JTA: Surasky supported after ousting from JNFA Heroes’ contest

Submitted by DavidL on Tue, 10/25/2011 - 12:50pm

Surasky supported after ousting from JNFA Heroes’ contest

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 23, 2011

(JTA) -- Supporters of Cecilie Surasky, a leader of a Jewish pro-Palestinian group, have rallied to her support after she was bumped from a national Jewish Heroes competition.

Backers of Surasky, the deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace, have sent nearly 4,000 letters via e-mail to the leadership of the Jewish Federations of North America and its Jewish Community Heroes competition, Jewish Voice for Peace said in a statement. They also blanketed discussion on the Jewish Community Heroes Facebook page with posts in favor of Surasky.

Surasky was removed from the competition earlier this month because her organization is a supporter of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting investment in Israel, JFNA officials told JTA. Jewish Voice for Peace acknowledges being part of the BDS movement but says it supports only campaigns targeting Israel's occupation of the West Bank.

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