Egyptian journalist Shahira Amin conducted a forced, demeaning and immoral interview with Gilad Shalit just before he was released from five years of captivity by the terrorist organization Hamas. This gross violation of Gilad Shalit’s rights, and human decency, could possibly amount to torture and be punishable by law.

During the interview Shalit was so tired and weak from his mistreatment in captivity that he was hardly able to answer Amin’s questions. Masked Hamas men were in the room during the interview.

You can read more about the interview and watch the video on our blog posting or at Honest Reporting’s analysis of the incident.

Shahira Amin is a journalist for CNN. Amin proved yesterday that not only can she not be trusted to fairly report the news but that she may even be complicit in greater crimes.
In order for CNN to deliver fair and unbiased news coverage of the Middle East they must drop Shahira Amin as a journalist.

Send an email to CNN today telling them that they cannot continue to employ a “journalist” who is willing to torment a scared and sick boy.
Here is the link to contact CNN: CNN News Room

Sample Letter

(You may highlight/select and copy… paste into your message to CNN)

Dear News Editor,

CNN reporter Shahira Amin violated all journalistic standards and human decency during her forced interview of the released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Her claims that the scared and sick soldier was not under duress at the time simply do not match the facts or fit with the video she has released of the interview.

With armed Hamas gunmen nearby and a masked Hamas terrorist in the room it is obvious that Shalit had no choice but to agree to the interview and answer questions in a way so as to not upset the terrorists around him. Looking sick from over five years of mistreatment by Hamas terrorists, Shalit obviously barely had enough energy to conduct the interview. Shalit’s breathing was labored and he had trouble composing himself.

As a respected international news organization CNN must immediately cease to work with the disgraced journalist Shahira Amin. If CNN’s trusted word is to remain just that it cannot continue its relationship with a journalist who is willing to torment a scared and abused prisoner and delay his release. Amin violated what of the most fundamental rules of journalism by becoming part of and influencing the story rather than reporting on it. Shahira Amin’s actions have proven that she cannot accurately and fairly report from the Middle East and it would be unbefitting of CNN to publish her biased work. I ask you to immediately and unconditionally end CNN’s agreement with Amin.

Your support and participation is deeply appreciated.  Let’s make a difference!

The post Action Alert: Tell CNN to fire Shahira Amin appeared first on Act for Israel.

Two Grad rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel. One rocket exploded in Ashkelon Coast Regional Council and the second one exploded in Palestinian territory near the Gaza security fence.

In a separate incident, an explosive device detonated near an IDF force near the border fence in the Gaza Strip.  Four additional devices were detected on the fence and were dismantled by security forces.  No injuries were reported.

Today’s events come on the heels of recent threats from Hamas. Yesterday, Hamas leader Ismail al-Ashkar said that Hamas is focused on kidnapping IDF soldiers in the near future.  Sadly, these terror tactics haven’t changed much from the past. On the grounds of the International Red Cross Headquarters, al-Ashkar stated that kidnapping additional IDF soldiers and Israeli families (which he referred to as “settlers”) will put pressure on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners.

On the Northern border, Syrian President Bashar Assad warned that if NATO attacks Syria, Syria will promptly attack Tel Aviv.  “If a crazy measure is taken against Damascus, I will need not more than 6 hours to transfer hundreds of rockets and missiles to the Golan Heights to fire them at Tel Aviv.”   Assad’s statements were made during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davutoglu.

Act for Israel condemns all terror tactics mentioned by leaders of foreign governments as well as  defacto leaders of Gaza, Hamas, to incite harm against Israelis. We ask that you condemn these “leaders” as well.

The post More Terror Alerts for Israel appeared first on Act for Israel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9A0ui5bipI

“If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.”   Moshe Dayan

While the Palestinian Authority chose the United Nations as the channel to pursue the creation of an independent Palestinian state, it is clear that a lasting peace will only result from direct negotiations.  Israel is eager to discuss all issues, without preconditions.

