The LA Jewish Federation invited APN's David Pine to speak as part of a pro-Israel rally on Sunday, June 6th.
They did so because there are so many of us who know that Israel needs peace to survive.
See videos and the transcript of the speech.
It is upsetting that some wanted to silence David.
But -- just as David kept speaking -- we will not allow our voice to be silenced. Peace for Israel is possible. It requires a vocal Israeli peace camp. And it requires that Americans who believe in Israel and believe in peace stand up and be counted.
Below are videos -- first a snippet including booing crowd members, then the full speech taken from the side of the audience. A transcript of the speech is beneath the videos.
I believe in Israel. And I believe in peace.
I am pleased to contribute to this event as part of our diverse and strong pro-Israel community.
As someone who loves Israel, I am proud to represent Americans for Peace Now, America's leading Jewish organization advocating for peace and security for Israel, and be connected to the largest grassroots movement in Israeli history, Shalom Achshav, Peace Now.
I say
- If the people of Israel want reassurance that we will always be mindful of their security, and aware that there are significant threats and dangers, then I say NOW is the time
- If the people of Israel feel beleaguered and isolated, and need to know we are with them, not only in times of joy, then I say NOW is the time
Believers in Israel and believers in peace despair while the Middle East conflict continues, while people live in fear of terror, under siege, feel hopeless about a future that will be free from violence and the constraints that occupy and restrict their everyday lives.
Believers in Israel and believers in peace know that despite the obstacles and the challenges, and despite the way one individual military operation is handled, ultimately it will take a negotiated resolution that provides for a 'two-state' solution, with security assurances for Israel, which will end the occupation, so that Israel can establish secure borders, with a Jewish majority and a strengthened democracy.
What I say today is:
- NOW is the time for Israel and her neighbors to move forward on the path to peace.
- NOW is the time to have the honesty and courage to break with failed policies, to change direction, for the sake of Israel and the region.
- John Wooden of blessed memory used to say: "Failure is not failure, but failure to change might be."
- NOW is the time to remind ourselves that force alone will neither achieve Israel's goals, nor secure Israel's humanity and values.
- NOW is the time to be mindful of the threats to Israel's democracy from without and within, and be vigilant in ensuring that pluralism and honest self examination are allowed to thrive.
On June 6, 1967, exactly 43 years ago to this day, in the midst of a war for survival, Abba Eban, Israel's Foreign Minister, made an emergency trip to make a case for Israel to the United Nations General Assembly. He concluded with these words:
"Let us build a new system of relationships from the wreckage of the old. Let us discern across the darkness the vision of a better and a brighter dawn."
There is still much darkness, and the dawn may appear faint. But since that fateful day in June 1967, Israel has achieved peace agreements with two mortal enemies from that war, Egypt and Jordan.
We must help our brothers and sisters in Israel reach a viable, secure peace accord with the Palestinians. Without this, there is no future for a Jewish and democratic Israel.
It can be done. It must be done.
And I say, the time is NOW.
Shalom.
Tweet
Email a friend
feed
twitter
facebook
David Pine, a very nice man, tried to speak at the Pro israel Rally. While I do not condone the fact that he was drowned out,I do feel that Peace Now put themselves in this position when standing on the podium with christian evengelicals that they are so oppossed two, and the fact that Peace Now members routinely stand with Women in Black and other calling for an "end to the occupation". When Peace Now puts their kids in the IDF and has to deal with their ilk, then maybe, they too can stand with pro Israel speakers. Until then, reserve your speechs for the CAIR and MPAC rallys
David was invited by the Federation to address the rally, including the full spectrum of political beliefs in a rally designed to support Israel. His voice was drowned out by those believing that there is only one path -- that might makes right -- and that those of us who love Israel dare not criticize her actions.
I do believe you will find many members of the IDF, and their parents, amid the supporters of Peace Now in Israel. You will not, however, find the children of Christian evangelicals bravely serving in the IDF.
To 'An Israel Supporter'
Thanks for your compliment in calling me a nice man. The rally lineup of speakers was vast, and did include a Christian Evangelical leader invited by the rally sponsors and not by us. I know for sure that APN has not participated with Women in Black in L.A. for many, many years, it at all, and this is likely true for the rest of the U.S. The Israel group is run independently, and I don't know about that. Members of Peace Now absolutely serve in the IDF, starting from the time it was founded by 348 officers and reservists, including some of the most highly decorated soldiers in Israel.
