American Jewry Protests Global Jihad Outside UN
17:37 Sep 21, '06 / 28 Elul 5766
by Ezra HaLevi
A large number of protestors gathered opposite the United Nations building in New York Wednesday afternoon to protest against Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and demand the release of Israel's captives.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni, US Ambassador John Bolton, New York State Governor George Pataki, Holocaust survivor and author Eli Wiesel and human rights lawyer Alan Dershowitz, among others, addressed the crowd, which stretched down the streets and avenues surrounding the plaza opposite the United Nations.
Also attending the rally and issue emotional pleas for the release of their captive family members were Carmit Goldwasser, wife of Ehud Goldwasser, and Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev – both being held by Hizbullah after being abducted at the beginning of the recent war.
"People are coming from as far away as California," Conference of Presidents Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein told Arutz-7 an hour before the rally began. "The plaza is already filled with Jews, Christians, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics – an unbelievable rainbow of the American people."
Hoenlein doubted that any of the rally's speakers would issue calls for an attack on Iran to prevent the Islamic republic from attaining nuclear capability, as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised the UN it would continue to pursue.
"The purpose of the rally is to show solidarity with Israel and to demand the release of the MIAs," Hoenlein said. "Leaders of the world meeting across the street will have a hard time not hearing our message and Ahmadinejad will know that his threats to wipe out Israel are unacceptable. The US is obligated to let him into the country, but we are obligated to let him know what we think."
More than 140 buses were on their way to the rally, organizers said, adding that many more people were flying in from across the country for the event.
The rally enjoys one of the widest array of organization support in decades. Jewish organizations from Meretz to AFSI (Americans For a Safe Israel) have lent their support, and the Council of Torah Sages of the hareidi-religious Agudah movement have made the decision to support the protest as well, calling upon members of the movement to attend.
Crowds backed up down second avenue.
In honor of the upcoming Rosh HaShanah holiday marking the Jewish new year, hundreds of shofarot, ram's horns, were blown in unison during the protest.
The shofar has traditionally been blown both at times of trouble, to encourage the Jewish people to mend their ways, and during wartime, to rally the troops, demoralize the enemies of Israel and to signal Divine assistance for the Jewish nation.
American Jewry Protests Global Jihad Outside UN
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