Palestine or Israel? An article by Richard Brown. Click for Richard's article.

Picture this: the electric plant which supplies 70% of electricity to the Palestinians in Gaza is in Ashkelon. The Palestinians in Gaza have been shooting kassam rockets at the plant ever since the "disengagement" i.e. the abandonment of Gush Katif. Now, Palestinians are crying that they don't have enough electricity. They are complaining about Israeli sanctions against them. They are going to the U.N.

The truth is, Israel has not stopped supplying electricity to Gaza. Not only that, but Israeli electric company employees are risking their lives to do so.

Mickey Tsarfati, head of the union of electrical workers, was quoted in YNet: "It is unbelievable chutzpah for them to complain. We have not stopped supplying them with electricity for a minute. And they have not stopped logging bombs at us for a minute." Many of the workers who fix the lines to Gaza daily are residents of Sderot. It has happened more than once that bombs fell next to their homes as they were fixing the lines to supply electricity to the bombers.

Now the U.N. and the Quartet, and the Arab League are all getting demands to stop Israeli "sanctions" against the Gazans....
You tell me what other country would be supplying electricity to people who are bombing their children on a daily basis, and risking their lives to do so.

By Naomi Ragen

An Evening with JoAnn Magnuson

To the Editor:

Members of VISION and The Merrimack Valley Friends of Israel collaborated on JoAnn Magnuson’s first tour throughout Mass. and N.H.(the week of 12/02/07), as U.S. Director of Christian Friends of Yad Vashem. She presented at Temple Emanuel Andover, Mass, Temple Israel Boston, Mass., Etz Hayim and The Church of the Transfiguration Derry. N.H., Word of Life Concord, N.H., The N.H. Federation Manchester, N.H. and at Keene State College. Her audiences included rabbis, ministers of various denominations, an anglican minister who traveled from Swampscott, Mass. to hear JoAnn’s presentation at Keene, Seven Day Adventists, Christian Maronites, Jewish and Christian folks. At all seven venues, she provided the audience with new information about Israel and Christian Jewish Relations. At the N.H. Jewish Federation, she engaged in a “mini symposium” with Nadav Tamir, Consul General of Israel N.E. and Yuval Arad, New England Executive Director of the Friends of the IDF. Sharing an evening with JoAnn is enlightening.

Karen Weinstein, member of VISION

Night Highlighted Christian-Israeli Unity

Published in The Eagle Tribune: November 6
To the Editor:
By Karen Weinstein

A historical event took place on Oct. 24 at the Word of Life Christian Church in Concord, N.H., when Pastor Thomas Peetz, New England Representative of Christians United for Israel officiated at the first annual New England "Night to Honor Israel." The evening was punctuated with music, celebration, educational information and notable speakers.

Pastor John Hagee, the group's president and the keynote speaker, traced Jewish and Christian relations throughout the centuries. To the delight and thunderous applause of the interfaith audience, he affirmed his support of Israel and love of the Jewish people.

Charles Jacobs, president of The David Project in Boston, spoke about three groups in society, the far left, the Nazi skin heads and radical Islamists, allying themselves creating "a perfect storm."

Nadav Tamir, the New England consul general of Israel, thanked everyone for supporting Israel and invited folks to visit the only democratic state in the Middle East, and experience and see Israel for themselves.

The evening culminated with a collection of thousands of dollars for the charity Nefesh B'Nefesh, which helps Jewish folks settle in Israel and thereby strengthens the country. The check was a presented by Pastor Thomas Peetz to Marc Gilman, former president of the New Hampshire Jewish Federation.

It was an evening filled with love, celebration and support for Israel. One could feel the electricity in the air!

To the Editor:
By Karen Weinstein

On October 26 and 27th ,  more than fifty organizations gathered at the Old South Church in Boston showing their solidarity, in opposing the church’s renting of space to the Sabeel Foundation for their conference, “The Apartheid Paridigm in Palestine-Israel.”

