the West Bank and Jerusalem, calling it "a violation of the Jews’ historic rights to the land" and "a serious threat to Israel's security in the future."
The Israeli army occupied two-thirds of the Syrian Golan Heights region in the aftermath of the Six Day War in 1967 before the government of Begin extracted approval from the Knesset in 1981 for its decision to annex the Golan area to Israel.
Katz made the remarks at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center marking 35 years since the Knesset passed a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
He added that the Israeli government should also increase the number of Jewish settlers in the Golan Heights to 100,000 residents in the following years and work to achieve that.
He also called for Israel to expand the borders of Jerusalem and extend its sovereignty over the settlements surrounding it, such as Maale Adumim, Betar Illit and Gush Etzion, "just as Menachem Begin did regarding the Golan Heights 35 years ago."
In addition, Katz pledged to construct a new railway station to serve residents of the Golan Heights.
Katz praised what he called Begin’s maintenance of Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem and called for not stopping to expand and build settlements in the West Bank.
He proposed engaging in negotiations with neighboring Arab countries to grant some autonomy to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza in order to police themselves.
However, he expressed his rejection of the idea of creating a new Arab state in the West Bank and Jerusalem, calling it "a violation of the Jews’ historic rights to the land" and "a serious threat to Israel's security in the future."
The Israeli army occupied two-thirds of the Syrian Golan Heights region in the aftermath of the Six Day War in 1967 before the government of Begin extracted approval from the Knesset in 1981 for its decision to annex the Golan area to Israel.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominated David Friedman, a pro-settlement bankruptcy lawyer, to be the next US ambassador to Israel, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper revealed Friday.
David Friedman, who had more recently served on the president-elect’s advisory team on the Middle East, said that he looked forward to delivering Trump’s pledge to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy there.
Friedman, 57, serves as president of the American Friends of Bet El Institutions, which funds settlements in the West Bank.
He disagrees with the general international consensus that the settlements are illegal and he opposes a ban on settlement construction on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. And he has long supported an undivided Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
Friedman is also a fervent opponent to another orthodoxy of US foreign policy, the “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which the territory would be shared.
“That’s the ‘two-state solution’ – an illusion that serves the worst intentions of both the United States and the Palestinian Arabs. It has never been a solution, only a narrative. But even the narrative itself now needs to end,” Friedman wrote on the website for the religious Zionist network, Arutz Sheva.
The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, described Friedman’s views as being on the far right of the Israeli political spectrum, more hardline than Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
David Friedman, who had more recently served on the president-elect’s advisory team on the Middle East, said that he looked forward to delivering Trump’s pledge to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US embassy there.
Friedman, 57, serves as president of the American Friends of Bet El Institutions, which funds settlements in the West Bank.
He disagrees with the general international consensus that the settlements are illegal and he opposes a ban on settlement construction on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. And he has long supported an undivided Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
Friedman is also a fervent opponent to another orthodoxy of US foreign policy, the “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which the territory would be shared.
“That’s the ‘two-state solution’ – an illusion that serves the worst intentions of both the United States and the Palestinian Arabs. It has never been a solution, only a narrative. But even the narrative itself now needs to end,” Friedman wrote on the website for the religious Zionist network, Arutz Sheva.
The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, described Friedman’s views as being on the far right of the Israeli political spectrum, more hardline than Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
12 dec 2016
Kellyanne Conway
US President-elect Donald Trump top aide, Kellyanne Conway, clarifies during radio interview that Trump still intends to transfer US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as he promised to do during his campaign.
Though he has refrained from making many public statements on the matter since his election, US President-elect Donald Trump's senior aide Kellyanne Conway reiterated his plan to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Speaking to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt about moving the embassy to Jerusalem on Monday, Conway said, "That is very big priority for this president-elect, Donald Trump. He made it very clear during the campaign, Hugh, and as president-elect I've heard him repeat it several times privately, if not publicly.”
While former US presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush reneged on their own statements to move the embassy to Israel's capital after they had become presidents, Conway believes Trump will follow through on his promise.
