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July 16, 2006

Seraphic Call to Action

This urgent message from Elliot Brandt of AIPAC.

Congress is to Vote on Resolutions Strongly Backing Israel's Right to
Self-Defense

Call on Members of Congress ASAP and Urge Them to Vote FOR the Resolutions!

**********

Below is an email that is targeted to those in Congressman Waxman's office.
I've changed the email slightly to allow someone who doesn't know who his or
her Member of Congress is to click on a link that will tell them. Not only are calls running against Israel in some elected officials' offices, but time will be of the essence. Thank you again for your involvement.

Israel's right to defend herself, especially beyond her borders, is
increasingly called into question by her critics and enemies. We, in the
pro-Israel community, must ensure that the United States Congress sends a
STRONG message to the world that Israel does indeed have the right to
protect her borders and her people.

Israel is at a critical juncture and her citizens are fighting on the front
lines. Therefore, as U.S. citizens, we must reach out to our Representatives
and Senators in Washington D.C. to make certain that the U.S. Congress, the
most pro-Israel institution in the world, continues to stand firmly with
Israel.

Please call your Members of Congress today and urge them to support these
important resolutions. There will be limited time to mobilize our
community, so please make these calls immediately at the start of the work
day.

Elliot Brandt
Western States Director

**********

With major Israeli cities such as Haifa and Ashkelon being hit with rockets
fired by Hamas and Hizballah, the House and Senate are expected on Tuesday
to vote on bipartisan resolutions reaffirming Congress' unwavering support
for Israel. The resolutions strongly back the Jewish state's right to defend
itself and to take steps to beyond its borders to deter further aggression
by the terrorist groups and their state sponsors, Iran and Syria.

The resolutions also demand complete implementation of U.N. Security Council
1559, which requires Hizballah be dismantled and the departure of all
foreign militias - including the remaining Syrian personnel and Iranian
Revolutionary Guards - from Lebanon. The House and Senate resolutions also
call for the full weight of American financial, diplomatic, and economic
sanctions to be imposed on Syria and Iran.

The resolutions, sponsored by the leadership of both parties in the House
and the Senate, also call for the immediate and unconditional release of the
Israeli soldiers being held by Hamas and Hizballah and hold the governments
of Syria, and Iran responsible for these acts of aggression against Israel.

Please call your Senators and Member of Congress and urge them to vote FOR
these resolutions, showing American support for the State of Israel, and to
speak out on Israel's behalf. It is preferable that you call their offices
in Washington, D.C. with your request. However, we have included their
District office phone numbers for your use as well.

Congressman Henry Waxman

Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-3976

District Office: (323) 651-1040

If you don't know who your member of Congress is, please go to this link
and enter your zip code.

**********

Senator Barbara Boxer
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 224-3553
District Office: (415) 403-0100

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 224-3841
District Office: (415) 393-0707

**********

How should I effectively convey my message by phone?

When calling a Congressional office to voice your opinion we recommend that
you say something along the following lines:

Call to the Senators:

* "Hello, my name is X, and I live in California. I am calling to ask
Senator Feinstein/Boxer to vote in favor of a resolution that will come
before the Senate early next week. The resolution affirms Israel's right to
defend herself and calls for the implementation of UN Security Council
Resolution 1559. (UN Security Council Resolution 1559 requires Hizballah be
dismantled and the departure of all foreign militias - including the
remaining Syrian personnel and Iranian Revolutionary Guards - from
Lebanon)."

Call to the Congressman:

* "Hello, my name is X, and I live in Congressman Waxman's District. I am
calling to ask the Congressman to vote in favor of a resolution that will
come before the House early next week. The resolution affirms Israel's
right to defend herself and calls for the implementation of UN Security
Council Resolution 1559."

When you call, please convey your message to the person who answers the
phone. After you are finished expressing your message, the staff person will
likely ask you for your name and perhaps your address and then thank you for
your call. They will not quiz you or ask questions about the legislation.

Why is it important that I call my member of Congress?

* Calling your member of Congress to relay your position on a piece of
legislation - or to simply say thank you - is an important and effective way
to make sure elected officials understand where the pro-Israel community
stands on issues affecting Israel. Members of Congress and their staff
receive scores of calls from their constituents on a variety of issues, and
it is important that members of the pro-Israel community make their voices
heard as well. There is no expectation that you are an expert on the issues
and, as such, you won't be asked specific questions about the legislation.

* Like the United States and every other sovereign nation, Israel has the
right and duty to defend itself from acts of aggression-such as the killing
and kidnapping of its citizens and ongoing rocket attacks.

* Israel's full withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Gaza were carried out
as acts of peace and goodwill. Since the pullouts, Hizballah and Hamas have
carried out unprovoked attacks against Israel, forcing the Jewish state to
take strong action to deter further attacks against its citizens.

* The resolutions urge the U.N. Security Council to condemn these unprovoked
acts of war and demand complete implementation of Security Council
Resolution 1559, requiring Hizballah to be dismantled and the departure of
all foreign militias from Lebanon, including the remaining Syrian personnel
and Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

* The full weight of American financial, diplomatic, and economic sanctions
should be imposed on Iran and Syria. Both countries provide the terrorist
groups Hizballah and Hamas with money, weapons and political support.

* Israel's actions are being carefully calibrated and are aimed at securing
the release of its soldiers and degrading the abilities of Hamas and
Hizballah to threaten its citizens with ongoing barrages of rockets.

If you have any questions please contact Marilyn Rosenthal, AIPAC Political
Director for the Southern Pacific Region, at (323) 937-1184 or
mrosenthal@aipac.org.

Posted by Robert J. Avrech at July 16, 2006 08:21 PM

Comments

Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.

1. No profanity.

2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism.

That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.

Posted by: Ari Kinsberg at July 16, 2006 10:16 PM

Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at July 16, 2006 10:55 PM

Posted by: Ari Kinsberg at July 16, 2006 11:25 PM

Posted by: suziannr at July 17, 2006 07:35 AM

Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at July 17, 2006 10:21 AM

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