Support Israel with the Jewish Community Relations Council

I recently recieved this message from the SF JCRC with ways to show support and help in the PR war to support Israel

As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the JCRC remains in touch with American, Israeli and other sources and is updated regularly. We have released a statement supporting the people of Israel and are urging elected officials, leaders and other influentials throughout the region to express their support for Israel, defend its right to use military force to protect its citizens, and to hold Hamas responsible for the escalation in violence. TAKE ACTION! The best ways supporters of Israel can help is by: 1. Write letters to the editors of newspapers, comments on blogs, and call in to talk radio; 2. Contact your Member of Congress and urge him/her to issue a statement of solidarity with Israel 3. Monitor the media and contact us if you hear any anti-Israel bias, so that we can respond as warranted. 4. Participate a counter-protest with SF Voice for Israel

Talking Points: Israel has shown restraint. Over 6,300 rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza towards Israel since the latter’s withdrawal in 2005 that’s about 1 every three hours; more than 3000 were fired in 2008 alone. Israel has a right to protect its citizens. Israel is not fighting the Palestinian people, it is fighting the terrorist organization, Hamas which has vowed the destruction of Israel. Operation “Cast Lead” is a defensive operation designed to stop Hamas from launching rockets and mortars against Israel; it is a counterattack in every sense of the word.  Every government has the duty and right to protect its citizens. Israel is making every effort to avoid civilian casualties. Israel is targeting Hamas installations only. Every effort has been taken to minimize civilian casualties.  We are saddened by the deaths of any innocent civilians.  At the same time, Hamas bears the responsibility as Hamas terrorists hide among the civilian population using them as human shields.   The contrast is striking.  Hamas intentionally targets civilians; Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties. Israel desires a secure peace with its neighbors. Israel is engaged in the peace process with the Palestinian Authority and supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the past Israel has made sacrifices for the sake of peace and is quite willing to do so again for a better future for all sides. Israel gave up the entire Sinai Peninsula for peace with Egypt, which has resulted in a quiet border for the last 30 years. Quantify the impact on Israeli’s: Over 50 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip today (December 29, 2008) alone. Rocket attacks increased by 500 percent after Israel withdrew completely from the Gaza Strip in August 2005. The rockets have increased not only in number but also in range; they are now able to reach Yavneh, some 60 km (37 miles) away from Gaza; more than 700,000 Israelis are now in range of the rockets. The rocket barrage has resulted in at least thirteen deaths, more than 780 wounded and tens of thousands traumatized. Over 90 percent of Sderot residents have experienced a rocket exploding on their own street or an adjacent one. For more than three years families in southern Israel have spent nights in bomb shelters rather than bedrooms; during the day school children, adults and the elderly are forced to run for bomb shelters on a regular basis. Additional reading: Did Israel Use “Disproportionate Force” in Gaza? by Dore Gold (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Palestinians Need Israel to Win by Michael B. Oren and Yossi Klein Halevi (Wall Street Journal) Analysis: The Hamas army by Yaakov Katz (The Jerusalem Post) The worst anti-Israel charges you’ll hear in wartime by Bradely Burston (Ha’aretz) Where to send your letters: San Francisco Chronicle (Word limit – 200) letters@sfchronicle.com San Jose Mercury News (Word limit – 125) letters@mercurynews.com San Mateo Daily Journal (Word limit – 250) letters@smdailyjournal.com San Francisco Examiner (Word limit 150) letters@examiner.com Santa Cruz (Word limit – 150)  http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/submitletters (Word limit – 150) Palo Alto Daily Post (Word limit 250) letters@baydailypost.com Counter Protest Tuesday, December 30th @ 4:45 PM Israeli Consulate (456 Montgomery St., San Francisco) As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, or Palestinians. Signs in violation of our policies will not be allowed For more information please contact Julie Bersntein (415) 977-7434 or JBernstein@JCRC.org

Press Release

December 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JCRC Supports Israel’s Efforts to Stop Gaza Rocket Attacks

San Francisco – The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) stands with Israel in its military response to continued unprovoked rocket and mortar shell attacks from Gaza threatening the lives of Israeli civilians. While JCRC strongly supports Israel’s negotiations with the Palestinians and the creation of two viable states living side by side in peace, no country can be expected to absorb continuous and unrelenting attacks.

JCRC executive director Rabbi Doug Kahn issued the following statement:

“Israel has exercised extraordinary restraint as Hamas, a terrorist organization that controls Gaza, has continued its attacks against Israelis living in cities and towns within range of its rockets.   When Israel withdrew completely from Gaza in 2005, it was with the clear expectation that the Palestinian leadership there would not provoke military confrontation, but rather live in peace with its neighbors.  Tragically, Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel, has used Gaza as a launching pad for attacking the Israeli people.   The impact on Israelis who have had to endure nearly daily assaults has been great – deaths, injuries, and long-term physical and mental trauma.   No government, including Israel’s, could be expected to refrain from responding to protect the lives of their citizens.

As noted Israeli author and peace activist Amos Oz wrote, ‘The systematic bombing of the citizens in Israel’s towns and cities is a war crime and a crime against humanity.  The State of Israel must defend its citizens.  It is obvious to everyone that the Israeli government does not want to enter Gaza; the government would rather continue the ceasefire that Hamas violated and finally revoked.  But the suffering of the citizens surrounding Gaza cannot go on.’

JCRC is grateful to American public officials, including Speaker of the House Pelosi, for strongly supporting Israel at this time and recognizing that Israel has made every effort to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, even while Hamas places civilians in harm’s way.”

SF VOICE FOR ISRAEL TO COUNTER: “National Day of Action Against Attacks on Gaza”

As Israel continues to protect its citizens, and defend its right to use military action in holding Hamas responsible for its escalation in violence, the PR war rages on around the world. Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 30th in the early evening there will be a counter protest to the “National Day of Action Against Attacks on Gaza” protest in front of the Israeli Consulate. The counter protest is organized by the SF Voice for Israel.

Tuesday, December 30th @ 4:45 PM

Israeli Consulate (456 Montgomery St., San Francisco)

Description: Israel is taking care of business in Gaza, and it is upon us to watch her back, here, on the streets of San Francisco. As we have seen from recent events in the region, PR war is a big part of this conflict, and “the streets” is where it’s fought, and no one will fight it but us.

Under the camouflage of “Peace Movement”, haters and misguided-ones will be holding a demonstration in front of the Israeli Consulate to protest the “Holocaust in Gaza”. We ask, where were they for 3 years to “stand for peace” when Israelis were being bombed, killed and injured? We ask why are the fair-minded supporters of Palestinians not outraged by Hamas’s continuous provocations which clearly led to this defensive action, by its human shields tactics, and by its complete disregard for human life, both Israeli and Palestinian? We ask, what would United States, Turkey, Russia or China do, if 750,000 of its citizens were under constant cross-border shelling? We ask, the questions that are at the heart of this conflict, the ones that no-one will ask if we are not there!

So be there, with your own questions and answers, and flags and energy, to show by our solid presence our unwavering solidarity with the Jewish State.

As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, or Palestinians. Signs in violation of our policies will not be allowed

For more information please contact Julie Bersntein (415) 977-7434 or JBernstein[at]JCRC.org