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
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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
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