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January 25, 2002
Generating ideas to support Israel
Hundreds turn out to townhall meeting to discuss solutions to
Middle East crisis.
PAT JOHNSON REPORTER
Rabbi Ross Singer imagines a rally for Israel that leaves politics
and civil strife aside and celebrates the contributions the Jewish
state has made to the world. Instead of placards calling for justice
and peace, the event would feature displays of Israel's humanitarian
accomplishments all over the world and posters of the country's
favorite sons and daughters.
That was one of a plethora of ideas that came up during the Local
Israel Action Committee's second Townhall Meeting Jan. 17. About
200 people turned out to the gymnasium at the Jewish Community Centre
of Greater Vancouver for what turned out to be a respectful sharing
of divergent opinions.
The evening began with a short but deeply disturbing video showing
the manner in which young Palestinian children are indoctrinated
to serve as suicide bombers and martyrs for the cause. The film
included clips from children's television shows that glorify the
murder of Jews, a Muslim cleric's sermon urging followers to kill
Jews and Americans wherever they find them and the use of Palestinian
public schools as training grounds for young warriors. The video
also described the manner in which suicide bombers are glorified
in their home towns.
Speakers after the video lamented the future.
"How do you speak peace to people who don't know the language
of peace?" asked one speaker.
The issue of a Palestinian right of return came up amid discussions
over how to find a solution to the crisis.
A woman who identified herself as a Christian said she had a proposal
that no Jew would dare say aloud. She said that, in the Bible, Hashem
gave the land to the Jews. She added that nowhere in the Bible does
it say the land has to be governed as a democracy, so Israel should
allow Palestinians to return, but not allow them to vote.
"God gave the land to the Jews and only the Jews should run
it," said
the woman.
Dina Wachtel, the Israel emissary to the Jewish Federation of Greater
Vancouver, politely deflected that idea.
"It is very dangerous to play with the rules of democracy,"
she said.
The only hope, she said, is to continue the dialogue.
"Very realistically, there's no choice but to talk," said
Wachtel. "We need to find ways of dialogue. At the same time,
we will remain strong."
The meeting concluded with reports from the various subcommittee
chairs, who told of the different ways the group is supporting Israel,
through communicating with media, liaising with campus groups, interfaith
dialogue and through their newly launched Web site at www.iact.ca.
Several members of the Vancouver community will be travelling to
Ottawa March 6 for a special parliamentary dinner featuring Prime
Minister Jean Chrétien, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham
and Israel's President Moshe Katsav.
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