U.S. Jewish Leaders Taking Solidarity Trip to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict

[King_David]

Leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a 51-member umbrella group, will visit Israel from July 14-16 in a showing of solidarity for the Jewish state amid the ongoing rocket barrages from Gaza.

“We feel compelled to demonstrate in the most tangible way our deep concern for and solidarity with Israel by being physically present with them,” said Conference of Presidents Chairman Robert G. Sugarman and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Malcolm Hoenlein.

“They must know they are not alone and that the Jewish community as well the vast majority of the American people stand with them and pray for their safety and strive to tell the true story of Israel’s defensive action.”

The American delegation will meet with high-level government and military officials to gain insight into Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, in addition to visiting areas impacted by rocket attacks.

“We express our support especially to the families living in Israel’s south, who have once again come under constant bombardment by rockets from Hamas-controlled Gaza,” Sugarman and Hoenlein said.

“This is an intolerable situation and Israel must take whatever steps necessary to protect its citizens under attack and to put an end to these attacks across an international boundary.”

http://www.shalomlife.com/news/24551/us-jewish-leaders-taking-solidarity-trip-to-israel-amid-gaza-conflict/

[Scootaloo]

1. Maybe Israel will give them a picnic overlooking the bombing runs

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123136613816062175

[Jefferson23]

2. Scary, people can be very scary. n/t

[azurnoir]

5. will there be popcorn?

Israelis pictured eating POPCORN and clapping as they watch deadly bombardment of Gaza

The image, which has been retweeted more than 8,000 times, has led to heated debate on Twitter.

The photo was taken on Wednesday in Sderot, around a mile away from the Gaza strip, a town which often finds itself under fire from rockets from Gaza.

The day before, Israeli security forces began strikes in Gaza to retaliate against rockets from Hamas.

One user wrote: “Morality of a people so skewed that murder is a public spectacle. An astonishing thing to see in this day/age."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/israelis-pictured-eating-popcorn-clapping-3846801#ixzz37IWaS1pz

[Scootaloo]

6. Sure, why not

“Sderot cinema: Israelis bringing chairs 2 hilltop in sderot 2 watch latest from Gaza. Clapping when blasts are heard.”

Charming. I wonder if they brought their kids.

[Voice for Peace]

3. I'm sure that will help enormously.

http://www.juancole.com/2014/07/israels-groundhog-snowballs.html

http://www.juancole.com/2014/07/numbers-people-there.html

Gaza by the Numbers: Who the People are, how They got There
Population of Palestinians of Gaza: 1.7 million
Number of Palestinians in Gaza whose families were expelled as refugees from their homes in what is now southern Israel: 1.2 million
Number of Palestinians in Gaza still living in the 8 recognized refugee camps, “which have one of the highest population densities in the world”: over 500,000
Compensation Palestinians of Gaza have received for the billions of dollars of property taken from them by Israelis in Beersheva, Sderot, etc.: $0
Years since Israel allowed Palestinians of Gaza to export what they produce: 7
Unemployment in Gaza as a result of Israeli blockade on civilians: 38.5%
Estimated unemployment rate in US during the Great Depression: 25%
Percentage of children in Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition: 13.2%
Rate of anemia in Palestinian Children in Gaza: 18.9%
Percentage of water in Gaza that is potable: 10%
Years, according the the UN, before Gaza becomes “uninhabitable”: 6
Number of airports in Gaza rendered inoperable by Israeli airstrikes: 1
Number of airports working in Gaza: 0
Number of ports allowed by Israelis to operate on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast: 0

[Jefferson23]

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