[Peace-discuss] Report from Chicago and Ann Arbor

[David Green]

Message: 5
   Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 16:46:17 -0500
   From: Henry Herskovitz <hersko at umich.edu>
Subject: Report on Beth Israel vigil 02-28-2004

The delay in receiving this vigil report is not due to
your television 
set, 
nor your Internet Service Provider. The delay is
caused by the writer's 
attendance at the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) 
conference "The Israel Summit - Tools for Action",
held at the Hyatt 
Regency O'hare in Chicago on Sunday. Information on
AIPAC can be found 
at 
http://www.aipac.org/. An aid to former Michigan
Congressman David 
Bonior 
said that AIPAC was second only to the National Rifle
Association in 
political power on capital hill, and everything
witnessed on Sunday 
corroborated his statement.

Perhaps most shocking to this observer was the
Nationalist tone set by 
this 
conference. A large room with hundreds of dining
tables housed 1600 
attendees (650 students). At the front, on stage,
stood the speaker's 
table 
flooded in bright light. Flanking the speakers were
four national 
flags: 
two Israeli (large and small) on the speaker's left,
and like-sized 
United 
States flags, on his/her right.

The show of power of this lobby was not limited just
to physical 
surroundings. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and 9
Illinois Congressional 
Representatives each spoke about their commitment to
Israel, and to the 
goal of AIPAC - "Stengthening the U.S. - Israel
relationship". Jesse 
Jackson, Jr. spoke of his AIPAC-sponsored trip to
Israel, and thanked 
the 
organization along with local Rabbis (esp. Rabbi David
Saperstein) for 
the 
privilege of traveling there. He declared "most
moving" was his trip to 
Yad 
Vashem, Jerusalem's Holocaust Memorial, and subsequent
"need" for the 
Jewish State. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky explained
how helpful AIPAC 
is 
to citizens running for Congress: they will help the
politician-to-be 
draft 
his/her Israel solidarity statement.

And wealth: Many of the 650 students in attendance
were flown in at the 
expense of just 3 local businessmen. The ability to
raise funds for 
Israel 
is just one of many AIPAC's strengths. As peace
activists dedicated to 
Palestinian self-determination, we have our work cut
out for ourselves.

On a brighter side, the Ann Arbor event Sunday at the
Jewish Community 
Center appears to have gone well. 75 to 100 people
were reported to 
have 
been in attendance, and the discussion was described
to me as "lively". 
Thanks to Alan H, and other presenters who helped make
this event a 
success. Jewish Witnesses are anxious to continue our
vigil, and are 
buoyed 
by comments received that we also played a part in the
success of this 
event.

Speaking of vigils, 9 members of JWP basked in
temperatures that 
exceeded 
the freezing mark last Saturday. We look forward to
next week when some 
of 
our ranks will return from their vacations. The Ann
Arbor News printed 
a 
letter explaining our vigils, found at 
http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1077723650250370.xml?aanews?NELE

and reprinted below.

For those following these pages closely, the young
congregant who took 
my 
calling card at last week's vigil, failed to initiate
contact during 
the 
week, perhaps because of spring break. We hope he uses
he renewed 
energy to 
make good on his word.

March 20 Rally: JWP is combining with Ann Arbor
Coalition Against War 
to 
maintain a presence during the rally and march, for
those activists 
also 
committed to Peace in Palestine. You will be able to
recognize us by 
our 
new 8-foot "Free Palestine" banner, recently received
from our printer. 
We 
will also staff a table on the Diag, where we will
offer pins and 
stickers, 
along with other related information. See you there.

Henry Herskovitz

Letter from Feb. 25, 2004 Ann Arbor News:

Jewish Americans can help end conflict

Our group, formed last year, is called "Jewish
Witnesses for Peace and 
friends." We hold silent vigils in front of Beth
Israel Congregation 
primarily to raise awareness of the effects of
Israel's 36-year-old 
illegal 
occupation of Palestinian land. Our venue is the
synagogue, because the 
audience we wish to address is mainstream American
Jews, very much like 
ourselves.

Many of the Jewish people who attend synagogue are
those who 
financially 
and politically support Israel. Our goal is to end
this funding of 
Israel's 
occupation, financed by individual contributions, and
by our tax 
dollars 
and loan guarantees. Ending the occupation is the most
logical and 
necessary way to bring a just and lasting peace to the
region. The 
estimated amount of money donated through these
sources totals $15 
million 
every day (Source: Washington Report on Middle East
Affairs).

Our vigil accomplishes much more, however. To
non-Jews, who might be 
critical of Israeli policies but too concerned to
speak lest they be 
labeled "anti-Semites," we offer them the observance
that Jewish 
Americans 
come forth and criticize the Israeli government.

The Jewish community can play a vital and significant
role in reducing 
the 
continuing slaughter of innocents in Israel and
Palestine, both Jewish 
and 
Palestinian. Many in our group have been to Palestine
and have 
witnessed 
firsthand the horrors of occupation.

Henry Herskovitz, Ann Arbor


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