In the words of Nancy Kaufman, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, “the public needs to understand that (Sabeel) is anti-Israel and against Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.”

Kaufman states, “Anyone who uses apartheid as an accusation is really employing old anti-Zionist arguments - that's really what it is - and is really applying a double standard of judgment to Israel which can be traced to historic anti-Semitic rhetoric, that all things Jews do are evil, including their nationalism."

N.H. was represented by members of VISION and Word of Life Christian Church in Concord, N.H. Emil Campeanu, co-chair of VISION, Sonia Campeanu, Gail Thomas, Rabbi Joshua Segal, Karen Satz, Pastor Fumio Taku, Karen and Marty Weinstein, Pastor Thomas Peetz, Wendy and Kevin Thibault handed out educational information to passersby and held signs denouncing anti-Semitism.

CUFI event

letter to the Reporter by Linda a VISION member

The first annual New England's "Night to Honor Israel" raised $20,350 for Nefesh B'Nefesh. Pastor Thomas Peetz presented the check to Marc Gilman on behalf of the JFNH. Keynote speaker Dr. John Hagee, founder of CUFI Christians United For Israel, stated the charity was selected because aliyah helps to strengthen Israel. Other speakers included Charles Jacobs of The David Project and Nadav Tamir, New England Consulate General of Israel

A historical event took place at the Word of Life Christian Church in Concord ,N.H. , when Pastor Thomas Peetz , New England Representative of CUFI (Christians United for Israel) officiated at the first annual New England ‘s “ Night to Honor Israel.” The evening was punctuated with music, celebration, educational information and notable speakers. CUFI President Pastor John Hagee and keynote speaker traced Jewish and Christian relations throughout the centuries. To the delight and thunderous applause of the interfaith audience, he affirmed his support of Israel and love of the Jewish people. Charles Jacobs President of “The David Project” in Boston spoke about three groups in society, the far left, the Nazi skin heads and radical Islamists allying themselves creating “a perfect storm.” Nadav Tamir, the New England Consulate General of Israel, thanked everyone for supporting Israel and invited folks to visit the only democratic state in the Middle East and experience and see Israel for themselves. The evening culminated with a collection of thousands of dollars for the charity Nefesh B’Nefesh, which helps Jewish folks settle in Israel and thereby strengthens the country. The check was a presented by Pastor Thomas Peetz to Marc Gilman former President of the N.H. Jewish Federation It was an evening filled with love, celebration and support for Israel. One could feel the electricity in the air!

Christians march for Israel

Ynetnews Published: 10.04.07

One of VISION members was part of the delegation 

500 Christian Zionists take to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem streets in support of Israel against Syrian, Iranian threats

A delegation of 500 Christian Zionists from all over the world held two marches, in Tel Aviv on Monday and Jerusalem on Tuesday, to show their support for Israel in light of the growing threat by Syria and Iran.

The marchers, who arrived in Israel last weekend to celebrate Sukkot with the country’s residents, wore traditional dress and waved their countries flags as they marched through the streets in support of the IDF and Israel’s security forces.

Marching in support of the Golan Heights (Photos courtesy of ICZC)

The delegation was sent on behalf of the International Christian Zionist Center (ICZC), an organization with representatives from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Holland, Nigeria, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain, and the Untied States.

During the march, delegation members announced they would continue to stand up to their countries - and their governments – against all expressions of anti-Semitism, or any steps that could endanger the security of Israel.

Against anti-Semitism

According to ICZC Director Jan Willem van der Hoeven, the terror attacks on Israel and the looming threat of another war were what prompted the delegation’s visit.

The End of the Bargain

By Jonathan Rosenblum

More than half of Jews under 35 would not view the destruction of Israel as a personal tragedy, according to a recent report. The exception were the Orthodox. What makes them different and what can the Jewish establishment learn from them?

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Sociologists Stephen Cohen and Ari Kelman have now confirmed what everyone already knew: Young American Jews do not care very much about Israel. They are not just apathetic about Israel, that indifference is "giving way to downright alienation," write Cohen and Kelman.