Here is how you can help, please go to the Peace Needs Partners website, which is an initiative of the good folks at the Israel Action Network.   Sign the petition and call upon the 193 Members of the United Nations to vote against endorsing a unilaterally declared Palestinian state and to promote the resumption of bilateral negotiations.   

http://peaceneedspartners.org

The post Here is your chance to speak up about the Palestinian unilateral declaration at the UN appeared first on Act for Israel.

If you were looking for an effective way to explain the obvious bias against Israel at the UN, this video is for you. Or should we say, here is one you can forward to your friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Mupoo1At8

The post Understanding UN bias against Israel appeared first on Act for Israel.

Today, we witnessed a rare event in the International diplomacy. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu sat with President Obama to speak with the press, following a long meeting between the two leaders. After tense reactions erupted in Jerusalem in response to Obama’s Middle East speech yesterday, the media eagerly anticipated this briefing. Act For Israel, waited right along with them.

We expected the differences between the two leaders to be long and wide but what we gathered in the aftermath is they are not as significant as the media initially reported. Both leaders are committed to working together for a genuine peace.

Netanyahu was refreshingly candid. This type of authenticity is rarely seen in the diplomatic arena. We are used to hearing politicians promote their talking points yet it is rare to hear a leader who is able to speak authentically and in a manner that accurately reflects the fears and aspirations of his people. That is exactly what we have been fortunate enough to experience today.

Netanyahu framed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the context of Jewish history. Rick Klein, Senior Washington Editor at ABC Nightly News eloquently described the briefing via Twitter @rickklein today:

It couldn’t have been easy to sit next to Obama and insert your own dose of reality.  But, Netanyahu managed to do just that, pushing back on three main issues.

Issue #1 ’67 Lines

Netanyahu stated clearly that Israel will not return to the exact formation of the ‘67 lines, as they are indefensible. He went on to remind the American audience that prior to the ‘67 war, Israel was 9 miles wide, half the width of the DC beltway. Clearly, such an arrangement will prevent Israel from managing the most basic security concerns.

Issue #2 Right-of-Return

Netanyahu clearly stated that the issue of refugees has to be dealt with. He then confirmed it would not be dealt with within Israel’s borders. Arab Nations who attacked Israel in ‘48 created two refugee problems, a Palestinian one and a Jewish one. The tiny Jewish state absorbed the Jewish refugees. Arab nations, however, refused to absorb the Palestinian refugees. While the Palestinian Authority wants Israel to accept the grandchildren and great grandchildren of these refugees 63 years later, this will not happen. Doing so would automatically eliminate the Jewish State.

Issue #3 Negotiating process

Netanyahu calmly stated that Israel will not give up its only bargaining chip for nothing. While he said Israel is willing to make generous compromises, any and all compromises will have to be a part of a final peace agreement that will result in the “finality of all claims.” Netanyahu stated:

“Israel wants peace. I want peace. A peace that will hold, that will endure.”

Clearly, Israel is willing to work for peace.  And, the peace Israel seeks is a viable peace that will resolve all claims against the State of Israel.

For the full text of today’s briefings simply click HERE

The post Israel Wants an Enduring Peace Based on Reality appeared first on Act for Israel.

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This week marks the 29th anniversary for a time that marked Israel with a strange mixture of  deep sadness and jubilant hope.  Twenty nine years ago, Israel initiated its historic withdrawal from Sinai.  The fact that  Sinai represented more than 90% of the total territory Israel gained in the six day war is rarely mentioned.  It is also worthy to note that more than 7000 Israeli citizens were forcefully evacuated in the process.  For Israelis, the evacuees were not nameless. They were families and individuals who dedicated their lives for the Zionist dream.  They lived in Sinai to see to it that the vast desert will bloom.

Recent events in Egypt shine a different light on the concessions Israel made twenty nine years ago.  While Israel unanimously hopes for a Democratic and free Egypt, the fact is that no one knows what the outcome of the Egyptian revolution will mean for Israel and for the peace treaty. Even while Mubarak was at the helm, Sinai was the route that was successfully used by Iran and Hamas to smuggle weapons to Gaza.  One can only imagine the joy of  Hamas and Iran now that Sinai is marked with an unpredictable future.

