The new year is almost upon us and these are very difficult days for Israel. I know that many of us are concerned about the Palestinian Authority’s campaign for recognition by the UN. I am deeply concerned as well which is why I wanted to send you a few resources. This is a bit longer than usual, but please read the entire message.
Get Informed:The following information is from the Israel Action Network (IAN), a strategic initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America, in partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, to counter the assault on Israel’s legitimacy. Israel today faces an intensive and increasingly sophisticated assault on its right to exist as a sovereign democratic Jewish state. The IAN was created to educate, organize and mobilize the organized North American Jewish community to develop strategic approaches to countering these assaults and develop innovative efforts to change the conversation about Israel and achieving peace and security for two states for two peoples. Their website contains talking points about the United Declaration of Independence that the Palestinians seem determined to present to the UN this week. A few key points are included below:
Why is the United Declaration of Independence (UDI) problematic?
* International recognition will not alter the reality on the ground nor move Israelis and Palestinians any closer towards resolving their long-standing conflict. History has shown that the peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors were the result of negotiations between the parties themselves. In this case as well, peace will only be achieved in direct negotiations, whereas UDI will likely drive a deeper wedge between the two parties.
* UDI repudiates a core principle of the peace process – that the solution to the conflict can only come as a result of direct and bilateral negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Unilateral actions harden the positions of extremists on both sides, reducing the chances of future peace.UDI undermines previous agreements, particularly violating the Interim Agreement of 1995 (“Oslo II”) that specifically rejected unilateral moves that would change the status of the West Bank and Gaza.
* UDI leaves unresolved all final status and core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including: Jerusalem, refugees, water, borders and settlements.
* The Palestinian UN maneuvers may have implications for the situation on the ground. Reports indicate that the Palestinians are planning demonstrations to coincide with UDI and the likely disappointment from the lack of changed conditions could spark violent confrontations.
For more, check out: http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=246155
Speak Up:
1) Take a moment to sign the petition against a unilaterally declared Palestine. This petition has been endorsed by our local Federation as well as the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue.
https://jcrcny.wufoo.com/forms/petition-against-a-unilaterally-declared-palestine/
2) Write to President Obama and thank him for his promise to veto any Security Council resolution, and write to your member of Congress and Senators thanking them for their support of Israel. AIPAC has a quick way to write to your representatives:
http://www.aipac.org/legislative-agenda/oppose-palestinian-statehood-bid-at-un
Thank you for taking the time to support Israel. Let us hope and pray that even during these difficult times, Israel may yet still know peace with her neighbors.