Facts Trump Rhetoric at DC Israel Rally Vigil
by Lori Lowenthal Marcus, , May 20, 2009
Washington, DC Israel Vigil
For more than three hours sign-clad Israel-supporters sang and chanted and talked about the existential threats posed by both a nuclear Iran and a Palestinian State. The crowd was unabashed in its support, and the vigil continued for several hours.
Based on the current emanations from Washington, many Israel supporters have begun to fear that the present US government no longer shares Israel’s view of what is the best strategy for stabilizing the Middle East. The concern is that the new US compulsion to make friends with the Arab leadership in the region may now trump its previous stalwart allegiance to what has always been its closest ally in the Middle East - Israel.
Although few in the crowd actually believed that their presence was likely to have an impact on the geopolitical wrestling going on in the White House, they still felt compelled to be there.
“About a week before Netanyahu’s visit, committed Zionists began circulating emails asking who was going to be in Washington representing our viewpoint,” said New Yorker Hillary Markowitz of AMCHA, a grassroots organization started by Rabbi Avi Weiss, “and I realized I had to do it because no one else had yet committed.”
Markowitz obtained a permit for a pro-Israel vigil in Lafayette Park across from the White House, organized buses to take New York area supporters to and from Washington, and began an email blitz publicizing the vigil.
In just a few days people rearranged their lives to converge on Washington. In addition to more than two bus loads from New York, others came from up and down the east coast. There were Christian Zionist supporters who made the trip all the way from Orlando in order to inform the two statesmen of the importance of Israel’s safety and sanctity. The largest organizational contingent was from Chabad, which brought large signs and even larger voices.
Elliot Holtz, a Philadelphian who had never before traveled outside of his hometown to attend a political demonstration explained why he made this trip: “The critical importance of President Obama hearing the message of ‘no pressure on Israel for the sake of dialogging with Iran’ was worth my day.”
While the pro-Israel crowd numbered fewer than a thousand, “those present were actually better than if thousands had arrived because they were so highly motivated,” Laban Seyoum, an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian who was present, later told pro-Israel activist Jerry Gordon of Florida.
Unlike many other demonstrations about the Middle East, the supporters of Israel far outnumbered those who showed up to demonize Israel. Of course, a few Code Pink (gay rights extremists - think the Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s analog to the civil rights movement) members came, hoping to attract attention with their street theater antics.
They were dressed as Israeli police officers — in pink, of course — with cardboard cutout machine guns and large displays representing the Israeli checkpoints. When told that in the Muslim Middle East homosexuality is strictly prohibited, the practice of which is punishable by death, the young woman blowing on her police whistle was incredulous. Her fall back position was to insist that Israelis kill gays. Confronted with the news that gay Arab Palestinians actually go to Tel Aviv in order to be openly gay without fear of murder, she simply walked away. They don’t let facts interfere with their rhetoric.
But it wasn’t only the ladies in pink who repeatedly demonstrated their ignorance of facts, and who refused to allow that to stand in the way of their gleeful demonization of Israel.
The shirt of one anti-Israel protester (left) read: “Got Human Rights? Palestinians don’t.” He refused to believe that Arab Palestinians have greater freedom of the press in Israel than in the Palestinian Authority-controlled territories. This was surprising, given the man was wearing a press pass, showing him to be a member of the National Press Association.
One of the handful of other anti-Israel protesters proudly held a sign condemning “Israeli Apartheid.” When she was asked to give an example of Israeli apartheid, she shot back, “Palestinians aren’t allowed to vote in Israel.” When told that Arab Israelis serve on the Israeli Supreme Court and in the Israeli government, including the cabinet, she continued to insist that Israel is an apartheid state.
The vigil was a symbolic push for the US superpower to assist Israel in protecting itself from a nuclear Iran and from a terrorist state being carved out from within its own borders. Those who showed up to represent that view were satisfied that, even if Israel no longer has the kind of friend it needs in the White House, they showed that despite the glee on the Arab street, Israel still has its supporters on the American street.
Lori Lowenthal Marcus writes about the Middle East at http://matanote.blogspot.com/
Gee, Where are all those “Christian Zionists” when you need them?
Comment by yamit82 — May 21, 2009 @ 1:52 am
Nope. Where are all those Jews when you need them?
Hashem helps those that help themselves.
Comment by Shy Guy — May 21, 2009 @ 2:43 am
I was trying to be cynical. I have no expectations from the Jews either:
Yechezkel - Ezekiel - Chapter 34
1. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2. “Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, to the shepherds: So said the Lord God: Woe, shepherds of Israel who were shepherding themselves! Do not the shepherds shepherd the flocks?