The next time someone throws empty rhetoric about Israel’s supposed unwillingness to choose peace,  please share the events that took place in Israel only twenty nine years ago.  It is easy to talk about peace.  It is an entirely different matter to follow through. What happened in Israel twenty nine years ago speaks volumes about Israel’s commitment for peaceful co-existence with its neighbors.

Here is the link to the Jerusalem Post article:

Fundamentally Freund: Three decades of retreat

By  Michael Freund

The post Give Peace a Chance appeared first on Act for Israel.

While global media outlets focus on Israel in the context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict,  Israel’s amazing contributions to the world are often ignored.    It is astounding to    realize that while Israel is smaller in size than New Jersey,  the small country is a global leader when it comes to the    entrepreneurial spirit and innovations.

• Veterix, an Israeli start-up company invented an electronic capsule that sits in the stomach of  livestock and sends out information on the health of the herd to the farmer via cell phone or email.  The capsule, which also sends out alerts if the animal is injured, distressed or lost is now being tested on a herd of cows with hopes of leading to healthier and “tastier” meat and milk.

• Magal Security Systems has produced computerized security systems to protect national borders, nuclear facilities, refineries and airports. The newest product, Dream Box, described as state-of-the-art, includes “Intelligent video, audio and sensor management.” In the United States, Dream Box is being used by a major water authority on the east coast to safeguard the utility’s different sites. Magal’s Security System is used by 70 countries around the world.

• BioControl Medical invented an electrical stimulator that successfully treats urinary incontinence.  Now, the company focuses on the development of CardioFit, which uses electrical nerve stimulation to treat congestive heart failure. Nearly five million Americans have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure; 400,000 cases added each year.

• Israel is the only country with a registry for Arab bone marrow donors, though only about 1.2 million of the world’s 400 million ethnic Arabs live in Israel.

• Skin Cancer Screening, an Israeli company, has developed  a breakthrough device that can detect skin cancer at a much earlier state than traditional tests.  Skin cancer accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States.  More than 2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are found in this country each year.  Melanoma, the most lethal and rapid type of skin cancer, accounted for about 68,130 cases of skin cancer in 2010.

• Israel will be the first country in the world to install a cutting edge network grid for electric cars.  A Better Place, an Israeli start-up, invented the electric car smart grid.  In addition to the cutting-edge technology, which will enable the existing energy infrastructure to support mass numbers of users,  the electric car is both attractive and affordable.

This is the first in a series of  Act For Israel blogs that will highlight Israel’s innovation and scientific discoveries.

The post Israel Is Reinventing Innovation, Again appeared first on Act for Israel.

There are two significant news items in this blog.  First, it is clear that the massive efforts of the activists who wrote the Red Cross to demand a Red Cross visit with Gilad Shalit are starting to pay off.   We salute all the Act For Israel activists who participated in this effort.  Together, our voice is strong.  More importantly, our efforts are starting to produce results.  Let’s not rest at this point.  Please take a moment and write the Red Cross again. Together, we will continue to act for Gilad, until Gilad is able to act for himself again.

The second  news item is that the Red Cross is clearly stating what we have known all along.  There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is time for the world to separate from the spin and focus on the reality.  We salute the Red Cross for its moral clarity on this matter.

The following is a press release from the IDF Spokesperson.  We bring it to you in its entirety:

Mathilde Redmatn is the deputy director of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Redmatn has had the opportunity to see with her eyes what most of us only see on television screens.

On previous assignments, Redmatn has lived in Congo and Colombia. Her activities in Gaza are completely different, she says.

“Of course the work is different everywhere, but here the fabric of life is problematic,” she says. “There are two peoples, one living under closure and one living under daily rocket fire, which violates international law.

Redmatn has a lot to say about problems related to the closure Israel has placed on Gaza but she also talks about the surprising normalcy in one of the most explosive regions of the world that receives extensive media attention.

