Rally to Support Israel
7:30PM on Thursday January 8th
at Congregation Mishkan Tefilah

300 Hammond Pond Parkway, Chestnut Hill
Join with the entire community to stand in support of Israel. click here for directions

Sponsored by JCRC, CJP, ADL, AJC, AIPAC, BIAC, The David Project, Hadassah, The Hillel Council of New England, SAIAT and others.

Statement by Boston Community Leaders
In Support of Israel's Right to Self-Defense and a Lasting Peace for Palestinians and Israelis

In the last several years, Israel, one of America's most reliable friends in the world, has seen its civilians subjected to some 10,000 rockets and mortar bombs launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Neither the United States nor any other responsible country could afford to stand by idly while its citizens were subjected to such assault; neither the United States nor any other country would do so.

Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, can testify to the menace: "Having been in Sderot when missiles were landing, I know the terror those families feel, but I can't imagine the fear and anxiety of wondering daily where or when the next fatal missile will drop. Israelis have been terrorized every day since they left Gaza. They have a right to defend themselves and respond to such violent provocations. Even if you know nothing about the specifics of this conflict, you can understand the very basic desire of a people to ensure safety and security for their families. We should support them in their efforts to attain that safety and security, which will ultimately come at too high a price."

Our community is united in supporting Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas's attacks on its civilians, and to act to stop those attacks. Our community and all friends of Israel share a deep concern for the tragic civilian suffering in Israel and in the Gaza Strip alike. But there should be no doubt that the responsibility for this suffering falls squarely on the shoulders of Hamas, a terrorist organization that has placed its avowed goal of obliterating Israel ahead of the welfare of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

We hope and pray that Hamas will cease its assault on Israel, and will agree to permit Israel to live in peace in the region. We hope and pray that those in the Middle East who seem committed to a path of violence will choose a different path, one that leads to two states living peacefully side-by-side. Until that occurs, we firmly support Israel in its effort to halt the cruel and incessant attacks against its people, attacks that are an impediment to the cause of peace that we hold dear.

For more information, resources and ways to support Israel vist the Israel Action Center Website