U.S. Jewish leaders back Israel

Harold Tanner, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the central coordinating body representing 52 national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern, have issued a statement from the group regarding Israel's disengagement from Gaza:

The Conference of Presidents has supported, and continues to support, the decision of the government and Knesset of Israel to disengage from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Israel is taking an unprecedented step - unilaterally leaving land won in a defensive war - and must be given the time and support to absorb its impact. We urge the international community to recognize this bold initiative by the prime minister and the government of Israel.

As Israel faces this momentous and demanding time with the implementation of the Disengagement Plan, the American Jewish community stands in solidarity and compassion with all the people of Israel. We pray for their safety and welfare - for the soldiers and police entrusted with carrying out this sensitive and difficult mission as well as for those forced to leave their homes, communities and often their livelihoods.

Neve Dekalim youth cries upon leaving community

We honor them both for having answered the call of the State. We recognize that the residents came to these areas at the invitation and urging of decades of successive Israeli governments. By their sweat, they turned the sand dunes into verdant areas, and, in too many cases, with their tears they mourned innocent loved ones who were victims of terror. They should be embraced for their sacrifices and accomplishments.

The commemoration of Tisha b’Av reminds us of our responsibility to one another - to treat each other with respect, understanding and love. We must do all we can to avoid exacerbating tensions and escalating rhetoric that can only prove harmful to all. We must all help promote reconciliation. So much is at stake - perhaps no less than the cohesion of Israeli society. It is especially important at this critical moment to respect and uphold the rule of law. At the same time, the principles of democracy and the protection of citizens’ rights must be preserved.

Obligation to help

The division within Israel underscores that everyone - government leaders, rabbis, community leaders, and citizens - has an obligation to promote the healing process. History shows that words of violence lead to deeds of violence. We must isolate those who seek to divide and deny them the imprimatur of legitimacy. It is particularly odious when some invoke imagery and comparisons to actions by the Nazis. Such language is totally unacceptable and demeans the singular significance of the Holocaust.

Those of us in the Diaspora also have an obligation to help foster the unity of the Jewish people with the Jewish State. We should bring to bear all the resources we can muster - political, financial, and human - to help ease the burdens.

We must mobilize the international community to recognize the end of the Israeli presence in Gaza and to assure that the Palestinian Authority lives up to its responsibilities and fulfills its commitments by stopping the terror, dismantling the terrorist infrastructure, ending the vicious incitement against Israel and Jews, preventing the glorification of violence and attribution of Israel’s withdrawal to it, and ensuring that the threats of Hamas and other terror organizations to continue their attacks are not realized.

End demonization

Disengagement is an opportunity for the Palestinians to demonstrate that they can govern themselves by the rule of law and without posing a threat to Israel.

The demonization of Israel at the United Nations and in other international fora must end, as must the misguided and unjustified attempts by some in the United States and abroad to isolate Israel politically and economically.

We must work with our own government to help Israel provide the necessary assistance to offset the significant security burden on Israel’s economy and support the development of the Negev and Galilee.

Among the gravest dangers to the State of Israel is internal strife. We have been blessed with a reborn, independent, democratic, Jewish state that we must preserve and protect for all generations to come. We have to refocus on the overwhelming preponderance of areas of agreement, while respectfully recognizing differences. The key lies in achdut - Jewish unity - that has enabled us to withstand the challenges throughout our history.

Am Yisrael u’medinat Yisrael chaim v’kayamim