The Week’s News in Review

April 8: Ariel Sharon's plan for Israeli disengagement from the Palestinians will cost around $1 billion. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) warned against the renewed threat of anti-Semitism in a Passover message. April 9: Ariel Sharon will submit his plan for Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and West Bank to his Likud Party. Hamas may take part in Palestinian elections after Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The Bush administration won't impose further aid penalties for now, after Israel rerouted its West Bank security barrier. Palestinians rallied in support of Iraqi insurgents fighting the United States. April 14: Security has been increased for the opening of Budapest's new Holocaust museum after police thwarted a terrorist plot. Tombstones were desecrated at two Jewish cemeteries in Ontario. Twelve protesters were hurt in a clash over Israel's West Bank security barrier. A Likud politician is emerging as the most vocal opponent of Ariel Sharon's plan for Israeli disengagement from the Palestinians. April 15: Yasser Arafat reaffirmed the Palestinian demand for a "right of return," saying Washington was wrong to back Israel on the issue. Israeli forces on a tunnel-hunting mission in the Gaza Strip clashed with Palestinian gunmen. The European Union cautiously backed Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Israel's police chief predicted a surge of Palestinian violence in response to President Bush's support for Israel. An Israeli basketball team celebrated its prestigious European championship. April 16: Ariel Sharon reportedly will resign as Israeli prime minister if he fails to win party support for his Gaza withdrawal plan. Israel plans to dismantle 28 illegal West Bank settlement outposts in coming weeks. Palestinians tried to storm Jerusalem's Temple Mount during Friday prayers. April 18: The head of Hamas, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, was killed in a helicopter missile strike on his car. April 19: The timing of Israel's assassination of a Hamas leader was "not helpful," Condoleezza Rice said. Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism, Sen. John Kerry said. Sen. John Kerry recalled the loss of his own relatives in the Holocaust to mark Yom Hashoah. April 20: Jordan's king postponed a White House meeting, demanding that President Bush clarify his support for Israeli diplomatic positions.

Talking Points: Defending Israeli Actions Against Terrorist Leaders

On April 18, Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi was killed by IDF forces. (1) Rantisi was a radical terrorist leader who joyfully and publicly gloated and celebrated over the murder of innocent men, women, and children. He sought to destroy any peace initiative and called for the destruction of Israel by force of arms. He believed that violence was the only option, and was committed to fostering terrorism in Iraq and throughout the Western world. He was a doctor of death, turning his craft from the healing of children to the killing of children. (2) Had it been possible to arrest Rantisi, while minimizing harm to civilian life, Israel would have done so. But in the absence of any cooperation from the Palestinian Authority and any viable means of arrest, Israel is sometimes left no choice but to target those who plan, orchestrate, and execute the murder of our innocent civilians. (3) The targeting of Rantisi was not merely a necessary defensive act to prevent ongoing and planned attacks against innocent civilians. It is part of the global struggle against terrorism that has been thrust upon all of us. It sends a clear message that those who deal in terrorism - those who have exported airplane hijackings, kidnappings, and suicide bombings to the world - will have no immunity. Ambassador Dan Gillerman (Israel's UN Mission), Statement to the UN Security Council, 19 April 2004.

Advocacy for Israel Committee Information

The Advocacy for Israel Committee was formed in September of 2001 to organize pro-Israeli activities and to rally support in the form of Hasbara. Please join us for what we are sure will be an interesting night with Chief Deputy James Coats of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on April 28^th at 7:00 pm at CBI. Deputy Coats recently visited Israel and will share his unique perspective. The next A Team meeting is Sunday May 16 in the CBI Library at 9:45. Make a difference for Israel! For more information, email A Team Chairmen Jay Epstein (jhe@tampabay.rr.com) or Sheldon Scheinert (Sheldo123@aol.com). Get involved!

Speaking out for Israel so that "Never Again" shall Jewish silence lead to an indifferent world