AFSI held a conference in New York on Dec. 5, 2004, which was dedicated
to the late David Bar-Illan, distiguished pianist, author, and one of the founders of Americans for A Safe Israel.
Participants, friends and chapter chairmen from all over the country
attended, making this one of the most successful conferences in our history. There were about 250 persons, most of whom stayed
from the early morning until adjournment at 5 P.M. Unfortunately we had to turn many requests down because they came too late
and security was quite tight. The program is listed here, and the individual lectures will be detailed in the next OUTPOST.
The morning lecturers were: Frank Gaffney, President and
founder of the Center for Security Policy who spoke of the prospects after Arafat.
Professor Louis Rene Beres, Professor of International Law
at Purdue University who discussed, in detail, the threats posed by Iran.
Ibn Warrak, author of Why I Am Not a Muslim
and Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out whose informative lecture on the Koran detailed chapters and verses which call
for Jihad.
Dr. Andrew Bostom whose forthcoming book The Legacy
of Jihad will include a longer version of his speech detailing 13 centuries of Moslem oppression of Jews and Christians
in Palestine.
The Guest of Honor Ambassador Yoram Ettinger spoke extemporaneously
on the current crisis in Israel, in the Middle East, in all Moslem nations. His speech was dazzling in content, delivery and
humor.
Herbert Zweibon, Chairman of AFSI delivered a tribute to David Bar-Illan.
The afternoon panel: Christian Zionists- An Enduring Friendship
Rabbi Gerald Meister, advisor to the Israeli Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Dr. James Hutchens, Chapklain (Brigadier General US Army Ret.) and chairman and President
of USA
Christians for Israel discussed the imperative for continued friendship,
cooperation of Jews and Christians, and the dangers of "replacement theology" which threatens Israel.
The second afternoon panel:
Rachel Fish who produced the movie detailing the anti
Israel bias in Coumbia University with Project David. Ms. Fish discussed her unique and successful efforts as a student at
Harvard's Divinity School which culminated in the school's return of a stipend from a radical Islamic group.
Alyssa Lappen a prominent participant in the efforts
to expose media bias against Israel detailed the Mohammed Al Dhury (the child supposedly killed by Israelis while cowering
with his father) fraud perpetrated by the French media, and circulated throughout the world as an
example of Israeli cruelty.
The last portion Helen Freedman, Executive Director of AFSI described
her November tour to Gaza and Judea and Samaria, conducted twice a year by AFSI.
It was a great conference and I hope many of you will come next
time.