“It is something that our friend in Israel, a great friend in the Middle East, would appreciate and something that a lot of Jewish-Americans have expressed their preference for," she said. "It is a great move. It is an easy move to do based on how much he talked about that in the debates and in the sound bites.”
Trump sat down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last September to discuss US-Israel relations. During the meeting, he reportedly told Netanyahu that he intends to have Jerusalem officially seen by his administration as Israel's capital. "Mr. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel," his campaign stated following their discussion.
The United Nations and most Western countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. All embassies to Israel are currently in the Tel Aviv area.
US President-elect Donald Trump top aide, Kellyanne Conway, clarifies during radio interview that Trump still intends to transfer US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as he promised to do during his campaign.
Though he has refrained from making many public statements on the matter since his election, US President-elect Donald Trump's senior aide Kellyanne Conway reiterated his plan to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Speaking to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt about moving the embassy to Jerusalem on Monday, Conway said, "That is very big priority for this president-elect, Donald Trump. He made it very clear during the campaign, Hugh, and as president-elect I've heard him repeat it several times privately, if not publicly.”
While former US presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush reneged on their own statements to move the embassy to Israel's capital after they had become presidents, Conway believes Trump will follow through on his promise.
“It is something that our friend in Israel, a great friend in the Middle East, would appreciate and something that a lot of Jewish-Americans have expressed their preference for," she said. "It is a great move. It is an easy move to do based on how much he talked about that in the debates and in the sound bites.”
Trump sat down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last September to discuss US-Israel relations. During the meeting, he reportedly told Netanyahu that he intends to have Jerusalem officially seen by his administration as Israel's capital. "Mr. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel," his campaign stated following their discussion.
The United Nations and most Western countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. All embassies to Israel are currently in the Tel Aviv area.
9 dec 2016
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Beit Yehudi Chief Naftali Bennett reached an agreement to postpone a bid legitimizing illegal settlement outposts until Trump is sworn into office, an Israeli newspaper revealed Friday.
According to the Hebrew-language Maariv newspaper, the agreement comes as Netanyahu and Bennett raised fears that Obama would get in the way of an Israeli bid to legalize settlement homes built on Palestinian land across the occupied West Bank.
A bid meant to legalize 4,000 Israeli illegal settlement houses passed a first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day, Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4,000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8,000 dunums of Palestinian land.
According to the Hebrew-language Maariv newspaper, the agreement comes as Netanyahu and Bennett raised fears that Obama would get in the way of an Israeli bid to legalize settlement homes built on Palestinian land across the occupied West Bank.
A bid meant to legalize 4,000 Israeli illegal settlement houses passed a first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day, Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4,000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8,000 dunums of Palestinian land.
6 dec 2016
Jared Kushner
US tax records indicate that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, directs with his siblings a family foundation which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to settlement organizations in the West Bank.
US tax records show that President-elect Donald Trump's son-in-law co-directs a family foundation that has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Jewish settlement organizations in the West Bank.
Trump has said Jared Kushner, who serves as a close adviser, could help negotiate a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The donations by Kushner's parents' foundation raise questions about Trump's previous statements in which he said that his administration would endeavor to remain neutral in any mediation efforts.
Risa Heller, a spokeswoman for the Kushner companies, declined to comment on the donations to the settlement groups. She says the family is "extremely generous" and has given away over $100 million to charitable causes.
US tax records indicate that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, directs with his siblings a family foundation which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to settlement organizations in the West Bank.
US tax records show that President-elect Donald Trump's son-in-law co-directs a family foundation that has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Jewish settlement organizations in the West Bank.
Trump has said Jared Kushner, who serves as a close adviser, could help negotiate a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The donations by Kushner's parents' foundation raise questions about Trump's previous statements in which he said that his administration would endeavor to remain neutral in any mediation efforts.
Risa Heller, a spokeswoman for the Kushner companies, declined to comment on the donations to the settlement groups. She says the family is "extremely generous" and has given away over $100 million to charitable causes.
