Subject: Support Israel: National Unity Coalition
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 00:55:14 +0000
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
To: rb@rb.org.il
From: "Root & Branch Association, Ltd." <rbranch@netvision.net.il>
Subject: R&B INFORMATION SERVICES: "JEWISH GRANDMOTHER UNITES
ESTHER LEVENS TAKES ON WASHINGTON" by
Susan Rosenbluth
R&B INFORMATION SERVICES: "JEWISH GRANDMOTHER UNITES CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
FOR ISRAEL: ESTHER LEVENS TAKES ON WASHINGTON"
by Olga Barrekette and Susan L. Rosenbluth
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 3, Root & Branch: For the past four years,
Esther Levens, a petite, deceptively gentle Jewish grandmother, has been
organizing American Christians and Jews who are fervent supporters of a
secure and intact Jewish state. Through her Voices United for Israel and
National Unity Conference for Israel, she sees to it that her constituency
makes itself visible in Washington.
A native of Kansas, Mrs. Levens has always been certain of Israels support
among grassroots Americans. Her mission, she says, is to unite all the
various groups under one umbrella so that their numbers can be felt.
Although Mrs. Levens punctuates her pronouncements with frequent inquiries
such as What do you think? or Dont you think so? there is never any doubt
that she personifies steely determination, sharp political
insight, and astonishing competence.
The result of her efforts is the National Unity Coalition, a conglomerate
of some 200 Christian and Jewish partner organizations all pulling for the
Jewish state. Mrs. Levens does not know if her success came through prayer,
personal charm, or magic talent, but each year, the Coalition holds a
conference in Washington and many receptions and forums in the Senate and
House office buildings.
"We want to enable Senators and Representatives to attend and still be
available to vote as needed," she says.
She is now mounting an effort to reverse President Clintons
tilt toward the Palestinians.
"Now is the time for our people to take immediate action and call
the Presidents actions what they are: an abandonment of Israels
interests, a betrayal of our solemn promise, a rewarding of terrorism and
tyranny," she says.
Reversing the President
The National Unity Coalition maintains that the President has humiliated
the democratically elected Prime Minister of Israel by refusing to meet
with him and meeting instead with his political foes. Further, the groups
statement says, the Clinton Administration continues publicly to blame
Israel for its own failure to maintain the coalition against Saddam Hussein.
In fact, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, France, and Russia sense US waffling and
feel neither led nor protected by us. The Arab states, in particular, fear
US weakness and the need to appease Iraq. The Iraqi crisis has nothing to
do with Israeli peace policy. It has everything to do with Clintons lack of
resolve. Scapegoating Israel is a cover-up for
this failure, says Mrs. Levens.
In pressuring Israel to conced more territory to the PLO while ignoring PLO
non-compliance with its signed agreements, Mr. Clinton is issuing a blatant
invitation for the Palestinians to murder more innocent people, she adds.
Members of her coalition have been asking Congressmen and Senators with
whom they have developed close ties to repudiate the Presidents emerging
policy.
One of the ways the National Unity Coalition maintains those ties in
through events such as the one held in November as a vehicle to honor
several Congressmen and Senators for their leadership roles in defending
Israels rights. Among those honored were Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sen.
Bob Graham (D-FL), Rep Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Rep Jim Saxton (R-NJ), all
of whom received the Coalitions Guardian of Israel award.
Freedom of Religion
Mr. Brownback, who serves as chairman of the Middle East Sub-committee on
the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, described the growing danger of
Chinas sales of chemical technology to Iran, which is actively building an
arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Brownback also spoke of his
commitment to world-wide religious freedom and the need to struggle against
those regimes who currently deprive
their own citizens of that right.
Also on the program was Kay Arthur, head of the Christian Precept
Ministries, who, in an emotional talk, spoke of the Biblical testimony of
the Jewish people and their ultimate right to the land of Israel.
The keynote speaker was David Bar-Illan, a spokesman for Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Describing the Israelis first-hand experience
with terror, he said, We have never had as bad a wave of terror as we have
suffered since the beginning of the Oslo agreement. It is the per capita
equivalent of 12,000 Americans killed.
Useless Letter
He recalled that, before signing the Oslo agreement in 1993, the late Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin insisted on a letter from Palestinian Authority
leader Yasir Arafat guaranteeing that the Palestinian Covenant calling for
the destruction of Israel would be abolished and that terror would be
fought to the hilt.
Instead, terrorism is encouraged; its perpetrators glorified in schools;
and Israel does not exist on any map printed anywhere in the Arab world,
said Mr. Bar-Illan.
Still, he said, Israel must continue negotiating with the Palestinians. We
believe, despite everything, that peace is attainable, he said. However, he
said, the task depended on the US understanding its duty and its interest
to make terrorism and violence unacceptable in the process.
That is the only chance for peace in the Middle East, and in that, you can
help, Mr. Bar-Illan told the Coalition.
Solid Polls
Like most of Mrs. Levens events, the reception and forum was a success.
Coalition members who participated left Washington with a renewed sense of
commitment to Israel and a determination to let other Senators and
Congressmen know it.
Mrs. Levens feels the odds are with her. According to polls, despite
millions of dollars spent on Arab propaganda, the vast majority of
Americans support Israel over the Arabs. Mrs. Levens sees her task as
bolstering Washingtons wobbly ethical base.
If we can succeed in being heard on Capitol Hill, we will be well on the
way to changing the moral compass of America, she says.
More Enthusiasm
With her husband, who died just before she founded Voices United, Mrs.
Levens had been an active supporter of Sen. Bob Dole. They served together
on the US holocaust Council and on several national education advisory
committees. In addition, they were heavily involved in AIPAC, which her
husband served as a member of the executive committee. Now Mrs. Levens
devotes her time to ensuring what she feels is proper support for
Israel.
Last April, the fourth annual National Unity Conference for Israel in
Washington attracted some 3,000 participants - about the same number as
attended the AIPAC convention, which was held at the same time a few blocks
away. But as some participants who attended both events attest, there was
far more enthusiasm and unity of purpose at Mrs. Levens affair.
There was no dissension among the National Unity participants on their
combined message that Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital solely of
Israel, that settlement in Judea and Samaria must be supported, and that
terrorism must be eliminated. With seemingly no divisiveness, the National
Unity Conference passed a Resolution of Solidarity spelling out the various
groups demand that no further negotiations with the
Palestinian Authority take place until the PA is in compliance with the
agreements already signed. The Conference also demanded compliance from the
US with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 which stipulates that the new US
Embassy be in pace in Jerusalem by 1999.
To learn more about Voices United for Israel and the National Unity
Coalition, contact Mrs. Levens at 3965 W 83rd St., Shawnee Mission, KS
66208. Her phone number is (913) 432-7900; the fax is (913) 432-7997; and
the e-mail address is [VoicesUnited@mindspring.com].
Shalom,
Susan Rosenbluth
Englewood, New Jersey
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SUSAN ROSENBLUTH is Editor and Publisher
of "The Jewish Voice & Opinion, Inc."
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