“There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” she explains. “If you go to the supermarket, there are products. There are restaurants and a nice beach. The problem is mainly in maintenance of infrastructure and in access to goods, concrete for example. Israel has the legitimate right to protect the civilan population, this right should be balanced with the right of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strio. despite the easing of the closure and the partial lifting of export bans in the wake of the flotilla incident, continued restrictions on the movement of people and difficulties in importing building materials hampered sustainable economic recovery and dashed any hope of leading a normal and dignified life”.

The Red Cross is an international organization founded in 1863. It promotes laws that protect the victims of war and provides humanitarian aid to people living in conflict zones.  Red Cross representatives have worked in Gaza since 1967. Their goal, says Redmatn, is twofold.

“We are documenting human rights violations according to international law and we speak with relevant parties on how to take care of the issue,” Redmatn says.  “We are talking about captives , soldiers, the wounded, and in fact anyone defined by the Geneva Convention. Additionally, in the area of humanitarian assistance, we are mainly engaged in the areas of water and sanitation. We are talking about a highly dense population.  Most of the infrastructure cannot be improved due to the closure so we try to improve the situation with existing tools. One example of this is a factory we helped establish in order to clean sewage water that spills into the sea.”

The Marmara, Hamas and the Arab world

It is important to remember that the Red Cross is not a political organization by definition.  It operates through reports and two-sided dialogue, without expressing its own positions, maintaining complete neutrality.

“Our goal is not to negotiate peace, but to ensure the well-being of the civilian population,” Redmatn says. “We understand and recognize Israel’s right to security but it needs to maintain the balance between that and the right of Palestinians living in Gaza to a living and to proper medical care.  Of course this is also the responsibility of Hamas to its citizens and therefore we also have relations with them.”

The Red Cross played a role in the Gaza flotilla incident last year.

“We offered our assistance to Israeli authorities in regards to people who were arrested who were from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel,” Redmatn says. On the question of whether the flotilla was peaceful, she answers neutrally “this is a matter we discuss with the responsible parties.” According to her, the flotilla led to changes in Israeli policy on Gaza but those changes are not yet complete.

“More goods enter, but there is still room for improvement” in regards to exports and the passage of people, she says.

A clear goal, but is it possible in light of the current threat? The subject, Redmatn says, is sensitive.

“Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip is against international law because it is directed at civilians,” she says. “We conduct confidential or bilateral dialogue with Hamas on the matter. As time passes, the dialogue also develops.”

On recent events in the Arab world, Redmatn says: “The new wind blowing in the Arab world doesn’t change the current activities of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. It’s still too early to tell what will happen and how needs will change. In any case, we will respond quickly to changes and we will see what the future holds.”

“We will continue to ask to monitor Gilad Shalit but we do not have the capability to force anything on Hamas”

Operating in the Gaza Strip requires the Red Cross to work on an ongoing basis with the IDF.

“The relationship with the IDF has developed over the years,” Redmatn says. “The army understands our mandate. We are in daily contact with each other to coordinate the entry of goods into Gaza and the entry and exit of people, sometimes our personnel and sometimes patients who are going to Israel to receive medical care. The second matter still needs improvement as the time required to cross the border is still long. We hope to augment the medical equipment in Gaza itself in order to reduce the number of people who need to go outside [of Gaza].”

These days, she says, the organization has the goal of strengthening the relationship with IDF soldiers.

“Not everyone understands what we are doing,” she says. “Therefore, we talk about our work to soldiers who serve at the Erez crossing. The intention is to expand this to the entire area around Gaza.”

But working with the IDF does not only regard the civilian population living in Gaza; it also touches on captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Repeated requests by the Red Cross to monitor Shalit’s condition have so far been met with persistent refusal by Hamas.

“When a person’s freedom is taken away, he deserves at least contact with his family,” Redmatn says. “We will continue to ask but we do not have the capability to force anything on Hamas.  Hamas’ refusal is based on security reasons. Hamas is afraid of the IDF’s advanced technological capabilities and believes that allowing contact will lead to the location of Gilad.”

Redmatn called on all sides to abide by international law.

“It is important that organizations and countries respect international law,” she said. “Only thus will the situation get better.”

Click here to view this press release on the IDF Spokesperson website

The post Top Red Cross Official: There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza appeared first on Act for Israel.

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