Posted By: Mira Trapper
Urgent request to protect our industry. - 09/01/10 02:23 AM
URGENT: Action Required -- Israel threatens to ban all furs -- let the Israeli Government know what you think!‏
From: Alan Herscovici (alanh@furcouncil.com)
Sent: August 31, 2010 10:34:35 PM
To: Alan Herscovici (alanh@furcouncil.com)
The following message is very important for our trade -- please read it, and pass it on!
We have learned that legislation to ban all trading of furs in Israel is again being considered by a Knesset committee, possibly as soon as September 2nd.
It is being driven by internal political deal-making to maintain a fragile coalition government.
Activists targeted Israel because the fur trade is of little importance in that country -- so little domestic "cost".
Activists plan to use this "precedent" to fuel similar campaigns in Europe and elsewhere...
While the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) has been working for months to control this issue -- and the Government of Canada has expressed its concern (as have the governments of Denmark, Finland, Greece and several influential US politicians), more pressure is needed.
A number of people have asked what they can do to oppose this mean-spirited and misguided legislation.
We are attaching e-addresses for the Israeli Embassies in Ottawa and Washington, as well as for several key Israeli politicians. (See below)
Letters should be in your own words, expressing your own opinions.
Following are some points you may want to include in your letters:
- the North American (and European) fur trade is a responsible, well-regulated industry.
- just as the anti-Israel lobby promotes sensationalist videos, half-truths and lies, the "animal rights" lobby does the same to discredit and isolate the fur trade. If there is one country in the world that should understand (and reject) the insidious tactics being used against the fur trade, surely it is Israel!
- Jewish people play an important role in the fur trade; attacks on the fur trade are attacks on thousands of Jewish people in North America, Europe and elsewhere. (European anti-fur propaganda has sometimes openly played on anti-semitic stereotypes.)
- arbitrary bans on fur (or any other product) contravene Israel's international trading agreements; if everyone starts banning whatever someone doesn't like, all will suffer.
- those in the fur trade who have raised money for years for Israel feel betrayed by these cynical political calculations: many will simply stop raising money or working for Israel, if Israel can treat the hard-working people of the fur trade in such a cruel and cynical way!
- no one is "obliged" to buy or wear fur -- but by what right should it be "banned" by the government? (If the public really feels that fur is "immoral", as some claim, surely consumers will refuse to buy it -- there is no need to ban it!)
- the same groups that oppose fur also oppose kosher slaughter.... and many of the same people also oppose (and protest against) Israel!
- the Torah is written on animal skins (with the fur shaved off); so are the prayers in Mezzuzot that grace the doors of Jewish homes and businesses!
- felt hats are also made of animal fur -- why is it OK to use fur pressed into felt, but not in other forms? It is the same animal!
- by what logic will Israel ban fur when 97% of the population eats animals every day?! (Israel is falling into the same sort of activist trap that it asks others to oppose!)
- if the Israeli Government is concerned about animal-welfare standards in the fur trade, they should ask the Canadian, US, Danish and governments of other fur-producing countries for explanations. A ban will do nothing to improve animal welfare standards -- assuming such standards were lacking.
- OR JUST SAY YOU WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT, FUND-RAISE FOR, OR VISIT ISRAEL IF THIS HYPOCRITICAL AND VICIOUS LAW IS PASSED!
Express your concerns. If Embassies receive enough phone calls and letters, they will report this back to their government. The government made clear they would pass this law if there was no cost. It's up to all of us to show the Israeli Government that there will be a cost if they cynically decide to ban fur, to gain a few seats in their coalition!
Following are some addresses you may find useful.
Pass it on!
***************************************************************************************************************************
ISRAELI EMBASSY IN OTTAWA........
Miriam Ziv
Ambassador
Ambassador's Office
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 508
Fax: (613) 567-9878
Eliaz Luf
Deputy Head of Mission
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 509
Fax: (613) 567-9878
Orit Kremer
Second Secretary, Consul and Spokesperson
Tel: (613) 567- 6450 ext. 501
Fax: (613) 567-9878
consul@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Yasmin Vinograd
Director of Administration/Consular department
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 503
Fax: (613) 567-9878
account@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Rena Garshowitz
Director of Communications
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 507
Fax: (613) 567-9878
press@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Simonne Moscovitz
Director of Public Affairs
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 506
Fax: (613) 567-9878
publicaffairs@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
********************************************************************
ISRAELI EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON>>>>
Press office:
press@washington.mfa.gov.il
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the Press Office at: 202-364-5538.
Ambassador of Israel to US: Michael B. Oren
info@washington.mfa.gov.il
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Telephone: 202-364-5500
Found these contacts (no specific email addresses – maybe you want to address them)
Nissan Amdur - Minister Counselor for Political Affairs
Oded Joseph - Minister Counselor for Middle Eastern Affairs
Oren Anolik - Counselor for Political Affairs
Asaf Vitman – Minister of Economic Affairs
Economic Mission, Embassy of Israel
Address: 3514 International Dr. NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel: 202-364-5691
Fax: 202-364-5647
Email: ecn@israelemb.org
*******************************************************************
Israeli Trade Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
binyaminb@knesset.gov.il,
lishka.sar@moital.gov.il
From: Alan Herscovici (alanh@furcouncil.com)
Sent: August 31, 2010 10:34:35 PM
To: Alan Herscovici (alanh@furcouncil.com)
The following message is very important for our trade -- please read it, and pass it on!