3. You eat the fat and you clothe yourselves with the wool; the fatlings you slaughter; the flocks you do not shepherd.
4. The frail you did not strengthen, the sick you did not heal, the broken you did not bind, those astray you did not bring back, and the lost you did not seek, but with strength and with rigor you chastised them.
5. They scattered because they had no shepherd, and they became prey for all the beasts of the field, and they scattered.
Comment by yamit82 — May 21, 2009 @ 11:38 am
We should be thankful for the 100 plus who showed up at the rally to express their views.
That so few showed up however illustrates just how apathetic, complacent or detached Jews really are from appreciating the interdependent connection between the welfare of Israel and the Jewish community at large.
Widespread lack of Jewish support for Israel and failure to understand the significance of this meeting and meetings like it, are shameful.
Comment by Bill Narvey — May 21, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
MEANWHILE BACK IN THE HOLY LAND THE LEFTIST COWARDLY AMERICAN STOOGES (BB and his Government)DESTROYED A HILL TOP COMMUNITY AND ORDERED CESSATION OF BUILDING IN ANOTHER. HERE ARE THE STORIES AND PICTURES:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131488
Second Town Faces Demolition, Barak: No Connection to US LIAR. LIAR!!!!
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131494
Comment by yamit82 — May 21, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
I give BB 6 months to a year before we organize a strong enough opposition in order to dump him again. The only thing that will save him temporarily is if he hits Iran. I guarantee one and all he is toast. There is no stronger element than us in Israel so BB light our fire: Keep it up. Some people never learn.
Today we celebrated Jerusalem Day commemorating the Liberation of Jerusalem in 67 and Bb’s government evictsing Jews from their homes then destroying them… Happy Holiday.
BB the Liar Speaks: BB the surrenderer of Hebron! Will protect Jerusalem? I trust Peres More.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday never to divide Jerusalem, and pledged to keep the capital united under Israeli sovereignty.
“Jerusalem was always ours and will always be ours. It will never again be partitioned and divided,” Netanyahu said at the official state ceremony marking Jerusalem Day and the reunification of the capital during the Six Day War 42 years ago.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212436883&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Comment by yamit82 — May 21, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
It’s a sign of the times. People lament the disappearance of rights they will not defend; of faith for which they fear to witness; and of leadership they will neither provide themselves nor materially support.
Comment by yamit82 — May 24, 2009 @ 10:10 pm
For American Jews (sorry Yamit, its Just how I feel)
Disappointment to say the least.
2 bus loads from NY to Washington to demonstrate in favor of Israel.
Good grief that’s sad.
Obama and company are throwing Israel under the bus and that is all the support they can put together?
After all the anti-Semitic suffering the Jews have experience trough tout the world G-d leads His people back to the Holy Land of Israel to settle and call home.
They are challenged and against all odds and numbers and they defend and defeat those who hate them.
They become complacent and rather stand firm they give into outside pressure and begin the relinquish land G-d has provided.
Israel is being divided for no good reasons.
American Jews are liberal and are afraid to appear Jewish, guess they feel it’s un-American to be too Jewish and stand up for the home G-d has provided.
If that’s the case then change your names to Smith, Jones or whatever and don’t let me catch you eating or ordering out at and Jewish Deli.
What kind of sign do you send to Obama and company?
Shame, if you don’t Obama sure doesn’t.
Comment by rongrand — May 24, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
This could relate as much to the organizers not being part of Jewish establishment as anything else. Even then There probably would not have been a large turnout. We live in the era of the internet and emails are no less effective. In most cases physical demonstrations are meant for the media and the press and to strengthen resolve of those already in support. They never except on maybe very rare occasions change anything.
Here you are talking to the wrong guy. Ihope he does throw Israel under the bus, for reasons I have explained many times.
After all the anti-Semitic suffering the Jews have experience trough tout the world G-d leads His people back to the Holy Land of Israel to settle and call home.
They are challenged and against all odds and numbers and they defend and defeat those who hate them.
Jews have been giving in to pressure for the past 2000 years. We have evolved within our historic DNA those traits that when looked through the prism of history has allowed most of them to survive in very hostile environments. This was necessary and true up until after WW2. Israel came along just when Most American Jews were on an upward assimilationist track and little by little Jews began to feel that as America was concerned that they had arrived with as great a level of social equality as Jews had know heretofore .. Israel I think came to being at a time when American Jews mostly had ensconced themselves deeply in American society and mindset. While I think most Jews have positive inner feelings even if somewhat conflicted and distorted they are Americans first Jews second or third or not at all. How American Jews relate to Israel must be viewed within those contexts.
