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Progressive Zionist and Environmental Organizations Announce Partnership

Israel's environment faces serious challenges. Air pollution has been linked to the death of more than a thousand Israelis annually, toxic waste continues to plague the Bedouin community of the Negev, and water shortages threaten any future peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

In light of this situation, Ameinu and the Green Zionist Alliance (GZA), two national Zionist organizations, have entered into an agreement to promote sustainable environmentalism in Israel and create bonds between environmental activists within the Jewish community and their counterparts in Israel. Ameinu, which means 'our people' in Hebrew, works for a two state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, economic empowerment amongst Israel's poorest citizens, and promotes minority rights in Israel. The Green Zionist Alliance is comprised of environmentally concerned Jews who care about the country, the people, and the land of Israel, and are passionately committed to creating a peaceful, pluralistic, and sustainable society. Through this partnership, the two organizations hope to bring a new awareness and focus to the preservation of Israel's environment to the Jews of North America.

Utilizing Ameinu's national membership network and the GZA's environmental activists, a joint educational campaign will be conducted to raise awareness of Israel's environmental concern across the North American Jewish community. Ameinu has also invited GZA Press Secretary Dr. Daniel Orenstein to represent it on the Jewish National Fund Board of Trustees. Dr. Orenstein’s background includes work with the Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael in Israel and has taught at Hebrew University, the WUJS Institute, and at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.

Dr. Orenstein said of his appointment to the JNF Board on behalf of Ameinu, "to love Israel is to love the people, the land and all it represents. As American Jewry we have done a great job showing our love of the people, now it's time to show our love for the land. We have a strong voice through our dollars and through our ideas. This partnership will allow us to begin to use that voice to work for a sustainable Israel, a country that protects the people and the land we love so dearly."

Kenneth Bob, President of Ameinu added, "our partnership with the Green Zionists expands our work with grassroots activists in Israel and helps us fulfill our mission of creating a personal relationship for American Jews with Israeli society."

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