Efforts by the Jewish organizers of a New York City rally against Iran Monday to keep the event free of politics failed to stop protesters from voicing their avid support for the Republican presidential ticket of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
Thousands Attend NYC anti-Iran Rally
Efforts by the Jewish organizers of a New York City rally against Iran Monday to keep the event free of politics failed to stop protesters from voicing their avid support for the Republican presidential ticket of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.
More pictures in the Extended Article!
Interspersed with Israeli flags and placards calling for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to “take your hate back to hell” were a fluttering of blue McCain-Palin campaign signs, along with more strident handmade ones sticking out above the crowd, including one that read: “Prevent a nuclear Iranian Holocaust on Israel, vote McCaine-Palin [sic].”
The event, organized by Jewish groups including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the United Jewish Communities, the UJA-Federation New York and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, drew several thousand cheering students and activists from as far away as Baltimore and Detroit to protest the Iranian government and its nuclear program.
“These weapons will not only threaten Israel, they will threaten Riyadh, Paris, London and New York,” Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik told the cheering crowd.
“The free world must not allow the threat of destruction like this without taking proper action to stop him. We have to stop him, to stop him, to stop him!” she exhorted.
“When I hear these threats I see the concentration camps, I see the horrors, I see the gas chambers,” Itzik said. She described Ahmadinejad as “the man who has brought this nightmare back, the man who is responsible for bringing back the horrors of the past.”
“Some think he is crazy, others say he is just arrogant, but bitter experience has taught us to take such madmen seriously. He surely believes that the world that was silent then will be silent today, too. He wants us to suffer, to have nightmares, to be afraid,” said Itzik, who wore a flak jacket at the insistence of her security detail.
“When the Nazis came to power, and threatened the existence of the Jewish people, people dismissed his [Hitler’s] statements. We should not ignore them now… Iran’s fingerprints can be clearly seen and felt wherever people plan and carry out acts of terror,” Itzik added.
Other leading lights, including former deputy prime minister Natan Sharansky and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, joined the roster of students, rabbis and New York Jewish leaders who spoke.
“We urge all the UN delegations across the street to leave the hall when [Ahmadinejad] appears on the stage,” said Wiesel, who accused Ahmadinejad of backing the groups that are holding Gilad Schalit captive, and of planning “a nuclear Holocaust” against the Jews.
“Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, go home and stay there, we don’t want you here. America doesn’t want you here. Nobody wants you,” Wiesel declaimed. He called for Ahmadinejad to be indicted by an international war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Sharansky said Iran was as evil and dangerous as the former Soviet Union ever was.
“Our struggle will need a lot of moral clarity. When the president of the United States of America called the Soviet Union the ‘Evil Empire’ we in the prisons knew its days were numbered,” said Sharansky, wearing a simple white shirt rather than a suit, and sporting a green canvas cap against the sun.
“Now, unfortunately, the leaders of the world need it explained again and again that here is evil, equally dangerous,” Sharansky said.
“We believe the most important responsibility for people of faith is tikkun olam, to heal the world. For them, the most important thing is to kill as many people as possible,” Sharansky added.
While most strove to leave partisan infighting out of their addresses, at least one speaker made the issue explicitly political: Iranian human rights activist Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi, who said her father was a political prisoner in Iran, accused the Clinton administration, and particularly former president Bill Clinton’s secretary of state, Warren Christopher, of appeasing the mullahs.
She went on to attack European nations including Britain, France and Germany for offering “recalcitrant mullahs” incentive packages to halt their efforts to develop nuclear enrichment capacity.
The crowd, which thinned as the speeches wore on, reacted enthusiastically.
“This is an issue that Democrats and Republicans should agree on, not something they should be squabbling over,” said Ariel Kahane, a 37-year-old public-school biology teacher in Manhattan who arrived wearing a McCain cap and waving a sign.
Another man standing at the rear of the crowd echoed the point as he silently held a scrawled, accusatory placard: “Dems hate Sarah Palin more than they hate the Islamofascists.”
The rally, billed as the main event of the umbrella Coalition to Stop Iran Now, was initially meant to feature New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is now campaigning on behalf of Illinois Democratic Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential bid. Clinton pulled out abruptly after organizers added Palin to the agenda, prompting an embarrassing about-face from the group, which disinvited Palin to avoid the appearance of partisanship.
