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Ha’azinu/Shabbat Shuva, by Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold, JFNA Rabbinic Cabinet

No work, no matter how humble, is a dishonor.

-Talmud-

JCRC Posts Briefing on May 31 Flotilla Incident in Israel

In light of Israel’s action on May 31 against the flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation feels that is it critical for the Jewish community and others to be exposed to accurate and objective coverage of this incident in order to advocate on behalf of the State of Israel.

It is imperative that the context surrounding the flotilla's so-called humanitarian effort be known in order to understand the motivation for Israel's intervention. Therefore, the JCRC is providing background information and links to materials relating to the situation.

Click here to read the latest JCRC Special Briefing. Updates will be provided as developments unfold. Click here to read ways you can show your support for Israel.

Federation and the JCRC regret the loss of life suffered and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. We hope this tragic event does not derail efforts to bring peace to the region.

Statements of Support from Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)

June 1, 2010

Israel has the right and duty to defend itself and protect its citizens against all threats. As a security precaution, Israel was well within its rights to search the cargo and passengers of a ship on the verge of breaching its sovereign borders, despite repeated requests from the Israeli government to stop.

The loss of life is always tragic, but we must not be fooled: the passengers aboard the ship have done great harm to the human rights movement by using the name of peace as a pretense for violence against Israeli soldiers. The ship’s passengers could have allowed Israeli service members to escort their ship to a port peacefully to transfer aid to the people living in Hamascontrolled Gaza, but instead resorted to aggression and hostility.

Israeli soldiers cannot be blamed for defending themselves and their citizens. I will not allow Israel to be blamed unfairly for exercising its right to self-defense.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

June 1, 2010

Israel has the right and the duty to defend itself and its citizens, including by seeking to inspect ships run by Islamist extremist groups. These extremists, suspected of financing jihadist groups, were seeking to enter Hamas-controlled Gaza despite repeated requests from the Israeli government not to do so.

Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Islamist militant groups have repeatedly used innocent civilians as human shields. They hide rockets and other weapons in homes, hospitals, and schools. With this in mind and given that the group running the ‘flotilla’ has ties to jihadist groups, Israel was compelled to search the cargo and passengers as a vital security measure.

Israeli soldiers had every right to defend their lives against a lynch mob attacking them with knives and clubs.

It is deeply troubling that the UN’s knee-jerk reaction was to immediately condemn and isolate Israel, particularly while still refusing to take concrete steps to stop Iran’s march toward a nuclear weapon.

The U.S. must stand with Israel against this diplomatic lynch mob and the threats posed to its security, and very existence, by Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and Syria.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

June 2, 2010

The loss of life that occurred off Israel’s coast early Monday morning was tragic and regrettable. At this difficult time, it is vital that the international community not inflame the situation with condemnations and unjust criticism of Israel.

We must stand strong with Israel amidst the tragedy.

We must remember several elements of this conflict that place this tragedy in context. All but one of the flotilla’s ships were able to safely and peacefully transfer humanitarian goods to Gaza, via the Israeli port city of Ashdod. In this case, the aim of the passengers aboard the Mavi Marmara was not merely humanitarian aid, but to incite political confrontation and challenge Israel’s legitimate maritime blockade. The delivery of aid to Gaza by this flotilla convoy was a pretense to rouse political provocation against Israel.

We must not forget that this blockade exists because Hamas, the ruling party of Gaza, is a terrorist organization with the sworn goal to destroy the Jewish State. Such a blockade by Israel and Egypt is a means to stop the smuggling of illegal materials and weapons to Hamas. Conversely, the Israeli Navy worked to plan a non-violent interception of the flotilla and only used force when soldiers’ lives were at risk.

Tragically, members of the Israeli military were beaten and stabbed while trying to peacefully escort this ship to shore, where all donated goods could have been transferred to the people of Gaza.

As Israel continues to face unjust criticism on the world stage, the United States must continue to support our friend, ally, and partner. In the meantime, this incident should in no way take our focus off the impending threat of a nuclear Iran, which is the greatest threat to global security and peace in the Middle East.

Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)

June 3, 2010

Israel has the absolute right and duty to protect itself and its citizens from terrorist organizations; it’s a matter of national security. This includes the right to board and inspect ships which are suspected of transporting weapons, possibly used to kill Israelis, and the right to confront terrorist organizations such as Hamas in Gaza.

It is well documented that terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and state-sponsors of terrorism, like the dictatorships in Iran and Syria, falsely use the cover of “humanitarian efforts” to shield their illicit efforts to transport weapons.

At this time it is vitally important that the United States stand with Israel’s right to defend its civilians from national security threats and work to stop international efforts, such as in the UN, to use this incident to bash Israel.

Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Stanley C. Myers Building
4200 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33137-3279
Telephone: 305-576-4000

The Mission of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation is to mobilize human and financial resources to care for those in need, strengthen Jewish life and advance the unity, values and shared purpose of the Jewish people in Miami, in Israel, and around the world.