Friend or Foe of Israel and Middle East Peace? An Open Letter to the American Jewish Community and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations On March 29, 1993 the Conference of Presidents, the highest decision-making body of American Jewry, elected Americans for Peace Now (APN) as a member. Was this a wise decision? THE CRUCIAL QUESTION Member organizations were faced with one crucial question in reaching a decision: Is APN a mainstream organization that really supports Israel and Middle East peace, as it claims, or is it an extremist group that is working against Israel and Middle East peace? THE FACTS ABOUT APN A look at APN's record shows: • APN supported President Bush in opposing loan guarantees to Israel unless Israel agreed to a settlement freeze in Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank"), Gaza and the Golan Heights. Major American Jewish organizations overwhelmingly supported the loan guarantees and opposed Bush's linking them to a settlement freeze. • APN has been pressuring the U.S. and Israel to negotiate with the PLO and supports the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. American Jewish organizations and an overwhelming majority of Israelis oppose a Palestinian state. • APN has not supported a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty as the capital of Israel and has actually called for the eviction of Jews from parts of Jerusalem. American Jews over- whelmingly support international recognition of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty as Israel's capital and would never accept APN's policy of making parts of Jerusalem Judenrein -- off limits to Jews. I INN Mill INN NM 11= MN NM MI 1E11 NM MI NM MI MI MN NM MNI • APN recently elected pro-PLO activist Gail Pressberg as president. Among her numerous activities, Ms. Pressberg: ...Participated in a leadership role in a number of organizations that took strongly anti-Israel posi- tions, such as the American Friends Service Committee and the Foundation for Middle East Peace. ...Wrote an Op-Ed article for USA Today (Sept. 8, 1986) that, while initially criticizing the massacre of Turkish Jews in an Istanbul syna- gogue by Arab terrorists as "morally reprehen- sible," then proceeded to blame Israel, stating that the "roots" of the attack stemmed from Israeli treatment of Arabs. ...Was among the signers of a June 20, 1982 New York Times ad that accused Israel of atrocities in the Lebanon War. The ad contained wildly exaggerated Lebanese casualty and homeless figures circulated by the Palestinian Red Crescent, headed by Yassir Arafat's brother. SUICIDE FOR ISRAEL Were Israel to surrender Judea, Samaria and Gaza in order to create a PLO state, as APN apparently intends, it could mean national suicide for the Jewish state. The PLO has never veered from its charter -- the Palestinian National Covenant -- which calls on Arabs "to purge the Lioni31 presence from Palestine" (Article 15). By supporting the PLO, APN has revealed itself as an extremist voice that represents only an insignificant minority of American Jews. By siding with those who shed the innocent blood of Jews in the Land of Israel, APN has placed itself beyond the pale of moral acceptability. Several of APN's leaders occupy influential posi- ININ MI MIS INN MN NMI NES I= MI MM 111118 l PRO ISRAEL is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt [Section 501 (c) (3)] organization whose mandate is: • To promote an understanding of the historical, social, economic and political realities of Israel and the Middle East. LU I • To support community development throughout the Land of (r) I I I I-- I I CL -I I w I IE I C) Israel. • To maintain an information and research center on Israel and the Middle East, with particular emphasis on current developments. 1 PRO ISRAEL 17 EAST 45TH STREET NEW YORK. NEW YORK 10 017 am I= nee I= i■ am NMI NM INN =SI A WRONG SIGNAL The decision by the Conference to admit APN has sent the wrong signal .to the Administration -- a signal that APN's anti-Israel and pro-PLO agenda is acceptable to the Jewish community and other supporters of Israel. The Conference is to be condemned for its action. Those organizations that voted "YES" to admitting APN have dishonored themselves in the eyes of their members and friends of Israel. Those organizations that voted "NO" are owed a debt of gratitude by all who support the Jewish state. Unfortunately, the vote on admittance was kept secret, so that we do not know how most organ- izations voted. We do know that the leadership of all the member organizations was made aware of the truth about APN before the vote. We also understand that many leaders did not consult their members befoie voting to admit APN. It is our strong belief that, had members been made aware of the facts about APN, there would have been broad and overwhelming opposition to admitting APN. WHAT YOU CAN DO We urge all those belonging to organizations in the Conference of Presidents to find out how their leaders voted and to let their leadership know how they feel. Another way those who care for Israel can express their feelings is to join PRO ISRAEL'S efforts in getting out the real message about Israel and the threats to its security. Eg welcome your support! , ma me am me me imp Emo mei mo• mt me MNI NM MI NM NM NM MN NM MI IMO M= YES! You can count me in! I want to show my steadfast support for Israel by joining with PRO ISRAEL. I want to help ensure that the real message about Israel and the threats to its security is heard. Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of $ . (Please make checks payable to PRO ISRAEL) Please print the following information clearly: Name Phone ( Address City State L NO I= ONN ■ INN MI tions in the Clinton Administration. APN appar- ently believes that it can acquire respectability and legitimacy in the Administration by gaining membership in the Conference of Presidents. Zip ) [ J Send me more information about PRO ISRAEL. Note: A contribution of $36 or more will bring you an informative newsletter written by people living in Israel. You will be kept up-to-date on important issues concerning Israel and, in particular, Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan Heights. MI NM NM NM NEI NM I ∎ INN MN MB MI NMI =I NM MN MI INM MI MN =N MIN NM INN INN NIM INN NMI =I MIN MEI INN INN MN NM INM 10111111111111MIIIIIIMMINIIIMINIPOW1. MO