Several Jewish leaders involved in planning the rally blamed Conference of Presidents executive director Malcolm Hoenlein for causing the flap. Hoenlein, who did not represent his organization onstage Monday, declined comment to The Jerusalem Post when reached by phone after the rally.
Leaders of various member organizations milling around a secure area near the speakers’ stage before the event said they were concerned the political noise would distract from the overall message about the danger Iran poses, but declined to comment on the record.
The rhetorical missiles being lobbed on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, across the street from the United Nations’ headquarters, came a day before Ahmadinejad is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly. On Thursday, he is joining General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua as guest of honor at a dinner hosted by Mennonite and Quaker groups.
Earlier in the day, Iranian dissidents speaking at a press conference organized by the nonprofit group Human Rights Watch endorsed efforts to bring Ahmadinejad before international tribunals.
“Ahmadinejad himself should be a target of sanctions,” said Akbar Ganji, an Iranian journalist and former political prisoner. “Students and activists have a very difficult time leaving the country, but Ahmadinejad and his friends travel very freely. All this would be interpreted as helping the rights and freedom movements.”
Yet Ganji explicitly warned that any economic sanctions that might affect the Iranian populace – like proposals to block refined petroleum imports or cut Iran off from the international banking system – could backfire by precipitating a wave of nationalist support.
Ganji and Hadi Ghaemi, head of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, also said they oppose taking military action against Iran – an option that has gained traction as an issue in the American presidential campaign.
Both US presidential candidates on Sunday night told CBS’s 60 Minutes that they would not discount the possibility of launching a military strike on Iran.
However, while Obama discussed the military option as a possible means of denying the Islamic Republic a nuclear weapon, McCain addressed a scenario where Teheran had already obtained such capabilities and threatened to wield them against the US.
“I think that a nuclear-armed Iran is not just a threat to us, it’s a threat to Israel,” Obama said. “It is a game-changer in the region. It’s unacceptable. And that’s why I’ve said that I won’t take any options off the table, including military, to prevent them from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”
The Democratic hopeful went on to claim that the Bush administration had wasted time in failing to address the Iranian threat, saying, “We have not applied the kind of tough diplomacy over the last eight years that I think could have made a difference.”
In a separate interview, McCain cited Iran as an example for the kind of threat that could be countered by a preemptive strike “if it’s a provable direct threat.”
“Suppose that the Iranians had nuclear weapons, and you had a whole lot of other information about Iranian intentions, and you could make the case to the American people and to the world. I think it’s obvious that we would have to prevent what we’re absolutely certain is a direct threat to the lives of the American people,” McCain said.
Meanwhile, President Shimon Peres left Israel late on Monday night to represent Israel at the UN’s 63rd General Assembly, where he will be one of several world leaders scheduled to address the assembly.
Peres has every intention of listening to Ahmadinejad’s address, but it is not known whether Ahmadinejad will give the Israeli president the same courtesy.
Peres also has a series of meetings lined up with Ban Ki-Moon, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Tentative appointments with other world leaders have yet to be confirmed.
moishy
Some thoughts to ponder:
*If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by a single Mom and your grandparents, you’re “exotic, different ” and not a real American.
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers , a quintessential American story.
*If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.
*Graduate near the top of you class from Harvard Law School and you are an elitist who’s not a real American and certainly not qualified to be President of the U.S.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating or finish close to last in your class at the Naval Academy , you’re well grounded and the most qualified to hold the two highest offices in the U.S.
* If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the
Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience.
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re
qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive.
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.
If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a maverick and someone to be looked up to as promoting Christian values.
* If you teach children about sexual predators, you are irresponsible and eroding the fiber of society but if while Mayor of your small town, you charge rape victims for rape kits you are to be applauded for your
leadership.
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t
represent America’s ; however if you can’t remember how many houses you own, your wife is one of the richest people in America who inherited her money and wears dresses every day that cost several hundred thousand dollars, the two of you have more in common with and can relate better to “real” Americans than the snooty Harvard Law graduates who paid their own way through college and law school.
