Op Ed: Why Israel matters

Why Israel matters

By Matt Strawn 8:42 p.m. CDT August 20, 2014 Des Moines Register

Imagine living in West Des Moines under the threat, that at any moment, a terrorist rocket could be launched toward your community from a nearby site.

Would you send your children to school? Would you go to work? Would you even go to the grocery store? Would major cultural and sporting events be canceled? Would life as you and your family know it grind to a halt?

As I stood in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem earlier this month during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, that is exactly the scenario I began to contemplate as the threat of terrorist-launched rockets from Gaza - a scant 40-plus miles away - provided us approximately 90 seconds to seek shelter. That is roughly the distance between Newton and West Des Moines.

Despite that omnipresent threat, the beaches of Tel Aviv and cafes of Jerusalem were packed, entrepreneurs were pitching me about their start-up companies, children were playing outside and Israelis were living their lives.

Why does this matter to Iowans, who are thousands of miles away from the images of war appearing inside our newspapers and within our social media feeds?

Sure, in recent months, a number of Iowa's business leaders and government officials have been taking steps to expand investment and trade between our state and Israel. But there is simply more than commerce at stake in the Middle East. It is the preservation of a set of shared values, democratic ideals and human dignity.

While in Jerusalem, I had the humbling opportunity to speak with a woman whose family and community lives along the Gaza border. Her raw emotion, exhaustion and bravery was palpable as she described how families in her village (or kibbutz) have 15 seconds to seek shelter during rocket attacks, how an attack hit their community that very morning, and the psychological trauma to children brought on by these constant threats.

I examined the shrapnel in my hands from a prior rocket attack upon her community as she demonstrated a "Monopoly-style" board game that had been created by therapists to help children cope with growing up within the shadows of terror. I heard the stories of children who go to bed fully clothed and literally sleep with one foot on the floor so as to not lose a precious second if the rocket sirens wail.

The heartbreaking stories exist on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border. I spoke with an exasperated Palestinian human rights activist about the hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid confiscated by Hamas to build a vast infrastructure of terror. I visited with a young Israeli special forces solider who saw with his own eyes the restraints used by Hamas on its own civilians to create human shields when launching rockets from residential neighborhoods.

As one senior member of the Israeli parliament told me, "The fight is over a culture that values life, versus a culture that values death." Or, perhaps it was said more succinctly by one Israeli when I commented on the resolute nature of the nation's citizens: "It is easy to find moral clarity when rockets are falling on your kindergartens."

Iowans, like most Americans, are weary from a decade-plus of war that has depleted billions from our treasury and exacted an even greater cost in American blood. I am equally confident Iowans join me in hoping and praying that it does not take similar attacks on our kindergartens for Americans to have the resolve to stand with those who share our values, even if they are thousands of miles from home.

MATT STRAWN, an Ankeny businessman and former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, is a founding board member of Iowans Supporting Israel, a nonpartisan group of statewide business, civic and faith leaders who are encouraging stronger ties between Iowa and Israel. Contact: mnstrawn@strawnco.com.

Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/08/20/israel-matters/14369337/

Sunday: Israel Event - A Conversation with Shmuel Rosner

Temple B'nai Jeshurun is proud to host a conversation with well-known Israeli writer and frequent contributor to the New York Times, Shmuel Rosner, Senior Political Editor of The Jewish Journal, who will be Skyping with us from Tel Aviv as we discuss the state of the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Co-sponsored by JCRC

Sunday, August 10, at 11 am

 

 

Shmuel Rosner

 

Sunday, August 10, at 11 am

 

Temple B'nai Jeshurun

 

5101 Grand Ave in Des Moines, IA

 

For more information, please call 515-274-4679

 

A Visitor's Introduction to the Iowa Holocaust Memorial

Here’s a link to the booklet:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=171986867

 

 

 

Revised: Statement in Support of Israel from Iowans Supporting Israel, Christians United For Israel, and Jewish Federation , July 21, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Revised:  July 21, 2014   

Contact: Mark S. Finkelstein,  jcrc@dmjfed.org

 

Joint statement from:  Iowans Supporting Israel, Christians United For Israel, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines

 

In support of Israel as it battles terrorism

 

Hamas, which has been declared a terrorist organization by the American government, the E.U., and others, has significantly increased its assault on Israeli citizens by launching over 1000 rockets over the last several weeks. The situation is intolerable. Civilians living closest to Gaza have only 15 seconds to find safety when warning sirens are engaged. Rockets have rained down on the holy city of Jerusalem, the economic center of Tel Aviv, and all the way to Eilat, the country’s southern tip. 

 

Israel must and currently is protecting its citizens by seeking and destroying rocket arsenals, command centers, and tunnels through which killers have recently infiltrated from Gaza into Israel. Unfortunately, and insidiously, Hamas has often located these targets in or near residential neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and mosques. To make matters worse, Hamas is encouraging and celebrating civilians who serve as shields, a practice forbidden by international law. 

 

Make no mistake. We, the undersigned, profoundly mourn the loss of innocent life on both sides of this painful conflict and pray that peace can be restored soon. But peace requires that Israel be joined by a partner.  Israel agreed to the ceasefire proposal put forth by Egypt.  To date, Hamas has not.  In fact, Hamas responded to ceasefire efforts observed by Israel by firing more rockets.

 

 

In this trying time, it is comforting that Israel has the support of the American people, as affirmed by a recent poll, as well as President Obama and Congress.

 

President Obama has stated: “I will say very clearly, no country can accept rocket fired indiscriminately at citizens. And so, we’ve been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against what I consider to be inexcusable attacks from Hamas.”

