Volume 3 * Issue 112 July 9, 2004

The Week’s News in Review

June 30 The Defense Ministry said it would redirect parts of the West Bank counter-terrorism fence after Israel's High Court of Justice ordered changes to 30 kilometers of the route so as to minimize hardship to Palestinians. Responding to a continuing series of Qassam rocket attacks on and near Sderot, Israel Defense Forces troops have started a major operation codenamed "Operation Front Shield " in the northern Gaza Strip area of Beit Hanun and the Jabalya refugee camp. July 1: The Israel Defense Forces has launched a counter-terror operation in Jericho and apprehended 30 wanted Palestinian terror suspects. July 2: Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom met with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington to discuss steps to promote the disengagement plan. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz said they would adhere to Israel's High Court's ruling according to which Israel's right to build a security fence had to be balanced off with the harm it causes to the Palestinians. July 5: A Palestinian terrorist planning a suicide bombing in Jerusalem in the near future was apprehended in Ramallah. The TA-100 index, which includes the 100 companies that trade at the highest values on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, crossed the 600-point watermark for the first time in its history on Thursday, after ending the day on a 0.85 percent gain at 601 points. July 8: A U.N. nuclear watchdog urged Israel to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty and open its facilities to inspection. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to condemn the 1994 attack on an Argentine Jewish center and raise concerns about its investigation.

Key Points for Israeli Advocacy

(1) Israel has demonstrated its sincere desire for peace and its readiness to make the difficult decisions required for peace. Israel is fully committed to pursuing negotiated agreements with her Arab neighbors so that it may finally live in peace and security. Israel reached historic peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan in which both sides made serious compromises for the sake of normalized relations. Through its democratic system, the Israeli electorate has voted out governments they believe have not done enough to pursue peace, just as they have voted out governments they believe have not done enough to promote their security. The Palestinian campaign of terrorism and violence has caused even those Israelis most supportive of the peace process to question the Palestinian Authority's suitability as a negotiating partner and its commitment to peaceful reconciliation with Israel. (2) There is no excuse for Palestinian terrorism. Palestinian demands and grievances can only be resolved at the negotiating table, not through violence and terrorism. Had the Palestinians shown a commitment to negotiations, Israel's ambitious plan to create a Palestinian state in the entire Gaza Strip and up to 95% of the West Bank would have already been a reality. Indeed, the Palestinian campaign of terrorism and violence has caused even those Israelis most supportive of the peace process to question the Palestinian Authority's commitment to peaceful reconciliation. (3) Israel has a right to exist in peace within secure borders. Faced with attack on its city streets, Israel has a fundamental right and an obligation to its citizens to defend itself. Source: Anti-Defamation League, http://www.adl.org/israel/advocacy

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. The next A Team meeting is Sunday August 8 in the CBI Library at 9:45. Make a difference for Israel! Questions? Ideas? Contact A Team Chairmen Jay Epstein (jhe@tampabay.rr.com) or Sheldon Scheinert (Sheldo123@aol.com). Check out our Mizrach-Israel Board in the hallway leading to the Atrium, near the Bridal Suite. Get involved!

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