“We returned from Israel strengthened in the conviction that the growing relationship between the Latino and Jewish communities in both domestic and international affairs holds great promise for both sides,” says the statement.  “We believe that Latinos and Jews can jointly contribute to the shaping of U.S. foreign policy.”

The statement is believed to be the first time a group of Latino leaders have spoken out on international issues. The Latino leaders in their statement “affirm the right of the state of Israel to exist in peace within secure borders. “We will encourage support among our communities and fellow Hispanic leaders for peaceful coexistence and a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

Additionally, the Latino leaders called on the Jewish community to work together on issues of concern in Latin America. “What happens in Latin America affects both the American Latino and Jewish communities,” said the statement.

For AJC the deepening engagement with the Latino community is accomplished principally through its Latin America and Latino Institute, which organized the visit to Israel. The institute’s director, Dina Siegel Vann, joined with 13 Latino leaders in signing the statement. She accompanied the group to Israel in April. Project Interchange is an AJC program designed to introduce American leaders from different ethnic and faith groups to Israel through a one-week educational seminar in the country.

“We call for greater cooperation between Latinos and Jews in fighting bigotry and prejudice of all forms in America life, and in advancing the representation and portrayal of Hispanics and immigrants in American media and culture.

The full statement follows:

A Statement of Latino and Jewish Joint Purpose

A delegation of U.S. Hispanic leaders traveled to Israel in April 2006, co-sponsored by the Latino and Latin American Institute of the American Jewish Committee and Project Interchange, and co-hosted by the National Council of La Raza.  This unprecedented joint initiative came just days after both Israel’s national elections and the swearing in of the new Hamas-led government among the Palestinians. 

Our journey to Israel leads us to issue this statement of purpose in two areas:

First, we want to affirm the relevance of the Jewish American experience to Hispanics in the United States.  We are both diasporas – peoples who have settled outside their ancestral homes -- that have endured prejudice.  There are further historical, cultural and increasing pragmatic connections between Latino and Jewish communities across the country.  We believe in the great potential of enhancing our collaboration at all levels. 

Second, we believe that Hispanics can no longer delay greater involvement in foreign policy.  Israel and the U.S. are allies, and like all Americans we are affected by and concerned with Israel’s challenges, policies and conflicts.  What happens in Latin America, on the other hand, also affects both the American Latino and Jewish communities.  Together we should advocate for our country’s deeper involvement with and commitment to the welfare of the Americas.

Our Commitments

Foreign Policy

We commit ourselves individually and as a group to remain engaged in foreign policy and to work with our constituencies to do so as well.  We believe that Latinos and Jews can jointly contribute to the shaping of U.S. foreign policy.  In so doing, we recognize that we must confront the central challenges of the U.S. role in the world, in addition to advancing our particular concerns relating to Latin America or the Middle East.

That said, we affirm the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace within secure borders, as well as the bonds of friendship between Israel and the United States.  We will encourage support among our communities and fellow Hispanic leaders for peaceful coexistence and a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  We also affirm our commitment to advancing stability and prosperity for our American neighborhood, and look to working with the Jewish community toward this end as well.

Domestic Challenges

Israel remains in certain ways an evolving country, still in the process of defining its identity and borders.  Given the current immigration debate in the U.S., we also face basic questions, such as what it means to be a country of immigrants today.  Latino-Jewish dialogue and cooperation is vital in this area.

We will continue to learn from the examples set by the American Jewish community and Israel that are so needed among Hispanics in the U.S., including the impressive level of philanthropy which supports both small and large-scale community needs, and programs incorporating immigrants into society in both countries.

We also call for greater cooperation between Latinos and Jews in fighting bigotry and prejudice of all forms in American life, and in advancing the representation and portrayal of Hispanics and immigrants in American media and culture.

We returned from Israel strengthened in the conviction that the growing relationship between the Latino and Jewish communities in both domestic and international affairs holds great promise for both sides.  Hardly a day passes that we are not reminded of the need to continue building this relationship with all deliberate speed.

Affiliations for purposes of identification only