We have learned that legislation to ban all trading of furs in Israel is again being considered by a Knesset committee, possibly as soon as September 2nd.
It is being driven by internal political deal-making to maintain a fragile coalition government.
Activists targeted Israel because the fur trade is of little importance in that country -- so little domestic "cost".
Activists plan to use this "precedent" to fuel similar campaigns in Europe and elsewhere...
While the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) has been working for months to control this issue -- and the Government of Canada has expressed its concern (as have the governments of Denmark, Finland, Greece and several influential US politicians), more pressure is needed.
A number of people have asked what they can do to oppose this mean-spirited and misguided legislation.
We are attaching e-addresses for the Israeli Embassies in Ottawa and Washington, as well as for several key Israeli politicians. (See below)
Letters should be in your own words, expressing your own opinions.
Following are some points you may want to include in your letters:
- the North American (and European) fur trade is a responsible, well-regulated industry.
- just as the anti-Israel lobby promotes sensationalist videos, half-truths and lies, the "animal rights" lobby does the same to discredit and isolate the fur trade. If there is one country in the world that should understand (and reject) the insidious tactics being used against the fur trade, surely it is Israel!
- Jewish people play an important role in the fur trade; attacks on the fur trade are attacks on thousands of Jewish people in North America, Europe and elsewhere. (European anti-fur propaganda has sometimes openly played on anti-semitic stereotypes.)
- arbitrary bans on fur (or any other product) contravene Israel's international trading agreements; if everyone starts banning whatever someone doesn't like, all will suffer.
- those in the fur trade who have raised money for years for Israel feel betrayed by these cynical political calculations: many will simply stop raising money or working for Israel, if Israel can treat the hard-working people of the fur trade in such a cruel and cynical way!
- no one is "obliged" to buy or wear fur -- but by what right should it be "banned" by the government? (If the public really feels that fur is "immoral", as some claim, surely consumers will refuse to buy it -- there is no need to ban it!)
- the same groups that oppose fur also oppose kosher slaughter.... and many of the same people also oppose (and protest against) Israel!
- the Torah is written on animal skins (with the fur shaved off); so are the prayers in Mezzuzot that grace the doors of Jewish homes and businesses!
- felt hats are also made of animal fur -- why is it OK to use fur pressed into felt, but not in other forms? It is the same animal!
- by what logic will Israel ban fur when 97% of the population eats animals every day?! (Israel is falling into the same sort of activist trap that it asks others to oppose!)
- if the Israeli Government is concerned about animal-welfare standards in the fur trade, they should ask the Canadian, US, Danish and governments of other fur-producing countries for explanations. A ban will do nothing to improve animal welfare standards -- assuming such standards were lacking.
- OR JUST SAY YOU WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT, FUND-RAISE FOR, OR VISIT ISRAEL IF THIS HYPOCRITICAL AND VICIOUS LAW IS PASSED!
Express your concerns. If Embassies receive enough phone calls and letters, they will report this back to their government. The government made clear they would pass this law if there was no cost. It's up to all of us to show the Israeli Government that there will be a cost if they cynically decide to ban fur, to gain a few seats in their coalition!
Following are some addresses you may find useful.
Pass it on!
***************************************************************************************************************************
ISRAELI EMBASSY IN OTTAWA........
Miriam Ziv
Ambassador
Ambassador's Office
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 508
Fax: (613) 567-9878
Eliaz Luf
Deputy Head of Mission
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 509
Fax: (613) 567-9878
Orit Kremer
Second Secretary, Consul and Spokesperson
Tel: (613) 567- 6450 ext. 501
Fax: (613) 567-9878
consul@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Yasmin Vinograd
Director of Administration/Consular department
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 503
Fax: (613) 567-9878
account@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Rena Garshowitz
Director of Communications
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 507
Fax: (613) 567-9878
press@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Simonne Moscovitz
Director of Public Affairs
Tel: (613) 567-6450 ext. 506
Fax: (613) 567-9878
publicaffairs@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
********************************************************************
ISRAELI EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON>>>>
Press office:
press@washington.mfa.gov.il
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the Press Office at: 202-364-5538.
Ambassador of Israel to US: Michael B. Oren
info@washington.mfa.gov.il
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Telephone: 202-364-5500
Found these contacts (no specific email addresses – maybe you want to address them)
Nissan Amdur - Minister Counselor for Political Affairs
Oded Joseph - Minister Counselor for Middle Eastern Affairs
Oren Anolik - Counselor for Political Affairs
Asaf Vitman – Minister of Economic Affairs
Economic Mission, Embassy of Israel
Address: 3514 International Dr. NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel: 202-364-5691
Fax: 202-364-5647
Email: ecn@israelemb.org
*******************************************************************
Israeli Trade Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
binyaminb@knesset.gov.il,
lishka.sar@moital.gov.il