B'Shalom,
David
Mr. Pine, You must be honest, you did not speak past the hecklers. I am sorry that you did not get a chance to speak, but passions were high, and your political views are very unpopular with the majority of American Jews. It is time that you understand, that until HAMAS removes it's charter to destroy Israel, that no land giveaways will bring peace. It is time for you, dear man, to wake up and understand the true nature of Jihad and Islam. I have heard the members of Peace now who served, and proud of them for what they did, but ashamed that they parade around college campuses demonizing Israel and never understanding that they could be the next Gilad Shalit. Peace Now, is no longer relevant in today's atmosphere. We have no more time to give up.
Check this out....
http://www.talkgaza.com/flotillafacts/
How could support you shipments into Gaza that will support Hamas. Your positions endanger the security of the Jewish people.
Mr./Ms. Israel Supporter -
I did speak past the hecklers by finishing the speech, although it must be that the people standing around you made it impossible for you to hear (although I'm sure you heard some of it). No matter, it's available to read and hear on the video. Those who choose to will see that it proclaims APN's support and solidarity for the people of Israel and our desires for them to have a secure and peaceful future as a Jewish and democratic state. BOOOOOO!
When you bellow, it may be assumed that you are not listening. It is in the nature of things that those who understand least are those who bellow loudest.
My reading, as an American who made aliyah in 1967, and who served in three of Israel's wars is that the demonstration in L.A. served only to demonstrate that those who refused to listen to David Pine are not those upon whom Israel can count on. Nothing is more important than Israel breaking out of the tortuous and deadly Punch and Judy burlesque that we and the Palestinians have been performing for decades on our sandy and bloody stage.
If every mention of peace is greeted with blood shot eyes and shouts "self-hating Jew", what does that say about those shouting? That they are against peace? Perhaps not, perhaps their lack of understanding is only what one might expect from those safe in L.A. but zealous adherents none the-less of those 9,000 miles away for whom peace is more important than a few thousand more acres of dirt.
I am ashamed of those American Jews at the rally in Los Angeles who forgot what their parents surely taught them about derech eretz. Our Jewish tradition teaches us to respect those who are trying to teach us something, even if we disagree with that teaching. The stakes, the survival of Israel and the Jewish homeland, certainly are too high for us to be distracted by internal squabbling and rancor.
I too was at the rally, though I couldn't see or hear David Pine's speech. Perhaps that's a good thing, because I would have been heartbroken that so many of these people think that non-stop bloodshed in the Middle East will actually lead to a good outcome for Israel. Do they really believe that the supporters of Peace Now and other peace groups are such simpletons that they don't understand the risks? What we do understand is that Israel can't go it alone against hundreds of millions of Muslims, and that it will cease to exist if it persists in its current course, dictated to the Israeli government by the religious right. Even a hardened warrior like Ariel Sharon was capable of changing his mind when he grasped the current realities. The current policies will successfully alienate all of Israel's supporters, the countries whose support Israel needs for its survival. I don't see an oppressive, segregated, militarized, aggressive Israel as being a light unto the nations.
I am devastated watching the hate and antipathy in this video.
Where does it come from?
David Pine is speaking for peace through negotiation. Any military commander will tell you that at the end of the day peace comes about by the two sides talking to one another. It is political solutions that are needed not military ones. Avraham Burg former speaker of the Knesset and head of the Jewish Agency agrees with Mr Pine. Just like Fatah in the 80s agreed to erase inflammatory articles so can Hamas. Burg fears if we don't act soon enough there will be even a more extreme renegade group than Hamas and we will be asking where is Hamas when you need to negotiate with someone.
Thank you David. Thank you that you kept speaking despite the madness that was before you. As a friend says of mine back here in Oz we must speak amidst the madness so we remain true to ourselves.
Shalom/Salam/Peace
Stewart Mills
Sydney, Australia
David has every right to comment on the Israeli situation. Whether the people agreed or disagree that was up to them. Since he was expressing an opinion the people in the audience choose to show their political views by booing him.
This is at best a juvenile attempt at shutting him down. I do not care what side you are on everyone has a right to express their views. He was an invited speaker not some one just off the street. He should have been heard. In a grown up world if you do not like the speaker you either walk away or you stop listening to the person. You do not shout and or boo people. Especially those that were invited to speak. The people who boo are essentially showing their lack of civility and normal social graces. Maybe the center needs to hire someone to teach people how to behave.