More than half of Jews under 35 said that they would not view the destruction of Israel as a personal tragedy. The death and expulsion of millions is something they could live with. By those standards, they probably would not see the Holocaust as a "personal" tragedy either.

"These results are very upsetting," said Jewish Agency chairman Zev Bielski. He then proceeded to give an inane explanation for those numbers: the comfortable life of most American Jews.

Cohen and Kelman know better. And their answer is summed up in the demographic they did not interview for their study: Orthodox Jews. A survey of young Orthodox Jews would have yielded a diametrically opposed and highly embarrassing result.

Among younger Jews, those for whom their Judaism is important — primarily the Orthodox — will remain connected to the fate of their fellow Jews in Israel. Most Orthodox American youth will study in Israel after high school, some for many years. And almost all will visit Israel many times. Eretz Yisrael is not a mere abstraction for them, but the center of the spiritual life of the Jewish people.

Even an anti-Zionist Satmar chassid living in the secluded village of Monroe will intensify his prayers when Israel is at war and follow the action closely. Why? Because for him the name Jew means something.

The majority of young American Jews and the majority of young Israelis share in common a lack of interest in their Judaism. But that shared negativity provides little basis for a relationship. Shared gene pools won't do it either — that smacks of racism. And ethnic identity, it turns out, cannot be passed down, or survive the breakup of ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods.

What young Jews under 35 feel towards Israel goes beyond apathy to outright resentment. Israel complicates their social lives and muddies their political identity. Only 54% profess to be comfortable with the idea of a Jewish state at all. In Europe and on elite American campuses, internationalism and a world-without-borders are the rage. The Jews of Israel, with their stubborn insistence on protecting their nation-state, are, as always, out-of-sync.

Young American Jews do not wish to be tarred with their atavisms. On campus and where enlightened folk meet, Israel is scorned as a colonial oppressor. Who wants to be identified as a sympathizer with apartheid? Once Reform Judaism disavowed Zionism for fear of being thought disloyal to their host countries, and young American Jews today share similar fears of being out of step with their enlightened peers.

Molly Umberger, whose mother is program director of the leftist New Israel Fund (NIF), told the Jerusalem Post that she views both Israel and Palestinians as having made lots of mistakes and the situation as complicated, but generally "tries not to think about [ Israel]." (No wonder when Bruce Temkin, the director of the NIF, describes Israel as a "turn-off.") Daniel Alperin, 33, describes his interest in Israel as waning when he began to hear "the bad stuff" — probably about the time he entered college.

Already the trends lines were pointing in this direction forty years ago. In a 1965 Commentary symposium of younger Jewish intellectuals — the least religiously identified segment of American Jewry — only one expressed complete comfort with Israel's creation and pride in its accomplishments, and he eventually made aliyah. The rest expressed various degrees of discomfort with Israel's militarism (and this was before 1967 and the "occupation"). The only Jewish identity they acknowledged at all was that of the "Jew" as the perpetually alienated critic of those in power — not exactly one upon which to base a connection to other Jews. Now the rest of American Jewry is catching up to those once young intellectuals.

The implications of Cohen and Kelman's findings for American Jewry are great. The historic bargain linking American Jewry and Israel since the founding of the State is coming to an end. The terms of the deal were unspoken, but clear: Israel would provide American Jews with a sense of pride and identity as Jews, and they, in turn, would shower upon Israel their financial and political support. But Israel is no longer a source of pride for non-Orthodox Jews, and the identity it provides is not one which they wish to share.

But the survey signals something else as well: a declining understanding on the part of American Jews of Judaism in terms of a national identity that imposes obligations to one's co-nationals.. That is being replaced by a return to the self-definition of classic German Reform: German (or in this case American) nationals of the Mosaic persuasion.