If you’re husband is nicknamed “First Dude”, with a DWI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that hates America and advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
* If you repeatedly lie about your own record and that of your opponent while your opponent refuses to make up lies about you, you’re a maverick who is to be admired while your opponent is weird, out of touch elitist.
OK, much clearer now.
boruch hoffinger
B“H
”The State of Israel pushed away Moshiach by 50 Years.“ The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, MH”M
I can’t stand looking at those Israeli flags!
Stop wasting time and go and learn Torah and bring Jews to themeselves! Bring out their Nefesh Eloquit, their Holy Souls! This is THE ANSWER!
Misguided souls.
bhoffinger@aol.com
scoty g
why did us crown heightsesrs not take a stand there were hundreds of people that would have gone had the chjjc said to or provided buses.
Milhouse
Moishy, if that is your name, your list of lies and half-truths is exposed by the last item, which is an out-and-out lie. If you think Obama, who considers terrorists not so bad that they can’t be his friends, has not been lying through his teeth, then you aren’t paying attention. For just the latest example of many, consider the immigration ad he’s currently running in Spanish, which is full of lies and slander. Or go back a bit and remember his clear and unqualified promise to accept public financing and the restrictions that come with it, which he broke as soon as it became convenient. Or his claim to support an undivided Yerushalayim, which he changed the very next day. A person who wanted it to be legal to kill babies who miraculously survived abortions, is not someone you want to trust.
Sholom
To Moishy,
What about all of your buddy Barack’s terrorist friends here in the US and israel.
So he is an educated terrorist.
Do you know that Ahmadenijad is also very educated and cultured he also believes in sexual education.
Maybe vote for him as president. He also loves jews, only hates the stinking state of Israel.
May you see the light and not be confused. Hashem Yeracheim!
Shana Tova
Boruch......?
boruch — The previos lubavithcer rebbe m’hm?!?! do u know what m’hm stands for? leaqrn that first and then come out sharp against the lives of millionss of jews!!!
This one-s for Moishy
How about this question, Moish:
If you sat in a church for 22 years and listened to anti-white, anti-semitic, anti-American drivel, and you called this pastor your Mentor, what does that make you?
If you want to sit down with Ahmadinejad unconditionally, even though he has made himself clear on seeking to destroy and obliterate 6 million Jews, what does that make you?
If your mentors, while community-organizing were Marxist and communists who seek to undermine America, what does that make you?
Give me a break, “Moishy”.
And one more question: Who do you work for, and how much do you get paid?
-Gotta love ya-, Moishy, but listen up!
B“H
OK, Moishy —
We see you are a supporter of the Democrat Party’s candidates for the November Presidential election.
You;re also very wrapped up in all of the gossip-mongers’ stories about the Republican Party’s candidates, using Loshon Hara to ”justify“ your preference.
NOW, can you tell me what your long testimonial has to do with the horror of the ”ruler“ of Iran, and with what he wants to do to the Jews?
You didn’t even mention how YOUR BELOVED candidate wants to sit down and have a coffee klatch, with NO preconditions, with the new yemach shemo of Iran. THAT would have at least been relevant to the news story being blogged here!
So Moishy, gesundter heyt!
But I don’t think you convinced anyone to vote for your ”fave” candidates here.
Ksiva Vachasima Tova, L’Shana Tova U’M’Suka
Hashem help us!
Oy Gevalt with this already
Milhouse, this one’s for.., et all:
The job of the President is diplomacy first always. You think that McCain will just bomb Iran into oblivion, you’re kidding yourself.
It seams the ones not paying attention are you. If you think that the US has so much say in the affairs of Israel, then you must be thrilled with what Bush has done in the last eight years, with dismantlement, a stalled peace process, etc.
Go vote for McSame and Painful who believes that the “end time” is coming soon and who’s “support” for Israel is based on Jesus coming back. You don’t like Obama’s former pastor, neither do I; but have you heard what Pailin’s pastor has to say, it makes the other guy look like a choir boy. I don’t want these fundamentalist nuts on my side, neither should any Jew.
Nobodies perfect, but some are less perfect than others.
What happens to Israel affects every Jew in the world! Iran is not the greatest threat to Israel’s future, what we do in November is!
