AMERICANS FOR A SAFE ISRAEL/AFSI 1623 Third Ave., Suite 205, New York, N.Y. 10128 Tel: 212-828-2424; Fax: 212-828-1717 Email: afsi@rcn.com; Website: www.afsi.org October 16, 2003
AMERICANS FOR A SAFE ISRAEL/AFSI 1623 Third Ave., Suite 205, New York, N.Y. 10128 Tel: 212-828-2424; Fax: 212-828-1717 Email: afsi@rcn.com; Website: www.afsi.org October 16, 2003
What a privilege it was to be at the First Annual Jerusalem
Summit held at the King David Hotel on the first days of Sukkot, Oct.
12-14. The focus of the Summit was BUILDING PEACE ON TRUTH, and the
organizers, led by the Michael Cherney Foundation, had brought together
many of the most distinguished writers, thinkers, politicians,
professors, statesmen and activists in order to arrive at a consensus on
uncovering the thousands of lies that had permeated the Israeli/Arab
conflict. The treacherous Oslo accord, followed by the Road Map, had
allowed Arab terrorism to grow into a militant Islamic threat menacing
the entire world.
(L-R) Michael Cherney, Herbert Zweibon, Congressman Eliot Engel, Helen Freedman
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Speakers at the Summit, who had traveled from all over the world, included U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel; Ambassador Dr. Alan Keyes; Hon. Richard Perle, Resident Fellow at American Enterprise Institute and Member of the Defense Policy Board; Morrie Amitay, Vice-Chairman, JINSA; Clarence Wagner, International Director of Bridges for Peace; Michael D. Evans, minister and founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team; Herbert Zweibon, Chairman Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI; Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, American Center for Democracy; Morton Klein, President, ZOA; Prof. Daniel Pipes, Director, Middle East Forum; John Batchelor, ABC Radio; John Loftus, author; Frank Gaffney, Pres. Center for Security Policy; Cal Thomas, Syndicated Columnist, Fox News Host; and representatives from Sweden, the European Union Parliament, India, Paris, Slovenia, and Serbia.
A distinguished group of Israelis were part of the global group. Amongst them were Dr. Uzi Landau, Minister for Strategic Cooperation between the U.S. and Israel; Ehud Olmert, Vice P.M.; MK Prof. Arieh Eldad; MK Dr. Yuri Shtern; Avigdor Lieberman, Minister of Transportation; Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Finance; Prof. Raphael Israeli; Itamar Marcus, Palestinian Media Watch; Dr. Ron Breiman, Chairman of Professors for a Strong Israel; attorney Elyakim Ha'etzni; Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.
The Summit, coordinated by Dmitry Radyshevsky of the
Michael Cherney Foundation to Aid Terror Victims (Israel), and the
National Unity Coalition for Israel, led by Esther Levens, was warmly
supported by Jerusalem's Mayor, Uri Lupolianski, and Rabbi Benny Elon,
Israel's Minister of Tourism. It was convened in Jerusalem in the belief
that Israel might be the solution to the world-wide crisis in morality
and international policy. Moral clarity became a repeated theme in
discussing anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.
Richard Perle
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There was unanimous agreement on the failure of the "peace" accords with Arafat and his cohorts, primarily because the Arabs never accepted Israel's right to exist, with Israel and the world ignoring this crucial requirement for too long. The Arab definition of "peace" was to wage war against the Jews, with terror as the primary weapon.
The role of the United Nations and UNWRA in creating and perpetuating the Arab "refugee" problem was deplored, along with recognition of the overall failure of the U.N.
The presenters were seemingly unanimous in their agreement that the existence of a "Palestinian" state on the west bank of the Jordan River would be suicidal for Israel. "Jordan is Palestine" was a historical truth repeated by many.
Herbert Zweibon, AFSI's Chairman, made it very clear that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people because of their biblical, historic, and moral entitlement. Therefore, any talk of the give-away of any of Israel's land, even if the impossible were to happen and the PA suddenly became a "friendly" entity, should not be considered, just as the indivisibility of Jerusalem is non-negotiable.
The call for Israel to fight its Arab enemy until it was victorious was
heard repeatedly. Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Zalman Shoval
spoke for many when he declared that the goal of Islamic fundamentalism
is to destroy the Judeo-Christian tradition, and that this war of ideas
must be won militarily.
MK Rabbi Benny Elon
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Rabbi Benny Elon presented his Peace Initiative, THE RIGHT ROAD TO PEACE. The key principles of the plan include the following: The dissolution of the PA; the eradication of the terror infrastructure; the recognition and development of Jordan as the Palestinian State; Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and Gaza; Rehabilitation of refugees and completion of population exchange; Peace and normalization. A lively and thoughtful panel discussion followed during which the Elon Peace Initiative was analyzed favorably as a viable alternative.
U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel described the lengthy process in getting the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act submitted to the House. He first submitted it in 2001 when it was rejected. He re-submitted it this year, and was anticipating its passage on the floor of the House on Oct. 15, which did indeed happen, at 398-4.
At the final event of the Jerusalem Summit, chaired by Chaim Silberstein, Senior Advisor to Minister of Tourism Rabbi Benny Elon, the attendees joined with hundreds of Evangelical Christians who had gathered in Israel to celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles. U.S. Senator Sam Brownback spoke to the gathering by satellite, emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem being recognized as the eternal, indivisible capital of Israel. It seemed evident that Christian and Jewish synergy could accomplish much in the political realm, and that the Biblical road map would be the one that would emerge triumphant.