Jewish Community Relations Council expresses its deep concern over the escalating violence in Jerusalem and Israel. We condemn the Palestinian Authority and the Iran-backed terrorist organizations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for their incitement of Palestinians to this latest wave of violence.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched rockets at Jerusalem – home to Jews, Muslims, Christians, and other faith groups – as well as over 150 additional rockets, incendiary devices, and missiles targeting other Israeli cities and towns. Such attacks indiscriminately threaten the lives of civilians of all backgrounds.
We thank our Members of Congress for their support of military aid to Israel, which is used to develop the same missile defense systems that intercept these projectiles and save lives. Israel has the right and the responsibility to defend its civilians and its borders.
Decisions by Israeli authorities to postpone by one month a hearing on the evictions of Palestinian residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and to reroute the Jerusalem Day Flag March away from Palestinian neighborhoods are praiseworthy, as is the decision to keep the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif open for Muslim prayers, despite security threats.
We urge restraint from all parties and the cessation of reckless targeting of civilians by terrorist organizations.
|
Here are a few things you can do right now to show your solidarity with the Israeli people:
Thursday, May 13, 12:00 - 12:30 pm Thursday, May 13, 5:00 – 6:00 pm Friday, May 14, 12:00 – 1:00 PM Amid days of tensions in Jerusalem, mass rocket launches by Hamas, and widespread violence encompassing Tel Aviv, Gaza, and other areas, many are wondering what caused this resurgence in conflict and where it might lead. Has the two-year quiet between Israel and Hamas ended, and will the violence spill over into the West Bank? What can the United States and regional governments do to de-escalate the situation? Ghaith al-Omari, Ehud Yaari, and Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen will share insight, moderated by Institute Ziegler Distinguished Fellow David Makovsky. Click here to register. READ AND SHARE Help set the record straight about Israel's unprecedented approach to freedom of worship in Jerusalem, the role of Palestinian incitement, and the false media narratives surrounding these tragic events. Learn more about the situation through background provided by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater's national partner agency 4 Myths and Facts About the Violence in Jerusalem from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Find current events and breaking news from Israel through these media outlets: ADL Statement Regarding Recent Violence and Rocket Attacks in Jerusalem American Jewish Committee Urges Support for Israelis Threatened by Deadly Hamas Rockets TAKE ACTION THANK Representative Elaine Luria (VA-2) for her statement yesterday. Click here to email her or call (757)364-7650. "My heart is with the Israeli people as they shelter from rockets fired by terrorists in the Gaza strip. The current situation highlights the importance of American security assistance to Israel, as Iron Dome is intercepting many of these rockets and saving lives. As a sovereign nation and our strongest democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel must defend itself from terrorist attacks and Hamas must end their deadly assault." ACT NOW Urge Members of Congress to Stand with our ally Israel and support its right to defend its citizens. |
FOR INFORMATION, VOLUNTEERING, AND MORE:
Contact Robin Mancoll, Senior Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of the UJFT, at RMancoll@ujft.org or (757)965-6120.