A Goy calling himself moishy Ha Ha
A Goy calling himself “Moishy” Ha Ha.
Listen mister, I don’t know how you found this jewish site, but you see, there’s no way that you can pass off as a religious Jew. Not while supporting an Anti-Israel, Anti-America candidate.
McCain -Keeping America, America.
this rally is anti SHLAIMOS HAARETZ
BELOW IS A REPORT OF THE EXACT SAME RALLY TWO YEARS AGO.
FLIMSY SOLIDARITY IN NYC
The rally in NYC on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, was advertised as being outside of the UN. Yes, 47th street was definitely outside of the UN which is on 42nd street, even if the grounds do run to 45th.
In general the rally was very upbeat. Jews like to be together. I did not notice any major media personnel. The only television camera I noticed was from the Russian station.
The rally was an interesting mix of people. JTA dot org reported the crowd at 35,000. I would guess it was a scant 4,000 and with comers and goers give it another thousand. At the end of one city block was the stage and that block was full to the end, but not packed. The Avenue at the end of the block was open to traffic and the rest of the crowd stood behind barriers for not even a quarter of the next block.
At least a thousand of the crowd were placard carrying Christians. They were all nice looking, well groomed people. They are also interested in saving Eretz Yisroel from an Iranian attack. They feel good about being our allies.
I would estimate more than half the crowd was made up of high school students. Their buses lined the avenues for blocks. Just before Rosh Hashana it was wonderful to see so many beautiful Jewish kids. It would be great to hold a rally for the schools and adapt the program to them.
Another thousand were paid workers from the various organizations who were affiliated with organizing the rally. They all wore t-shirts and/or ID cards with the name of their organization. Hadassah had bright red t-shirts. Other visible organizations were United Jewish Appeal and various Federation groups.
As advertised, the goal of the rally was to protest the address at the UN by the President of Iran. (Forget that, we were so far away no one had a clue we were there.) But it was clear that the theme of the rally was unity with Israel. Arutz Sheva quoted Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the organization responsible for the rally, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, as saying, “The purpose of the rally is to show solidarity with Israel and to demand the release of the MIAs.”
The opening words of the rally praised the collection of groups who had dropped their differences and formed an alliance for the rally. The idea of overlooking differences to benefit the common good, re-enforced the concept that support for the government in Eretz Yisroel means to overlook the corruption and willful destruction, and allow them to make their own decisions unfettered. American Jews are to show solidarity with the accepted implication that we give our support not our opinions.
My purpose for being at the rally was to counter that concept. Together with Buddy Macy, we were giving out booklets specially prepared by truepeace.org to influence Jews who have always believed that if they do not move to Eretz Yisroel and serve in the army, they have no right to voice their opinion.
The booklet is called ‘The Complex Relationship of American Jews to the Land of Israel.’ It presents the view that true and enduring solidarity is a relationship. And a healthy relationship can only be achieved and maintained if there is morality, honesty and communication.
Buddy volunteered for years with the Federation until he realized that the organization that he had been loyal to and raised money for, did not have the values he was seeking. He may not have been well enough informed to know the Federation should have come out against the Disengagement, but he did know that the least they could do would be to help the refugees from Gush Katif after the Disengagement. When Buddy learned that the Federations, as a whole, were not raising or allocating funds for the expellees from Gush Katif, and when he witnessed UJC’s silence in the aftermath of the police and military brutality at Amona, he resigned from his Federation positions.
I think we had a lot of success. Some people took the booklets, some came over and asked for one, often the booklets initiated stimulating conversations.
One stately looking Rabbi told us in an authoritarian tone that it is not proper for a Jew living outside of Eretz Yisroel to criticize the Jewish government. It was hard to argue with someone of his apparent stature. I, being a casually dressed woman, and Buddy an obviously secular Jew were uncomfortable explaining Judaism to a Rabbi with a full grey beard. I respectfully told the rabbi the answer was on the back cover of the booklet. There he will read a quote from someone who also looks like a distinguished rabbi. The quote is taken from a letter dated 1959, when the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote, “Jews in the Diaspora should negate from now and into the future, the claim which is heard in certain circles, that a Jew living outside of Eretz Yisroel should not give his opinion regarding matters in the Holy Land, may it be rebuilt and established.”