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International Community Must Condemn Attacks and Support Israel's Self-Defense

[Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations] Harold Tanner and Malcolm Hoenlein - Israel has been attacked across an international border. The international community must speak out, clearly and collectively, in support of Israel's right to self-defense and to assure the security of its citizens. The Lebanese government has the sovereign responsibility for what occurs within its borders and for attacks emanating from its territory. UN Security Council Resolution 1559 and subsequent resolutions demanded that the Lebanese government disarm the terrorist group Hizballah, but no steps toward that end have been taken. To the contrary, Hizballah is part of the Lebanese government, represented at the ministerial level. The international community cannot expect Israel to accept these barrages of rockets and kidnappings, either from Lebanon or Gaza. There can be no justification or rationalizing for such outrages. Having failed to implement the disarmament of Hizballah, the international community should press the government of Lebanon to act immediately and secure the release of the hostages. All those who aid and abet the terrorists operating from Gaza and southern Lebanon, particularly Iran and Syria, must be held accountable The American Jewish community is being mobilized to support Israel's right to self-defense, including measures taken to end the more than 1,000 rockets fired from Gaza, the repeated missile and other attacks across the Lebanese border, and all other acts of terror. These attacks are part of the global war on terror. Israel has been on the front line of that war for decades and cannot and must not allow the terrorists any respite or sanctuary. Like all other states, Israel has a responsibility to protect its citizens and should take all necessary actions to fulfill that responsibility. We also offer our prayers for the well-being and safe return of the three hostages - Gilad Shalit, abducted by Hamas in Gaza, and Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, abducted by Hizballah - and offer our condolences to the families of those brutally murdered in these barbaric attacks. Harold Tanner is Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein is Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents.
2006-07-14 01:00:00
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