JCRC response to Tilsen

The following is a response from the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) to David Tilsen’s article last month, “Ten days in the Cairo Corral,” about his attempt to go to Gaza to march in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

The situation in Gaza is an untenable humanitarian crisis, which all parties must address. Mr. Tilsen though, in his desire to do right, shouldn’t get the facts wrong. To begin, Israel withdrew every single person from Gaza in 2005 providing the opportunity for Gazans to live in peace with Israel and establish the means of responsible self-government. Unfortunately, the patron of Iran, Hamas, seized control of Gaza along with its avowed purpose to destroy Israel. Here are some statistics of Hamas’ behavior in Gaza:

• 1 million: Israeli civilians under threat from Hamas rocket fire.
• 15: Seconds Israelis have to get to a bomb shelter once a warning siren has sounded.
• 2 million: Leaflets the Israel Air Force dropped on Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, warning civilians to stay clear of Hamas fighters.
• 200,000: Phone calls made by the Israeli army to civilians in Gaza warning of an impending strike near their residences.
• 8: Years Israel has endured rocket, missile and mortar fire from Gaza.
• 1: Israeli left in Gaza – Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas from Israel on June 25, 2006.
• 3,200+: Rockets and mortar fired from Gaza in 2008.
• 6,500+: Rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
• 10,389: Rockets and mortars fired from Gaza 2001-2008.
• 1,000+: People in Israel injured from rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since 2001.
• 27: Number of people killed by Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks since 2001.
• 242: Rockets, missiles and mortars fired at Israel from Gaza since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
Through the years of Hamas terrorism Israel has taken it upon herself to provide Gazans with humanitarian assistance as reflected in these statistics:
Israel’s Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
• 900: Percent increase in humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza in 2009, compared to 2008.
• 630,253: Tons of humanitarian aid delivered to the Gaza Strip, Jan. 19 – Dec. 13, 2009.
• 24.5 million gallons (92.7 million liters): Heavy-duty diesel fuel delivered to the Gaza Strip, Jan. 19 – Oct. 31, 2009.
• 10,346: Gaza residents who entered Israel for medical and humanitarian reasons, Jan.19 – Nov. 7, 2009.
• 57,295 tons: Monthly average of humanitarian aid entering Gaza since Operation Cast Lead, Jan. 19 – Dec. 5, 2009.
• 11,508 tons: Monthly average of humanitarian aid entering Gaza from February – June 2008, a period of intense rocket fire.
• 34,253 tons: Monthly average of humanitarian aid entering Gaza during period of calm, July - December 2008.
• 18,500: Permits Israel issued to Gaza residents to enter Israel or travel overseas in 2009.
• 28,400: Flowers from Gaza exported to Europe on Dec. 10, 2009.
• 250,000: Flowers from Gaza exported beginning Dec. 13, 2009.

Mr. Tilsen must also state accurately the broader historical context. To claim that the creation of the State of Israel was a 50-year endeavor by European Jews is profoundly wrong. The creation of the State of Israel was a 2,000-year effort to restore the Jewish homeland in the land of Israel. Jews have been a presence in that land since biblical times. Furthermore, the tragedy of the Holocaust illustrated to Jews everywhere the necessity of a Jewish state.

We can only hope and pray that the brutal tactics of terrorists come to an end and that every man, woman and child in Gaza and in Israel can live in peace and security. We continue to work toward the realization of two states living side by side; a safe and secure Israel and a free and democratic Palestine.