News and Analysis for November 30, 2007
Meretz USA Rallys at Annapolis Conference
Meretz
USA and several other pro-Israel organizations went down to Annapolis,
MD this past Tuesday to rally for peace, as President Bush, Prime
Minister Olmert, President Abbas and other world leaders met to discuss
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The intention was to demonstrate
American Jewish support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and
strong US involvement in the process. Among
those who traveled to Annapolis were Meretz USA's President Lawrence I.
Lerner, Executive Director Charney V. Bromberg, Assistant Director Ron
Skolnik, Past President Lilly Rivlin, Board Member Shirley Rausher, and
ISRAEL HORIZONS Editor Ralph Seliger.
We have included in this newsletter reflections on the rally by three of these participants: Charney Bromberg, Lilly Rivlin, and Ralph Seliger. Also be sure to read Meretz USA's statement welcoming the Annapolis Meeting.
At the Rally with Charney V. Bromberg
When I spoke to the assembled audience, I said that we need to stop thinking of ourselves as a minority - that each one of us present was as ten thousand, because opinion polls for a decade say that the overwhelming majority of American Jews - 65 to 70% - support a two-state solution, an end to occupation, the creation of a viable, peaceful Palestinian state. That, I hope will be the message we build over the weeks and months ahead as the negotiating process that Presidents Bush and Abbas, and Prime Minister Olmert announced, moves forward.
Present for Peace at Annapolis: Lilly Rivlin
Am I hopeful? Well, nine organizations came together for the rally. And 49 countries (including most Arab governments) came together with Israel in Annapolis. This has never happened before.
Present for Peace at Annapolis: Ralph Seliger
Collectively, this progressive Zionist coalition was among the largest groups making its presence known in Annapolis. As we strolled through this charming town toward the gates of the United States Naval Academy where the conference was staged, we found the only possibly bigger bunch- that of the Neturei Karta, an oddball Chasidic sect demonstrating against Israel's very existence.