Cohen and Kelman are wrong to argue that ethnic identity is being replaced by religious identity. For when young American Jews say that they view their Judaism as a religious not national identity, the religion they refer to is a pretty tepid affair. Precisely because it is so tepid does it fail to provide them a sense of connection to their fellow Jews, whether in America or abroad. It is a religion largely lacking connection to the Land of Israel, and even more importantly to the defining event in Jewish history the giving of Torah at Sinai. Absent the latter, there is no common mission to link the descendants of those who stood at Sinai.

The impact of the declining sense of responsibility to one's fellow Jews is being felt within American Jewry itself, not just in attitudes towards Israel. Already only 6% of giving by mega-Jewish foundations goes to remotely Jewish causes. It is hardly surprising, for instance, that non-Jewish spouses are not eager to contribute to Jewish causes. In time, funding the institutions of American Jewry will become ever more difficult. And the Orthodox will be left to donate to Israel.

The political implications for Israel are large as well. Fortunately, Professors Walt and Mearsheimer are wrong about an Israel Lobby comprised mostly of those with Jewish-sounding names. It is devout Christians, and not some nefarious Israel Lobby, which is the primary bulwark of American support for Israel today. That we have to rely on Christian support, rather than our fellow Jews, however, is a very mixed blessing indeed.

FIRST, PALESTINIANS MUST CHOOSE PEACE
For the  Concord Monitor  April 03. 2007

For the last 60 years Israel has been trying to achieve peace. Do you remember the Oslo Accord in 1993? That was billed as land for peace. Israel gave back land it won in a defensive war, hoping Arafat would build infrastructure. Instead he was busy engaging in terrorist activities.

The sham finally ended in 2000 when he walked out on the negotiation at Camp David and declared the intifada. For over four years suicide bombers blew up Israelis. The Palestinians chose terrorism.

In 2005, hoping the Palestinians would choose peace, the Israeli government uprooted 9,000 Jews who had lived in the Gaza Strip for decades. As the Jews were being evacuated, Hamas was shooting rockets at them, as well as into Israel proper. The Palestinians chose terrorism.

The Palestinians elected Hamas, a terrorist organization. Their charter does not recognize Israel's right to exist and backs up its words with actions by routinely blowing up Israeli civilians (Muslims, Jews and Christians) engaging in everyday activities such as shopping, eating in restaurants and traveling on buses. These are hardly the credentials for a peace partner. Palestinians chose terrorism.

When the Palestinians choose peace instead of terrorism and recognize Israel's right to exist, there will peace with security. The ball is in the Palestinians' court.

CJUI (Christian and Jews United for Israel) kickoff event October 10th

Marty and Karen Weinstein attended the event at Temple Emeth in Chestnut Hill, Mass. There were about 250 folks in attendance. The evening was filled with speakers, music, a sense of hope and brotherhood. We heard Professor Dennis Hale of B.C, JoAnn Magnuson of Bridges for Peace and Dexter Van Zile of CAMERA speak about some of things they did to fight the divestment resolutions by the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. They assembled speakers and arranged to take some of the clergy to Israel to speak to Jews and Christians. They were countering the Sabeel Foundation, which has initiated the anti-Israel rhetoric, causing divestment to be considered by some of the mainline Protestant Churches. We also heard from Reverend Bell from Roxbury who is trying to re-connect Jews and black folks. He recounted how instrumental Jews were in the civil rights movement during the 60's. Rabbi Hamilton of Kehillath Israel and Charles Jacobs of the David Project also addressed the audience and were honored for their work in uniting Jews and Christians. "Comfort my People" from Peabody provided us with musical entertainment.

May Long of West Roxbury was instrumental in spearheading this group last year. CJUI is the grassroots group, which has taken on the Somerville Divestment issue. And I can tell you first hand, they are doing a magnificent job. May they prevail on November 7th. (no pun intended)

We, in N.H. are fortunate to have Karen Satz, Rabbi Joshua Segal and Charles Cramer who have assumed a similar task----the establishment of a grassroots organization, our VISION to counter the anti-Israel crowd in N.H.

