MEMO: Response to Gaza Crisis

1.        Statements - every organization should issue a statement utilizing the talking points that have been distributed and that will be available on the Conference of Presidents website. 

·        Solicit statements from elected officials at the City, State and Federal level. (See statements by Congressional leaders posted on the Conference website.)

·        Solicit statements by religious, ethnic and other prominent personalities.

·        Create opportunities at which statements can be made publicly.

2.                  Monitor and respond to media coverage

·        Write letters to the editor, call news directors to point out misinformation or unbalanced coverage, provide information and fact sheets that are succinct and accurate.

·        Prepare op-ed pieces that can be signed by prominent non-Jews as well as Jewish leaders.

·        Utilize Internet sites, chat rooms, etc. to provide information.

·        Call talk shows.

3.                  Write or visit local Consul Generals

·        Those in the NY and Washington, DC areas should arrange visits to embassies and UN missions.

4.                  Letters to the Administration

·        Write to President Bush and Secretary of State Rice to express support for the U.S. position that Israel has a right to defend its citizens, that Hamas bears responsibility and that Israel must be allowed to fulfill its mission without artificial deadlines or an imposed ceasefire.  Peace will only be possible when terrorism is contained. 

5.                  Security

·        SCN has sent security alerts advising heightened awareness and precaution.  There are no specific threats against American Jewish institutions.  Iran has issued thinly veiled threats against Jewish institutions worldwide.

·        Check SCNUS.org for updated information.

·        Briefings have been held for security directors and SCN staff are available for consultation at any time.

6.                  Demonstrations

·        Numerous anti-Israel demonstrations have been held and are continuing. We urge you to organize pro-Israel counter demonstrations in every community, especially where an anti-Israel demonstration is held.  While this is a vacation week, small demonstrations will get coverage. Messages should be very clear and focus on the legitimacy of Israel’s actions to defend its citizens to counter the threats posed by Hamas and the heavy cost to those living in Israel’s south, Israel’s pinpoint response seeking to avoid civilian casualties, despite Hamas’s placing civilians in harms way by operating in their midst, etc.

·        Enlist non-Jews wherever possible as well as public officials and prominent spokespeople to demonstrate their support for Israel.

The Conference is organizing a series of conference call briefings, the first of which was held yesterday, and we are working on high-level briefings for the next several days.  Events dictate the availability of the important personalities we are inviting to speak.  We have held briefings for broadcasters and bloggers and will be doing several more during the course of the week.  We issued a statement Saturday night (on the Conference website) and have sent letters to President Bush and Secretary Rice.  We have been in around-the-clock consultations with American and Israeli officials.  The Daily Alert came out with a special Sunday edition and will be adding mid-day bulletins and selected talking points as events dictate.

It is important to create a context for Israel’s response to Hamas terror including:

·        Israel’s 2005 total withdrawal from Gaza; the firing of almost 7,000 rockets and mortars, including hundreds in the past week at Israeli population centers;

·        The increased range of Hamas missiles (one of which hit Beer Sheva for the first time yesterday) that put more than 700,000 Israelis in danger; Hamas’s unilateral refusal to renew the ceasefire and repeated declarations that it will destroy the State of Israel; and

·        The huge arsenal that was smuggled through the tunnels with tons of ammunitions and increasingly sophisticated armaments adding to the lethal capacity of the 15,000 men in Hamas’s forces. 

Hamas and Hezbollah are proxies of Iran.  Israel remains committed to a negotiated settlement.  PA Chairman Abbas, leaders of Egypt and other Arab leaders have publicly stressed that they warned Hamas of the consequences of their actions and their renewal of missile attacks.  Israel has continued efforts to provide humanitarian assistance with more than 27,000 truckloads of food, medicine and supplies over the past 16 months including hundreds in the last days. This is in addition to fuel and electricity service provided by Israel.  While Israel has permitted 4,000 Palestinians to cross from Gaza into Israel for treatment in hospitals there or elsewhere, Hamas gunners fired on them and sought to attack relief vehicles.  Israel demonstrated incredible restraint seeking to avoid a military response which Hamas publicly mocked and saw as a sign of weakness and lack of determination.  Israel was left with no choice if it was to live up to its responsibility to defend its citizens.

Useful articles and briefing materials are available at www.conferenceofpresidents.org.

Organizations producing materials or undertaking programs should please share them with the Conference.