World 1967 Borders from page 23 Special spring offer, a years subscription of the Detroit Jewish News This special offer runs through the end of May! vote at the U.N. would not create a Palestinian state. And he said the Hamas-Fatah reunification pact repre- sents an enormous obstacle to peace. "No country can be expected to negotiate with a terrorist organization sworn to its destruction:' Obama said. "We will continue to demand that Hamas accept the basic responsibili- ties of peace: recognizing Israel's right to exist, rejecting violence and adher- ing to all existing agreements. And we once again call on Hamas to release Gilad Shalit, who has been kept from his family for five long years." So what is the Obama administra- tion's game plan for the next few months? Obama declared in both his speeches that the United States can- not impose a settlement upon the parties; they must decide on their own to reach accord. But with events rapidly reshap- ing the neighborhood around Israel, from regime change in Egypt to the violence in Syria to the recent recon- ciliation between Fatah and Hamas, is it enough for Obama merely to lay out his vision? "For us to have leverage with the Palestinians, with the Arab states and with the international community, the basis for negotiations has to hold out the prospect of success:' Obama said Sunday. With no sign of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations getting back on track, however, the prospect of success appears far off. fl See related opinion piece on page 29. Birthright Calls New campaign going well despite tough economic climate. *Offer applies for in-state subscriptions only Stewart Ain on a free 10-day trip to Israel. Major funding has come from a partnership of a small group of mega-donors, the t's been hailed widely as a way to Jewish federations and the govern- keep the younger generation of ment of Israel. Jews in the fold, so to speak. And Outreach to alumni for fund- ifs been panned by some as a thin ing may not be as fruitful as hoped, exercise in Jewish solidarity, long on according to Leonard Saxe, director of party atmosphere and short on sub- Brandeis University's Cohen Center for stance. Modern Jewish Studies as well as its But one thing is certain: Birthright Steinhardt Social Research Institute. Israel is shaping up to be something of He co-authored a study examining the a philanthropic outlier. impact of Birthright Israel on alumni At a time when five to nine years after fundraising by non- their visit and said, "This profits continues to generation has a different decline — the Jewish connection to money. Federations of North "They see it as neces- America reported a sary; however it is not a $13 million drop last goal but rather a means:' year compared with Saxe said. "They don't 2009 — contributors want their relationship appear to be flock- with the Jewish com- ing to the new cam- munity to be defined in paign launched by terms of money." the Birthright Israel Jesse Silver, 25, who Foundation. is engaged to a woman The number of donors has he met on a Birthright Israel trip last increased nearly four-fold — to summer, agreed that it is "a slow- 12,500 — as the campaign has begun moving process for people to not view reaching out to alumni and their par- Birthright as simply a free trip to ents over the last three years. The goal Israel." is to increase the number of annual But he said he has two friends who Birthright Israel participants world- are doing a bike ride to raise money wide from 32,000 this year to 51,000 for Birthright. for 2013. "It's an introduction to the Jewish The program, begun in 1999, has community that one pays back over a sent nearly 300,000 youngsters 18-26 lifetime of service, either philanthropi- New York Jewish Week I Turn your old GOLD into CASH! We will buy ALL of your precious metals, diamonds & watches. Log on to JNonline.us giveaways • forums • calendars VISIT JNonline.us 24 May 26 2011 Birthright wants 51,000 participants in 2013, seeking donations big and small.