For immediate release:
December 29, 2008

Contact Max L. Kleinman
Executive VP, UJC
(973) 929-3001

Mark Cohen (973) 929-3084

UJC MetroWest condemns the renewed attacks by Hamas against Israel and supports Israel’s just defensive action

Whippany, NJ — United Jewish Communities (UJC) of MetroWest NJ and its Community Relations Committee (CRC) stand behind Israel’s defensive operations in Gaza, recognizing the right and responsibility of any sovereign nation to protect its citizens. Israel came to the defense of the 700,000 Israelis now living within range of Hamas attacks. Since 2005, when Israel withdrew from Gaza, thousands of rockets have been launched by Hamas. In just the last few days, when the truce was unilaterally revoked by Hamas, hundreds more rockets have been launched, including 80 in one single day.

Just as we condemn the Hamas attacks on Israel, we also mourn the unfortunate and unavoidable casualties and loss of life in Gaza, which are the result of Hamas’s cynical use of civilian areas for its terrorist activities. Although the Government of Israel takes pains to direct its activities exclusively against terrorists, Hamas callously places Palestinian civilians in harm’s way. Even so, most of the fatalities have been Hamas operatives.

Israel has shown great restraint in dealing with this Iran-backed terrorist menace on her border. Even as Hamas unilaterally suspended the Egyptian-brokered “State of Calm” with Israel by launching hundreds of rockets at civilian targets, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made an appeal on Arab television asking Gaza residents to stop the firing of rockets and mortar shells so that a military response could be avoided. Furthermore, out of concern for the civilian population of Gaza, Israel continues to deliver humanitarian aid across the border with Gaza. Action by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would be completely unnecessary were Hamas a true government in Gaza, seeking the well-being of its residents and abandoning the path of terror.

We are greatly disturbed that a so-called “Truce” or “State of Calm” only provided cover for a massive Hamas rearmament campaign through a network of underground tunnels, used to smuggle weapons and terrorists into the Hamas-controlled enclave. These tunnels, the weapons caches, and other terrorist infrastructure have been the primary targets of Israel’s campaign, designed to change the untenable situation that has existed in Gaza since Hamas took power. Israel withdrew all presence from Gaza in 2005 to create an opportunity for peace, but has instead been met with aggression — bombings and the killing and capture of IDF soldiers from Israel’s sovereign territory. Corporal Gilad Shalit has been held in captivity since June 25, 2006 — over 30 months.

Both the Bush Administration and the Government of Egypt have laid blame on Hamas for provoking Israel’s need to take action to quiet the terrorist threat emanating from Gaza. We commend President Bush and the U.S. State Department for their statements in support of Israel's defensive operations.

The removal of the terrorist threat will improve the likelihood of a two-state solution and long-term peace. At this crucial time, steadfast support for Israel and its efforts to end terrorism emanating from Gaza is required from the American Jewish community and all Americans.

We call upon the broader international community to understand and support Israel as she confronts terror and advances the interest of all those who wish a common desire for peace and co-existence to determine the agenda of the region.

We share the goal of the Israelis to strive for a two-state solution and to negotiate with the peace-seeking Palestinian Authority. And, we call upon President-elect Barack Obama, despite many challenges facing his incoming administration, to place the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader themes of Middle East peace and stability among his top priorities when he takes office next month.

We will keep the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces in our thoughts and prayers as they defend the State of Israel, and we will pray for a time of peace for all peoples in the region.

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