Subject: Voices United for Israel Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 23:55:13 +0000 To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
From: "Pam Staley" <daystar@i1.net> To: "Hebraic Heritage" <heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com> Subject: Voices United for Israel Please note that my dad had the wrong email address and url in his posting: The correct info is: VoicesUnited@mindspring.com or you can reach me at daystar@i1.net http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/3850/ Thanks Pam Staley http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1776 - Mesharet -The Servant ************************************************************************** From: Ron Frierdich To: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com 3965 W. 83rd St. Suite 292 Shawnee Mission, KS 66208-5308 913-432-7900 FAX 913-432-7997 E-mail: VoicesUnited@mindspring.com 1707 L Street NW Suite 1010 Washington, DC 20036-4208 202-887-1105 FAX 202-887-1907 E-mail: Voices@ricochet.net St. Louis, MO 314-566-6184 daystar@i1.net VOICES UNITED FOR ISRAEL On January 19, 1998 the National Unity Coalition for Israel made a strong statement to the Jewish left and the State Department by gathering an impressive showing of Zionist support among grassroots Jews and Christians. With less than ten days notice, over 1500 supporters of Israel responded. Many came to Washington at their own expense to show political support and personal affection for Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Clinton administration intended to distance itself from the Netanyahu government by avoiding the usual protocol - no joint press conference, no formal dinner, Netanyahu was not hosted at an official government residence. At a time when Congress was not in session, Clinton tried to isolate Netanyahu and show him that US support for a strong secure Israel was waning. Our meeting at the Mayflower showed that US support for Israel is very much alive. In the weeks since our meeting various interpreters of the political scene have been trying to explain how such an event occurred. For those of us who planned it, these reports have been frustrating - and laughable. Jerry Falwell did not organize this meeting. While he has been blamed or credited (depending on your point of view) for it, the host of college students, women's Bible study groups and assorted middle class Americans, both Jews and Christians, who make up the National Unity Coalition really deserve the credit or blame. Contrary to reports, financial backing from right-wing extremists never seems to come our way. We function as we always have, with volunteer workers who pay their own way and small gifts from ordinary people who think Israel's security is extraordinarily important. Some Jewish groups are fearful of the influence of the "Christian Right." To these groups we want to make it very clear that NUC is not a religious organization. The over 200 partner organizations have both religious and secular membership. Our one issue is: working together for a safe and secure Israel. Each group has its own religious or philosophical reasons for supporting Israel. We simply forbid proselytizing and gather to tell Israel's story to the press, the Congress and the American people. Some Jewish leaders were willing to cooperate in efforts to pressure Israel and to give the impression of complete lack of Jewish communal support for the Prime Minister's nationalist pro-security message. We suspect that many in the Jewish establishment have been seduced by State Department Arabists and others into false hopes for peace via compromise. We wonder why those who claim to carry the mantel of pro-Israel support in the US spend so much time savaging Netanyahu and lobbying Congress to pressure Israel into accommodating terrorists and terrorist instigators like Arafat. We upset the establishment when our cheering throng of pro-Israel activists dwarfed the State Department's efforts to insult and pressure the Israeli government. For this we do not apologize. The National Unity Coalition wishes to say "thank you" to the multitudes of supporters who responded on such short notice either by coming to the Mayflower Hotel or those who were with us in spirit. We cannot hope to correct all the misinformation running rampant about our January 19 meeting. We are happy to speak with any who have fears about our group and it's agenda. We are not part of some vast "right wing" conspiracy. But we are not going to be intimidated into silence. We will continue to tell Israel's story to friends and foes alike. Welcome Rally for Netanyahu May Have Changed History Surprising turn-out proves America still supports Israel Please drop us a line and include your name, address and email if you would like to be on our mailing list. Voices United for Israel ***********************************************************************