FORMER IRANIAN PRESIDENT’S SPEECH IS HARVARD’S SHAME
Sunday edition of the “Lawrence Eagle Tribune” on September 23, 2006
 
Shame on Harvard.
 
Harvard has a history of hosting officials of questionable character.
Stephen H. Norwood, professor of history and Judaic Studies at the University of Oklahoma,  presented his research at Boston University on November 14, 2004 concerning Harvard University’s disconcerting connection to the Nazis in the 30’s.
 
 When  Ernst”Putzi” Hanfstang , Hitlers foreign press chief arrived for his 25th reunion at Harvard, he was warmly received by President Conant. The newspaper”The Harvard Crimson” wanted to give him an honary degree.
 
At the time when all Jewish professors were expelled from German Universities and the curriculum was changed to reflect the Nazi ideology, Harvard sent a representative to celebrations at the University of Heidelberg.
 
History repeats itself: On September 10th, 2006, just one day short of the fifth anniversary of 9/11  Mohammad Khatami former president of Iran was invited to speak at the university.
 
What was Harvard thinking?
 
In 1997 Khatami was overwhelming elected to the presidency  promising democratic reforms. The history of his eight year presidency was marked by “the Iranian student riots of 1999”  demanding reforms: his twin bills designated as the key to progress and reforms never materialized; human rights abuses were rampant ;and twenty reformist newspapers were closed in one day.
 
What was Harvard thinking?
 
He represents a country whose current President Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust denier, refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and has threatened to obliterate Israel. The U.N. has been dialoguing with Iranian representatives who refuse to abide by the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran has been designated by President Bush as a member of the axis of evil, and is the supplier of arms to the terrorist group Hezbollah. . Ahmadinejad leads his countrymen in the chant,”Death to America, Death to Israel”
 
History repeats itself. Shame on Harvard.

Marty and Karen Weinstein
Salem, N.H.

Valley News - Monday, September 4th, 2006
To The Editor:

We just have to respond to the preposterous letter to the editor by Dan Leggett in the August 24th issue of the Valley News. In it, he suggests that somehow Israel and the United States were behind the kidnappings of the Israeli soldiers that directly caused the recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Does he also believe that the persistent rocket attacks on Israel over the years have been staged? Does he believe that the anti-Israel rallies in Arab states by extremists have been instigated by agents provocateur of the United States and Israel? Maybe he should consult Wikipedia again.

The truth of the matter is that since 1948, Israel has been surrounded by governments and terrorist organizations that have sworn to destroy her. If these hate mongerers were to lay down their arms there would be peace in the Middle East. If Israel were to lay down her arms there would be no more Israel. The recent war in July and August was another instance of Israel fighting for her life.

Josh Neirman
Stephen Neirman

Valley News, Published Wednesday, August 9, 2006
To The Editor,

I was shocked to see such a one-sided forum piece on July 31. Mr. Mudge's letter, US Is Too One-Sided In Mideast was EXTREMELY one-sided. I became very confused after reading his letter. Is Mr. Mudge primarily concerned about the loss of life in Lebanon or the potential backlash by Hezbollah or Hamas against U.S. interests?

Mr. Mudge's letter is a prime example of ignorance when it comes to all of the conflicts involving Israel in the Middle East. He refers to Israel as occupiers (I am not sure if he means Lebanon or Gaza) in this current situation, which is completely not true. Israel has removed settlements and soldiers from Gaza and the response has been turmoil, violence, and hundreds of rocket attacks. Israel has left the sovereignty of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese government and the result has been incursions and rocket attacks into northern Israel. The real difficulty is that Hamas and Hezbollah hate Jews and Israel more than they love their own children. What can you do with such people?

