WE ARE FOR ISRAEL: Five Years in Captivity

This weekend Israel marks the fact that Gilead Shalit has been held in captivity by the Hamas for five long years. He was kidnapped from Israeli territory in a cross-border raid and was smuggled to an undisclosed location where he has been held ever since.

In contravention of international humanitarian law, Hamas has repeatedly refused appeals from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit him. Indeed, the only knowledge of his condition comes from a DVD that Israel received in return for releasing 20 Palestinian female prisoners back in October 2009.

Frustrated by Hamas’ refusal to allow the ICRC to visit Gilead, Prime Minister Netanyahu has just announced that Palestinian terrorists being held in Israeli prisons will no longer be able to study for degrees through the Open University. Such is the difference between Israel’s treatment of prisoners and the behaviour of Hamas.

Meanwhile, those gentle souls who are planning yet another flotilla to Gaza have yet to appeal on Gilead’s behalf. It should be noted that the Hamas government in Gaza is aided and abetted by Iran, who have sent their Revolutionary Guard to assist President Bashar al-Assad in brutally repressing protests in Syria. To date, there are no plans to send a flotilla to Syria….

We Are For Israel - Advocacy

Where Our Advocacy Differs

Singling Out Israel for Criticism – We believe that it is illegitimate to single out Israel for blame and censure in respect of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Even in the context of “blaming both sides,” offering general criticism of the Palestinians while specifically condemning Israeli policies and actions amounts to a double standard that obscures history in a morally questionable manner.

Seeking Unilateral Concessions from Israel – We believe that pressing Israel alone to make concessions is not only unjustified but frequently motivated by political interests, naivety, ignorance, misinformation or even anti-Semitism. Any concessions should be made in the context of the peace process and should be reciprocal in nature.

Advocating Boycotts, Divestment or Sanctions against Israel – We believe that actions designed to weaken Israel’s economy and harm her society should be viewed as being anti-Israel and must be opposed by Israel advocates. Those favoring these tactics are functionally negotiating for the Palestinian side and diminishing the likelihood that the Palestinians will enter into peace negotiations themselves.

Seeking Action by the United States to Pressure Israel to Yield to Palestinian Demands – We believe that America should support Israel in its efforts to negotiate a secure and lasting peace with the Palestinians by working with Israel and the Palestinians to reach that goal. America should not work against Israel on behalf of the Palestinians by pressuring Israel to accept Palestinian demands while receiving nothing in return. The mere appearance of one-sided pressure on Israel fosters Palestinian intransigence and encourages their refusal to come to the negotiating table. This tactic is neither pro-Israel, nor pro-peace.

Obscuring Palestinian Obligations and Commitments – We believe that heightening awareness of Palestinian obligations and responsibilities is a pre-requisite for advancing the peace process.  We believe this to be an essential part of Israel advocacy. These commitments include actively combating the use of violence against Israel, ending the glorification of those who have committed acts of violence, and ceasing the incitement of hatred against Israel and against Jews, especially in school curricula and in state sponsored media. Peace should be promoted.

Criticizing Israel When Israel Acts to Ensure the Safety of Her Citizens – We believe that Israel has an absolute right to self-defense. The only way to reduce significantly the need for heightened defenses – including the naval blockade of Gaza and the West Bank security barrier – is through the peace process. When difficult choices must be made between the safety of Israel’s citizens and the needs or convenience of Palestinians, the right to self-defense must come first.

Turning Support for Israel into a Partisan Issue – We believe that our advocacy should not be motivated or influenced by political party affiliation. The best course for Israeli advocacy is a non-partisan approach that welcomes support for Israel from all and eschews it from none.

Demeaning or Vilifying Israel’s Elected Leaders – We believe that Israel’sdemocratically elected leaders, no matter what their political leanings, should be treated with respect and offered support in the pursuit of the goals of security, prosperity, and peace.

Careless Words Exploited by Israel’s Detractors and Enemies – We believe that we must consider how others might use, distort or manipulate our words in reference to Israel. We have seen and heard the words of Jewish leaders and organizations, often offered out of concern for Israel, utilized by those who seek to harm her. This is especially so in the case of those promoting the use of divestment schemes.

