Dear Friends,
Shalom
This coming Wednesday, we will please G-d, rally together again, with more than 20 organizations, lovers of Jerusalem?and the Land of Israel, at 5:00 pm on Agron Street, for the third vigil in our struggle against the opening of an American consulate for the Palestinians.
Simultaneously, a vigil will be held in New York, organized by AFSI, Americans for a Safe Israel.
We are holding the vigil, and in the background, the clear and unequivocal remarks by the Prime Minister, who declared that such a consulate shall not be established in Jerusalem as well as remarks by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who supported this position.
Indeed, it is very encouraging that they have made such declarations, and these remarks constitute a response to the first demand that we have been making at our protest rallies ¨C for a resolute statement by Israel¡¯s Prime Minister against the American move.
But there still has not been a response to our second demand to U.S. President Biden, ¡°Keep your hands off of Jerusalem¡±. As long as this demand of ours has not been heard by the White House and as long as it has not been answered explicitly by the American President, we can expect continual, massive pressure from the US ?administration.
Even if the pressure applied on the Israeli government is behind the scenes and behind closed doors, we must remember that the Biden administration has made it a goal to restore the dangerous idea of two states to the diplomatic stage.?We must remain alert and listen to every suspicious sound coming from the White House.
For this reason, we are in constant contact with members of Congress who have their fingers on the pulse all the time. Together with them and with you, we will block any such disastrous step.
We will hold the upcoming vigil with one important aim: to prove to the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers that the People of Israel are standing strong, resolute, and dedicated, behind the clear declaration against the opening of the consulate.
On the matter of Jerusalem, there is no political dispute, and the entire People, Right and Left alike, together will strengthen the Prime Minister¡¯s hand.
Also, we must remain vigilant to assure that the Prime Minister¡¯s declaration does not come in exchange, G-d forbid, for an Israeli agreement of concessions on some other matter of Israel¡¯s sovereignty in Jerusalem.
Another point must be emphasized: Our opposition is not only to the opening of an American consulate in Jerusalem. Even opening such a consulate in one of the cities of the PA would be a preparatory step for an embassy for a future Palestinian state, Heaven forbid.
The PA receives services for their needs in the existing American mission. There is no need for a consulate, with its political and symbolic implications.
In the past,?as well?as?now, the United States respects leaders and people who stand on their principles and preserve their own national interests.
This is how it was in the days of Ben Gurion, Eshkol, Begin, and Shamir. It will be this way now as well.
Another important message that we will convey on Wednesday is: Declarations are not enough. The real test is proven with deeds!
We will convey this message with a tour that we will hold on Wednesday before the vigil, in some of the places where we expect to see real deeds, to prove Israel¡¯s sovereignty in a united Jerusalem.
We will visit the neighborhoods of Shimon Hatzadik & Atarot, two neighborhoods in desperate need of Jewish building that the government of Israel is obligated to uphold, from a strong and proud Zionist position.
We will be departing from the Inbal Hotel at 12:00 noon for this special tour, which we will be holding together with the Keep Jerusalem - Im Eshkachech movement under the leadership of Haim Silberstein.
Our?tour guide will be Shalom Pollack. The number of places on the tour is limited. Fee 30 NIS. Participation by?pre-registration only!! 050-5500834. The tour will end at 4:45 pm, when we will join the start of the vigil on Agron Street.?
Looking forward to seeing you,?
Yehudit Katsover & Nadia Matar
The Sovereignty Movement?
050-5500834
