500 pack forum on Israel

Thursday, September 22, 2011 - For months, Israel and the US have feared they would stand alone at the United Nations in opposition to the Palestinian bid for statehood. Now, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas scheduled to present his plan on Friday, Israel and the US may have more backing than they thought, according to the American Jewish Committee’s national director, David Harris.

“We believe we may have achieved the potential to block the Palestinian move [for statehood] in the Security Council without requiring the US to stand alone and use its veto,” Harris told a packed audience at Temple Reyim in Newton Monday night. “What a message that sends to Ramallah: It’s not quite as simple as you think.”

Harris’ 500 listeners – representing more than 60 organizations and synagogues – had another message to send to Ramallah and the UN: the American Jewish community stands firmly behind Israel.

“You know the old joke,” AJC Boston director Rob Leikind said at the beginning of the evening. “Two Jews, three opinions. But there is an exception to every rule, and tonight is it. We may not agree on all the fine points in every issue, but tonight we stand together in a prayer for true peace.”

The evening’s speakers included Democrat Congressman Barney Frank; a representative from the office of Republican Senator Scott Brown; state Treasurer Steven Grossman; and the leaders of major local Jewish organizations. Called “New England Campaign for True Peace,” the forum was organized by the AJC.

In his keynote address, Harris said over the past several months the AJC had been meeting with diplomats and leaders from more than 70 countries, shoring up alliances and forging partnerships.

To force a US veto, Abbas would have to collect nine votes on the 15-country Security Council, the only body that can officially approve full UN membership.

Besides the US, a few other nations on the council have stated opposition to the Palestinian bid, but have yet to indicate how they will vote. Harris asserted that Germany may vote against statehood, although it has not officially declared.

The council includes five permanent members – each with veto power – and 10 elected members with two-year terms. The other permanent members are China and Russia, which have indicated they may support a Palestinian bid; and England and France, which as of press time were still undecided.

Elected members of the council include Lebanon, which will almost certainly support membership, and Brazil, which recognized Palestine as a state last year.

The German consul general in Boston, Friedrich Löhr, attended Monday’s event, but did not address it. He declined to comment to The Advocate.

However, Harris noted in his speech the importance of Löhr’s presence. “We are not alone, we have friends,” he said. “History can evolve and the most improbable of circumstances, the German consul general joining in solidarity with a true peace rally for Israel, can happen if only we dare to dream dreams and have the strength and patience to see them realized.”

Even if a majority on the Security Council does side with the Palestinians, Harris said that AJC and other organizations have been building a “moral minority” of democratic countries in the General Assembly to stand against the Palestinian bid. “President Abbas and his colleagues know that it’s one thing to have an automatic majority [in the General Assembly], but if it’s made up of the likes of Venezuela and Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia, Pakistan and Syria, Iran and Zimbabwe, Sudan and North Korea, it’s bubkas.”

While the General Assembly cannot grant full membership, it can vote to upgrade the Palestinians’ status from permanent observer to non-member state. That would give the Palestinians access to international judicial bodies.

Harris reiterated the stance of the AJC and many other Jewish organizations that peace can be achieved only through negotiations. He urged the local community to make that case and fight efforts to delegitimize Israel.

“Once upon a time we thought the battle was on the border with Syria, on the border with Gaza, on the border with Lebanon. And, yes, it still is, but now there are multiple borders in this ongoing conflict, and one of those battle lines is right here in Boston,” he said. “Because we are a front line, it’s time for each of us to say, hineini. Here I am. Say it to each other, to ourselves, because we are in this battle.”

An array of national and local leaders joined Harris on the bimah – including Barry Shrage, president of Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Kenneth Jacobson, Anti- Defamation League national deputy director; Derrek Shulman, ADL New England director; Alan Ronkin, interim director of the Jewish Community Relations Council; and Shai Bazak, consul general of Israel to New England.

Frank stressed the importance of the US followup to the UN vote. This summer, the US House of Representatives voted 406 to 6 on a resolution that threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinians should they pursue UN statehood. Frank was among the 406 who voted for the non-binding resolution.

“This declaration going to the UN is a substitute for reality,” Frank told Monday’s crowd. “It is a political gesture that will make the situation worse, and I am very pleased to be part of a Congress that will not simply insist on [the US] veto, but will also take appropriate steps afterwards. Aid to a Palestinian authority that takes an irresponsible action like that is going to be very questionable.”

Bazak said that the Palestinian appeal to the UN involved a more sinister agenda.

“It’s not about these borders or another,” Bazak said. “It’s not about this village – that if only it will be evacuated, then everyone will be satisfied. It’s not about moving the line a few miles and peace and quiet will come. It’s not about building houses or destroying houses. It’s, as always, about the very existence of the state of Israel.”

Although he painted a bleak picture of the Palestinians’ intentions, Bazak expressed confidence in Israel’s ability to weather the UN storm. “Whether we are successful in this struggle or not, we will have many successes in the future and many difficulties” he said. “But we will prevail... because we are right, because we are strong and because we are together.”

Ronkin urged members of the Jewish community not only to stand with Israel but to stand together. “We must recognize the good in one another,” said Ronkin. “Respect everyone’s right to disagree on tactics, but commit ourselves to work together whenever possible on this sacred task. This is my prayer for us – that we head into 5772 refreshed and revitalized and committed to the unity of the Jewish people.”

A small protest – about three people holding signs – broke out about halfway through the event. They were escorted from the sanctuary as the audience clapped and sang, “O-say shalom.”

A group of about 15 protestors from various organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace, held signs outside the synagogue.