PRIMER-Connecticut
P.O. Box 7194
Bloomfield CT 06002
www.primerct.org
(860) 242-5293
PRIMER-CONNECTICUT STANDS WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
For Further Information:
Alan Stein
President, PRIMER-Connecticut
alanstein@primerct.org
Al Pilver
Vice President, PRIMER-Connecticut
alpilver@primerct.org
Mark Trencher
Vice President, PRIMER-Connecticut
marktrencher@primerct.org
CONNECTICUT-July 16, 2006-PRIMER-Connecticut stands with the people of Israel, with the families of kidnapped soldiers Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and with all those desiring peace at this difficult time.
For nearly a year, the Gaza Strip has been under the complete control of the Palestinian Authority. Rather than build a society, the opportunity for progress was squandered as terrorist groups in Gaza continued to attack Israelis, launching hundreds of Kassam missiles at the Israeli town of Sderot. Two weeks ago, Hamas forces attacked Israeli soldiers at a border crossing within Israel, murdering two soldiers and kidnapping Gilad Shalit and expanded the launching of Kassam missiles at Sderot and other cities.
The fact that Gaza has been completely under Arab control belies any claims that these attacks have anything to do with resistance to any alleged occupation; they are clearly part of an strategy aimed at destroying Israel.
For six years, Lebanon has been completely free of any Israeli presence, as Israel pulled behind the international border as designated by the United Nations. Hizbullah, the "Party of God," has continued to launch attacks on Israelis across the border and to fire Katyusha missiles, manufactured in Iran, at cities in northern Israel. Last week, Hizbullah forces attacked Israeli soldiers on the Israeli side of the international border, murdering two Israeli soldiers and kidnapping Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Since then, Hizbullah has launched more than 700 Katyusha rockets and mortars at cities in northern Israel.
The fact that Southern Lebanon has been completely free of any Israeli presence belies any claims that these attacks have anything to do with resistance to any alleged occupation; they are clearly part of a strategy aimed at destroying Israel.
Hamas now controls the Palestinian Authority, while Hizbullah is part of the Lebanese government. Their assaults within Israel were acts of war. Their continued launching of Kassam missiles and Katyusha rockets at innocent civilians are acts of pure terrorism.
No people should be subjected to such attacks. No government can accept such attacks.
The Israeli government has both the right and the obligation to act as it has, to safeguard its people. We are proud our American government has stood with Israel in its struggle to achieve peace and allow its people to live normal lives.
There is a simple and just solution to the immediate crisis caused by the Hamas and Hizbollah attacks: Those terrorist groups need to return the kidnapped Israelis, apologize to and compensate the families of their victims and permanently forswear terrorism, destroying their supplies of Kassam missiles, Katyusha rockets and other illegal weapons under international supervision.
Until this crisis ends, news reports should endeavor to provide the full context and reasons for the crisis: the continuing terrorist attacks and acts of war by Hamas and Hizbollah.
We pray the Israeli government and its armed forces are successful in their attempt to rescue the kidnapped soldiers and end the rain of terrorist missiles that started long before these kidnappings and has no justification of any kind.
We pray for the quick and safe return of Gilad, Ehud and Eldad, along with an end to violence. We pray the Palestinian Arabs, Lebanese, Syrians and others finally join Israel in its quest for peace so that all people in that region can start enjoying the fruits of peace rather than the horrors of war.
Alan Stein
President, PRIMER-Connecticut
Al Pilver
Vice President, PRIMER-Connecticut
Mark Trencher
Vice President, PRIMER-Connecticut