Israel chose not to attend pro-Israel
rallies in French cities during the
latest war, some Jews said they again
felt abandoned by the lawmakers.
"One president who supports
Israel doesn't mean Jews will feel
represented:' said Patrick Gaubert,
president of the International League
Against Racism and Anti-Semitism.
Frederic Encel, a geopolitical
scholar and expert on French-Israel
ties, says the situation is still far bet-
ter than it was at the start of the sec-
ond intifada. Some French authori-
ties were seen then as explaining
away anti-Jewish crime in France.
Now the country has a president and
foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner,
invested in brokering Middle East
peace.
On Monday, the Grand Mosque
of Paris confirmed to the JTA that
its members had pulled out from a
major interreligious dialogue group,
the French Judeo-Muslim Friendship
organization.
The mosque issued a statement
last week complaining of the "total
absence of condemnations" of Israel's
operation in Gaza from the group's
Jewish contingent, according to AFP.
The Jewish representative to the
group, Rabbi Michel Serfaty, insisted
he would not slow his efforts with
the remaining Muslims in the group.
"Prejudice can't be changed over-
night," Serfaty said. 11

Answering
Israel's Critics

The Charge
A senior Hamas official in
Damascus, Mohammed Nazzal,
said a true cease-fire between
the group which controls Gaza
and Israel would not occur until
Israel ends the siege of the sea-
side territory.

The Answer
Nazzal conveniently forgets
that the siege of the illegitimate
llamas government in Gaza
is also enforced by Egypt, the
U.N., the U.S., Russia and the
European Union. It will end
when Hamas ends terror, recog-
nizes Israel and agrees to abide
by previous Israeli-Palestinian
agreements.

— Allan Gale

Jewish Community Relations Council

of Metropolitan Detroit

@ Jewish Renaissance Media, Jan. 29, 2009

The needs are urgent.
The time is now

Please answer our call.

Economic conditions in our community are causing
untold hardship for people who never thought they'd
be in need of help.

Three ways to give now:

This year, our agencies are overburdened with
requests for help. We can't let down the people who
are counting on them, so we turn to you for help.

2. Online:

1.Hotline:
888-GIVE-HOPE

jewishdetroit.org

3. Mail:

Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit
P.O. Box 2030
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030

Between February 8 and February 11, Federation
volunteers will be making calls to our community to
help raise much needed funds to help those in need.
We ask that you answer the call and make a gift that
is meaningful to you. No matter how much you give,
you will make a difference in someone's life.

When you give, you give hope.

SUPER Pft 111,

C O U N

FEBRUARY 9-11, 2009

FEBRUARY 8, 2009

If you, or someone
you know needs
assistance,
contact the Jewish
Assistance Project
at (248) 592-2650

With your help, Federation supports:

Akiva Hebrew Day School
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
Hebrew Free Loan
Hillel Day School of Metro Detroit
Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy

The Chrysler Foundation

C HRYSLE R

Jeep,

Jewish
Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit

888 - GIVE - HOPE jewishdetroit.org

DOOM."

Jewish Apartments & Services
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Relations Council
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Home & Aging Services
JVS

Tamarack Camps
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
Yeshiva Gedolah
Yeshivas Darchei Torah
Israel Programs and Services

Hillel Eastern Michigan University
Foundations Michigan State University
at: Oakland Community College

Oakland University
University of Michigan
Wayne State University

January 29 • 2009

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