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 1443360 A21