We Are For Israel - Mission Statement

Introduction

We Are For Israel is a forum of people who support Israel, who are deeply concerned by the drift in much of world opinion that has made it legitimate to single out Israel for blame and censure in respect of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

While we recognize that Israel shares some responsibility for the current state of affairs, we believe that the roots of the conflict and its broader dimensions are much more complex than is generally presented.

Attempts by Israel’s detractors to lay the blame for the lack of progress toward peace at her door while pressing her alone to make concessions are not only unjustified, but frequently motivated by political interests, naivety, ignorance, misinformation or even anti-Semitism.

We are particularly concerned by the manner in which some organizations within the Jewish community, which profess to care for Israel and her well-being, advocate that pressure be applied upon her to make unilateral concessions. Similar demands are not made of the Palestinians to respond in kind if at all. We believe that such advocacy, which results in intransigence and increased demands from the Palestinians, does not advance the cause of peace. In discrediting Israel publicly, such organizations not only weaken support for her but also serve the interests of her detractors and enemies.

At a time when it has become fashionable to castigate Israel for unrest in the Middle East and elsewhere, we appeal to Jews everywhere to respond to criticism of Israel with support and to advocate on her behalf.

We ask that rabbis who agree with the Mission Statement below add their names to the Rabbinical Signatory List – “Rabbis For Israel,” demonstrating their support for our mission.

Others, Jews and non-Jews alike, who are in agreement with our Mission Statement may sign on as Cantors, Professionals in Jewish organizations, Presidents of Jewish organizations, Academicians and Authors, Journalists and Bloggers, as Students For Israel, or simply as Supporters of We Are For Israel showing their support for “Rabbis For Israel.” Rabbinical and Cantorial students may sign on as Rabbinical or Cantorial students.

The link to sign the Mission Statement is found at the bottom of this page and by clicking on this link. The Mission Statement follows.

We Are For Israel – Mission Statement

A Lasting and Secure Peace for Israel

• We, the undersigned, believe that Israel has a legitimate right to exist as a sovereign, democratic Jewish state in the historic homeland of the Jewish people. We support a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that will recognize two independent states, a Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace, security, and prosperity.
• We call upon the Arab and Muslim world to accept unequivocally and publicly Israel’s permanent right to exist in peace.

Sovereignty

• We believe that any resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict will require Israel to cede sovereignty over most of the West Bank and will need to address the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians concerning Jerusalem, a city that is holy to three religions.
• Palestinian claims for a right of return will need to find their resolution within the Palestinian state once established.

Teaching Tolerance and Peace

• We call upon Muslim and Christian religious leaders to establish frameworks in their own communities to oppose messages of hatred and violence against Israel, to work toward developing a spirit of mutual understanding, tolerance and peace with Jews, and to encourage the strengthening of peaceful relationships and partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians.
• We call upon that the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and their agents to cease using the media, mosques and textbooks to foster and incite hatred against Israel and the Jewish People.

Support for Israel

• We call upon leaders in the Jewish community to support Israel in their public statements and express any concerns they may have with great caution and considerable forethought given the manner in which their views are likely to be manipulated to Israel’s detriment by those who use every opportunity to vilify her.

The Use of Violence

• We call upon Palestinian political and religious leaders to denounce the use of violent Jihad, and demand that the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and their agents cease all forms of support, complicity and participation in or glorification of terrorist activities.

Moral Equivalency

• We recognize Israel’s moral right to defend her citizens against attacks emanating from the Palestinian territories. To demand that Israel forgo the right to defend her citizens in order to improve the lot of the Palestinians, without the latter abandoning their call for violent resistance, is neither moral nor ethical. As such, we reject the moral equivalency that some would draw between the suffering of the Palestinians and the lasting psychological trauma not to mention literal endangerment of life with which Israelis have to contend.

Israel’s Defense

• We call upon the international community and media to recognize that any resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict will demand that Israel’s very real security concerns be addressed, particularly in the light of the key role played by Iran and Syria in arming and training Israel’s enemies.