 

Bipartisan resolutions have been passed unanimously by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives reflecting “United States support for the State of Israel as it defends itself against unprovoked rocket attacks from the Hamas terrorist organization.”

 

We, the bipartisan leadership of Iowans Supporting Israel, the nonpartisan grassroots organization Christians United For Israel, and the nonpartisan Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, are thankful for these stated positions and urge all people of good will to stand with Israel as it battles terrorism.

 

[Signatories, below.]

 

 

Michael Schreurs

Matt Strawn

Ed Skinner

Bud Hockenberg

                                        

Iowans Supporting Israel     http://iowanssupportingisrael.com/

Contact: Michael Schreurs, (515)453-2002    

 

Thomas W. McGovern

Iowa State Director

Christians United For Israel     

 Contact: IowaCUFI@cleavelandinsurance.com

 

 

Stuart Oxer

Executive Director

Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines     Contact: jcrc@dmjfed.org

 

                         - - end --

                        

 

 

 

 

 

Omission

The following was unintentionally omitted from the joint statement issued on July 18

 

“In attempting to eliminate Hamas’ launchers and its supply of missiles provided by Iran, and while targeting its military command centers, regrettably innocent Gazans have been killed.  Not to minimize the tragic death of innocents, we hold Hamas entirely responsible – as does international law -- for those who died when it fired rockets from amid civilians or used civilians as human shields.  “

 

In support of Israel: Joint Statement 7/18/2014 from Iowans Supporting Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     July 18, 2014

 

Joint statement from:  Iowans Supporting Israel

and the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines

 

In support of Israel as it battles terrorism

 

Hamas, which has been declared a terrorist organization by the American government, the E.U., and others, has significantly increased its assault on Israeli citizens by launching over 1000 rockets over the last several weeks. The situation is intolerable. Civilians living closest to Gaza have only 15 seconds to find safety when warning sirens are engaged. Rockets have rained down on the holy city of Jerusalem, the economic center of Tel Aviv, and all the way to Eilat, the country’s southern tip. 

 

Israel must and currently is protecting its citizens by seeking and destroying rocket arsenals and command centers. Unfortunately, and insidiously, Hamas has often located these targets in or near residential neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and mosques. To make matters worse, Hamas is encouraging and celebrating civilians who serve as shields, a practice forbidden by international law. 

 

Hamas responded to two ceasefire efforts—which Israel agreed to—by firing more rockets.

 

In this trying time, it is comforting that Israel has the support of the American people, as affirmed by a recent poll, as well as President Obama and Congress.

 

President Obama has stated: “I will say very clearly, no country can accept rocket fired indiscriminately at citizens. And so, we’ve been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against what I consider to be inexcusable attacks from Hamas.”

 

Bipartisan resolutions have been passed unanimously by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives reflecting “United States support for the State of Israel as it defends itself against unprovoked rocket attacks from the Hamas terrorist organization.”

 

We, the bipartisan leadership of Iowans Supporting Israel and the nonpartisan Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, are thankful for these stated positions and urge all people of good will to stand with Israel as it battles terrorism.

 

Michael Schreurs       Stuart Oxer, Executive Director

Matt Strawn               Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines

Ed Skinner                  Contact: (515) 987-0899 ext. 231   jcrc@dmjfed.org

Bud Hockenberg

                        

Iowans Supporting Israel 

Contact: Michael Schreurs, (515)453-2002          

http://iowanssupportingisrael.com/                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement from the Jewish Community Relations Commission on the IDF’s Movement of Troops into Gaza       July 17, 2014

 

The JCRC would like to update the community with the following news.  Following another day of heavy rocket attacks by Hamas and the infiltration of guerillas into Israel, Israel’s government authorized Israeli troops to enter Gaza, this evening, to defend Israel’s citizens.

 

We are thankful that President Obama has spoken unequivocally in support of Israel’s obligation to defend itself:   “I will say very clearly, no country can accept rocket fired indiscriminately at citizens. And so, we’ve been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against what I consider to be inexcusable attacks from Hamas…” Similar sentiments have been expressed on a bi-partisan fashion by many members of the United States Congress.

 

The ground incursion comes after Hamas launched more than 1350 rockets from Gaza since July 8^th, targeting 75% of Israel’s population and Hamas’ rejection of Egypt’s recent ceasefire proposal.  During the ceasefire observed by Israel, Hamas had launched 50 rockets.

 

In attempting to eliminate Hamas’ launchers and its supply of missiles provided by Iran, and while targeting its military command centers, regrettably innocent Gazans have been killed.  Not to minimize the tragic death of innocents, we hold Hamas entirely responsible – as does international law -- for those who died when it fired rockets from amid civilians or used civilians as human shields. 

 

As reported today, Egypt placed the responsibility squarely on Hamas for Israel’s ground operation. “Had Hamas accepted the Egyptian proposal,” stated Sameh Shoukri, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, “it could have saved the lives of at least 40 Palestinians.”

 

Although we are disappointed that Hamas’ actions made it necessary for Israel to initiate a ground operation, we hope that the objectives of the incursion can be attained rapidly and that the dangers posed by Hamas to Israelis as well as to Gazans can be controlled if not altogether eliminated.  Peace and the establishment of a permanent two states for two peoples resolution of the broader conflict remains the ultimate goal.

 

Jarad Bernstein, Chair, Jewish Community Relations Commission of the  

                        Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines

Mark S. Finkelstein, JCRC Director

 

Send comments to jcrc@dmjfed.org