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NEWS
40,000 at Pro-Israel Rally in New York
By R. Hoffner
An estimated 40,000 people gathered last week at the UN
Building in Manhattan for a pro-Israel rally, one of the
largest events in the Jewish community since the massive
demonstrations for Soviet Jewry in the 1970s. The
participants called for the unconditional return of the
captured Israeli soldiers and objected to Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's participation in the United Nations
General Assembly meeting.
The mass demonstration was organized by the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (which
actively lobbies for Israel) as a show of solidarity with the
Jews in Israel and support for the war against global
terrorism and countries that sponsor terrorism. Many
participants carried signs bearing pictures of the kidnapped
soldiers and calling for their immediate release. Agudath
Israel also urged people to attend.
Organizers say 150 buses were used to bring the participants
to the event, arriving from such faraway locations as
California and Nebraska. Non-Jewish supporters also took
part. "This sends a message to world leaders," said Malcolm
Hoenlein, executive vice president of the Presidents
Conference, "that we reject Ahmadinejad and the hatred and
immorality he represents."
Other speakers included Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni, US
Ambassador to the UN John Bolton and New York State Governor
George Pataki. Appearances were also made by family members
of the captured soldiers, who arrived straight from Israel
and were impressed by the large turnout. "We were pleasantly
surprised and went away with our strength bolstered," said
Shlomo Goldwasser, the father of Ehud Goldwasser. "The
message was clear: the boys must be sent back home and terror
must be condemned." Ehud Goldwasser's wife demanded world
leaders in the UN Building "stop talking and start
acting."
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