Until American Jews are threatened physically, They will at best sympathize with Israel, some may wash their Jewish conscience by donating to Charities or buying Israeli Bonds ( Most do neither) but they will fight to the death to stay in America and never contemplate any other options like Israel. I have little or no positive expectations of American Jewry. I see them as a group that must be allowed to die a slow death (as Jews) and we should discount their importance to us and to our future. Even most of those Jews who claim to be pro Zionist are hypocrites. Zionism at it’s core the National Liberation Movement of the Jews(secular concept) and The National Redemption Movement (for the religious). For those arm chair Zionists in America that concept is for other Jews not them They prefer the exile and not to be liberated. The religious are the biggest Hypocrites They pray daily for Next year in Jerusalem (Redemption for them is an abstract), then go out to dinner at a good Kosher restaurant.
Look we are a very young country 61 years of political independence isn’t a long time. Jews have never governed themselves as and Independent national politi in a very long time. It takes a long time through hit and miss experimental trial and error to develop the right system , institutions and kinds of leadership that should reflect the popular will. WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO!
Israel is being divided because Jews here and abroad do not value The land enough to oppose it’s division. It has been Israelis Jews themselves who have been willing participants and even the prime movers for the division of the Land.
Most are fearful at least subconsciously but then most don’t believe in G-d They are Liberal Americans
Many Jews do and have changed their names to Smith etc. The first step in total assimilation of Jews is the name changing
What kind of sign do you send to Obama and company?
Our message to Obama and everyone else including those Liberal Jews in America should be:
The Torah retains its applicability because human nature remains the same. Alexander the Great would wonder at Merkava tanks at first, but he would soon recognize their strategic similarity to his cavalry. Weapons change, but the face of war has remained the same from the earliest clashes of hunter-gatherers up to our times. The instructions given to Joshua for dealing with the Canaanites resound with Ben Gurion’s policies—and fit exactly the Muslim attitude on obligatory vengeance, intigam. To Arabs, the Jews who abstain from exacting vengeance upon Palestinians for terrorist acts are weaklings, unworthy of peace and friendship. Assimilated Jews shrug at their history, but Arabs respect history greatly.
Shame, if you don’t Obama sure doesn’t
Jews have no shame and very little pride.
Comment by yamit82 — May 25, 2009 @ 11:24 am
You’re a good man Yamit.
Yes Israel is 61 years young. However, defending her sovereignty a number of times against many odds tells you something.
It’s not space science. You have to figure if G-d leads you there He will provide the necessary help.
Having said that, an old saying “G-d helps those who help themselves”.
All Israeli Jews should be Zionist first and foremost.
I am sorry I get upset with American liberal Jews.
Where is the outrage?
They should be up in arms and gathering support of fellow Americans.
If you are Jewish you can’t dispel the fact that Israel is home of the Jews.
Why you allow this president and his administration to continue siege against Israel is beyond me.
Who in their right mind throws their best and trusted friend under the bus?
Someone please tell me other than Israel, what other true democracy, peace loving country is there in the ME. There isn’t any.
So why does Obama and company head down this road? Let’s say its bias Muslim and when you sit in Rev. Wright’s church for over 20 yrs and listen to his garbage. Garbage in and garbage out.
Comment by rongrand — May 25, 2009 @ 1:13 pm
We had over 200 Israel Supporters in Columbia, SC at a rally the day before the Monday Rally in DC. Most of these supporters were Christian. I’m grateful for the support of the few Jews who did attend. Speakers at the rally included US Congressman Joe Wilson, Avi Posnick of Stand With Us, and Bob Schwartz of American Friends of Magen David Adom.
In the current climate of US geopolitics, I would have to compare it to Nazi Germany in that American Jews are afraid of being considered anti-American by supporting Israel publicly. I see American Jews who have no relationship to Israel, and so don’t care. I see American Jews enamored of Obama and would never dare speak out against their hero. When over 70% of American Jews voted for Obama, I see a lot of dumb Jews.
Comment by deadbambi — May 25, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
evolved rally…
Motor Sport…
Trackback by Motor Sport — June 4, 2009 @ 2:56 am
evolved rally
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Motor Sport…
Trackback by Motor Sport — June 5, 2009 @ 5:49 am