The Middle East
"Thank you very much for being, over the years, and especially in critical days, such staunch allies of the State of Israel and such staunch advocates of Jewish causes. These causes the cause of Israel and the cause of the Jewish people tend to coincide especially in times of crisis."
Then-Acting Israeli oreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami |
As the Mideast peace process broke down in an explosion of violence and more talk of war than peace, ADL stayed firm in our commitment to the security and well-being of Israel. The League provided context to developments in the region, enhanced U.S.-Israel relations and supported the advancement of the peace process between Israel and her neighbors.
ADL ads in The New York Times expressed solidarity with Israel and questioned Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat's commitment to the peace process. The League also placed ads of support in all of the major Israeli newspapers, conveying the same message, as well as praising the government for opposing, in every way, any violence by Israeli citizens against each other. On our Web site, ADL kept pace with breaking news events by updating information on developments in Israel, details of Palestinian violence, a gallery of photos not seen in the U.S. media, the text of incendiary speeches, and a "media watch" section highlighting ADL's analysis and response to media coverage of Israel. The League also frequently shared informational material with the media and Regional Offices concerning the background and facts of recent events emphasizing that Israel had made an unprecedented offer for peace at Camp David which only resulted in Palestinian rejection and violence.
ADL also protested the United Nations' continuous unfair treatment of Israel. When the UN Security Council passed a resolution in October blaming Israel for the outbreak of Middle East violence, the League condemned the action as "outrageous," "biased" and "detrimental." But the League also hailed Israel's admission to the UN's Western European and Others Group (WEOG), as "an historic step in ensuring that Israel is fully accepted by the international community." For decades, Israel had been unable to participate fully in the UN because it had been refused membership in any of the world organization's regional groups.
Next: An International Voice |