I'll be the first to say that war and the killing of innocent civilians on all sides is awful. However, when the UN fails to enforce resolution 1559, what choice do the Israelis have when their soldiers are being kidnapped and their towns hit by rocket fire? I wish there was an immediate diplomatic solution. But there cannot be unless there is a comprehensive cease-fire through which Hezbollah is disarmed and a powerful UN peace keeping force is assembled, working as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel. There also needs to be strict international sanctions against Iran and Syria, and any other country that funds and supports terrorist groups against Israel. Israel has always wanted peace and continues to desire peace. (Two good books which examine the situation are The Case For Israel by Alan Dershowitz and Myths and Facts by Mitchell G. Bard.)

Josh Neirman
East Thetford, VT

From: Linda McGrath
Subject: Observations on my first counter protest rally: August 12, 2006

I attended a rally downtown Concord sponored by Arab American Forum, NH Peace Action, NH Veterans for Peace, Palestine Education Network, Seacoast Peace Response, and National Council of Arab Americans.

Although it was supposed to be a peace rally, it seemed to me to be an anti-Israel rally as most of signs read "Occupation is a crime" and "Stop Israeli Aggression" and worse. Nothing about suicide bombers or Ketushah rockets loaded with ball bearings or kidnapped soldiers.

The first person I talked to also lives on Big Island Pond and after chatting about the lake, she would not talk about the politics. This person told me she was former Derry Selectman, and I said I would think you would welcome a debate. Then the man she was with asked me to move so people wouldn't get confused, since I did not, they moved.

I met a very nice young Palestinian man who has lived in the West Bank and in Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew. He arrived recently in this country and I welcomed him stating this is a great country, and he agreed. When we talked about Peace and how much both sides wanted it, we agreed that Arafat should have signed the Camp David Peace Agreement, the regular Palestinian people had wanted it, and Arafat would have been remembered forever as a world leader for peace. Arafat was offered 97% of what he demanded!

I met two nice women who insisted that the rally was not anti-Israel, and when I pointed out how one sided the signs were, their response was "well, you're here" (we weren't invited though, we just showed up). They insisted they were for peace only and that they didn't take sides but then stated the side that was inflicting the most casualties was the one at fault . Would we have won WWII without inflicting so much damage I asked and they insisted we would have (?), and then seemed to say that if we had lost things would have been better anyway. They were very anti-USA also.

One women at the end really made me mad. She asked if we had just had a rally for our side and we stated we did but that it was not only Jews but many Christians attended and she stated "Well, they want war too" (?) First I asked her if that was what she had really said and when she said yes I yelled at her " Oh, and YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS PEACE?!" She walked away smiling.

I also learned from one of my friends that a man with 2 small children and a stated Hezbolloh member who was one of the speakers said "We are going to win, because for every one of us you kill, ten will take our place".... I though this was a peace rally??

While I was talking to the young Palestian man, I heard one of their speakers in the backround claim "truth is on our side", and I stated truth is on all sides. Each side has a valid story to tell and we should be able to hear them all.

I welcome any comments.... and thanks for listening.

Linda McGrath member of VISION - Voice of ISrael Initiative Of New hampshire

I read Mr. Fortin's letter 8/17 and have to respond. He is entitled to his opinion, but is misguided having treated Hezbollah and Israel the same.

One is the aggressor, and launched missiles specifically at civilians, while hiding amongst Lebanese civilians.

Israel only took defensive actions when provoked and patience ended. One side (Israel) has unilaterally made multiple concessions. Israel avoids collateral damage to Lebanese targets, sacrificing their own safety.

The other side armed with the intent to destroy a nation, which is surrounded by larger and more populated terror-spawning countries.

I take issue with your charged statement "Final Solution" (annihilation of both sides) as that is going to solve anything. As I recall, Hitler used this tactic and failed.

When will you (and others) learn from History and understand that ignoring the abuse of humans by their own governments and leaders is the source of misdirected anger against those more successful Nations? Israel and the USA, for example have used its creative talents to provide a better life for its citizens.

Keeping citizens poor and struggling ensures resentment and hostility, for its their own leaders who are depriving them of a decent quality of life.

Harvey Bloom
Manchester, NH