Sierra Club’s Hypocrisy: Yes to Communist China, But Trips to Democratic Israel Canceled

March 14, 2022

SWC: Environmental Pioneer Feeding Deadly Toxic Double Standard of Anti-Semitism by Caving to Extremists’ Lies about Jewish State

Los Angeles - The Simon Wiesenthal Center is urging the Sierra Club to reinstate its trips to Israel, after one was canceled with just a few days’ notice.

A protest to Dan Chu, Sierra Club Foundation Executive Director from Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC Associate Dean and Global Social Action Director, read in part; “Sierra Club, historically a pioneer in creating an environmentally clean world, has suddenly become an anti-Semitic polluter by caving to extremist anti-peace groups who seek to demonize, delegitimize, and eliminate the democratic Jewish State,” charged Cooper.

“We do not believe for one moment that such a draconian move came about because of a single email. Whether your leadership and supporters are aware of the sudden cancellation of regular trips to Israel -- a country deeply involved in environmental issues -- the Sierra Club was subject to a coordinated campaign by extremists. Your organization made no attempt to verify the allegations made by the hit squad of anti-Israel propagandists which according to media reports include anti-Zionist groups, including the pro-Palestinian Adalah Justice Project; the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), the NDN Collective; the Campaign for the Boycott of Israel; Jewish Voice for Peace; the Sunrise Movement; and the Movement for Black Lives.”

“We note that the Sierra Club continues to promote multiple visits to Communist China whose regime is guilty of a genocide against the Uighur minority, destroys Christian Churches and crushed the people of Hong Kong.”

 

“Human rights icon Natan Sharansky has defined the 3Ds of contemporary anti-Semitism: Double standard. Demonization. Delegitimization. With its cancellation of its trips to Israel, the Sierra Club is guilty of a dangerous double standard that feeds deadly toxic anti-Semitism of these anti-Israel extremists.”

 

Mr. Chu, we take note that the Sierra Club identifies one of its motivating goals as ‘standing up to the hate and intolerance that divide people and prevent progress’. The sudden and unjust decision made by the Sierra Club makes a mockery of its stated goal. Boycotting the Jewish state feeds hate and intolerance, divides people and prevents progress toward the hoped-for goal of peace in the Holy Land.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center therefore, urges the Sierra Club to immediately rescind this unjust draconian move and to distance your organization from anti-peace and anti-reconciliation extremists.

For further information contact the Center’s Communications department at pressinquiries@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).