I suggest that Lofven read the 1964 and amended 1968 PLO (now PA) charters as well as the Hamas charters.
In addition, he should study the fraudulent steps by which the PLO engaged to deceive Israel and the world into believing that it modified its charter.
William K. Langfan
Palm Beach, FL
More Protests Against ‘Klinghoffer’
Thank you for Oct. 3 editorial “ ‘Death of Klinghoffer’ Protests Must Continue” Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI spearheaded a coalition of organizations and individuals with just this purpose, and we have now grown to a group of over 60 with many others signing on daily. Unfortunately, the major Jewish organizations have stayed away, except for a meeting with Peter Gelb, the Met’s managing director, which proved fruitless.
The ADL’s Abe Foxman, supposedly the most knowledgeable man on the subject of anti-Semitism, deemed the opera not to be anti-Semitic and therefore suitable for eight live performances at the Met, starting Oct. 20. (He and Gelb did, however, acknowledge that the opera was anti-Semitic enough to cancel the High Definition telecasts in movie theaters throughout the world.)
Thanks to the success of our Sept. 22 protest on the eve of the gala opening of the Met’s opera season and the resulting publicity, people know this anti-American, anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, pro-terrorist opera glorifies the PLO killlers of an American Jewish war veteran, Leon Klinghoffer.
What people might not know is some of the background history that led to the hijacking in 1985 of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro, with 400 passengers held hostage for two days. Abu Abbas masterminded the hijacking to gain the release of Samir Kuntar, sentenced by Israel to life in prison for the brutal murder, in April 1979, of two Israeli policemen; of 31-year-old Danny Hadan, who was shot in front of his four-year-old daughter, Einat; and of Einat, whose head was bashed in. Smadar Hadan, the mother, tragically smothered her younger daughter, two-year-old Yael, while she tried to keep her from revealing their hiding place.
Samir Kuntar was released in a prisoner exchange for dead bodies on July 16, 2008. He was welcomed in the Arab world as a returning hero.
At 6 p.m. on October 20, one hundred wheelchairs will circle Lincoln Center. The occupants will be symbolizing Leon Klinghoffer. They’ll be carrying signs, handing out leaflets, and educating all passersby about the dangerous message the opera carries.
Join the coalition. Learn about the planned protests for each night of the scheduled performances: Oct. 20, 24, 29 and Nov. 1, 5, 8, 11, 15. Most of the evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and 8 are at 8 p.m.; Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. Contact us by logging on to www.stopdeathofklinghoffer.com or writing to [email protected] or calling AFSI at 212-828-2424.
Helen Freedman
Executive Director
Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI
Feet On The Ground
Having made aliyah more than four years ago, I’ve taken on a project to do my small part to keep Jerusalem as a united Jewish city. I call the project “Feet on the Ground.” If you live in Israel or plan to visit soon, please consider joining me.
With so many people walking through the Mamilla Mall to and from the Old City we are slowly losing the area between Safra Square and the path to Jaffa Gate to the Arabs. We are also losing the direct path between Shaar Shechem (Damascus Gate) and the Kotel. Same for the area from Shaar Shechem to Kikar Tzahal.
I have often walked these routes and seen many more Arabs than Jews. Especially on Shabbos and chaggim when people can’t shop anyway, I would like to encourage everyone to walk along the Old City walls into and out of the Old City to go back to the center of the city, as well as to enter the Old City that way. Be sure to sit at Tzahal Square and take in the history.
I would also like to encourage people visiting the Kotel to visit Kotel Hakatan as well and to leave through Shaar Schechem. The best answer I give people who ask if it is safe is to tell them that the more Jews we can get to walk through there, the safer it becomes. There are amazing shuls in this quarter, and I would be happy to provide anyone interested with more details, directions, or a personal escort. Join us for davening and participate in this amazing experience.
With more people coming for the chaggim, I want to get started now. Each time you set foot in these areas you are going a long way toward keeping Jerusalem Jewish and united. Talk is cheap, but putting feet on the ground also does not cost anything – while the rewards are enormous.