Gary Bauer in Israel
Last night I was davening Kabbalat Shabbat (praying, welcoming the Sabbath) at the Western Wall when, lo and behold, I spotted Gary Bauer! I went over an introduced myself -- he was quite taken aback that he was recognized by someone at the Wall, especially someone wearing a black hat (and the rest of the traditional garb of Orthodox Jews). I told him that I'd met him a few years ago at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Conference in Washington D.C. (he said he remembered that but I'm not so sure... then again, I was one of very few Jews there so it's possible). I also told him that I subscribed to his newsletters (the latest of which is below) and that I'm a huge fan and he lit up with amazement. He introduced me to his son, Zak (who is much, much taller than him -- not hard to do since he's about five feet tall) and I told him that he had big shoes to fill (Bauer thanked me for my kind words). We spoke for only a minute or two, then I let him go on his way. Before he left, he stopped near where a group of Jews was singing and dancing in a circle to watch them.
Here's Bauer's most recent plea for the Jews in Gaza:
Israel's right to defend herself
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
by Gary Bauer, co-chair, Stand for Israel
My family and I just arrived in Israel, and I wanted to get this report to you as soon as possible. As you know, Prime Minister Sharon is preparing to implement a very controversial “disengagement plan” that involves the mandatory removal of 9,000 Jews from Gaza. Israeli society is very divided over the plan. But everyone agrees that the move involves risks, because Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups may use the withdrawal as an opportunity to attack.
In fact, those attacks have already begun. Every day, Hamas missiles are fired on Israeli communities in Gaza and in Israel proper. A few days ago there was a deadly homicide bombing in a shopping mall in the costal city of Netanya, killing four people and wounding many more. All of these attacks have one thing in common - they intentionally target Israeli civilians in violation of international law.
As we arrived in Israel, Prime Minister Sharon was preparing to do what every nation in the world would do under similar circumstances - fight back! Already the Israeli Defense Forces have targeted terrorist leaders in Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Israeli military forces are massing outside of Gaza and are preparing to go in if necessary.
So what are the media saying about all of this? Once again they're calling Israel’s response to the terrorists -- not the terrorist attacks themselves -- a threat to the “truce.” Unbelievable! Israeli families are dodging missiles. Israeli shoppers are blown up at a mall. But according to the media pundits these things don’t threaten the so-called truce. Only Israel’s normal self-defense is seen as a problem.
By the way, none of this would be happening if Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was fulfilling his obligations under President Bush’s “Road Map to peace.” Abbas is obligated to disarm the terrorists and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. He has done neither. Just a few days ago he issued another empty statement saying that terrorism wouldn’t be tolerated - a statement issued while new rocket attacks against Israelis were under way.
On behalf of Stand for Israel, my family and I will be reminding Israelis this week that millions of Christians believe they have a right to defend themselves against terrorist thugs. We will also tell them that countless people like you are praying for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem.
Gary L. Bauer.
Co-chair, Stand for Israel
Here's Bauer's most recent plea for the Jews in Gaza:
Israel's right to defend herself
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
by Gary Bauer, co-chair, Stand for Israel
My family and I just arrived in Israel, and I wanted to get this report to you as soon as possible. As you know, Prime Minister Sharon is preparing to implement a very controversial “disengagement plan” that involves the mandatory removal of 9,000 Jews from Gaza. Israeli society is very divided over the plan. But everyone agrees that the move involves risks, because Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups may use the withdrawal as an opportunity to attack.
In fact, those attacks have already begun. Every day, Hamas missiles are fired on Israeli communities in Gaza and in Israel proper. A few days ago there was a deadly homicide bombing in a shopping mall in the costal city of Netanya, killing four people and wounding many more. All of these attacks have one thing in common - they intentionally target Israeli civilians in violation of international law.
As we arrived in Israel, Prime Minister Sharon was preparing to do what every nation in the world would do under similar circumstances - fight back! Already the Israeli Defense Forces have targeted terrorist leaders in Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Israeli military forces are massing outside of Gaza and are preparing to go in if necessary.
So what are the media saying about all of this? Once again they're calling Israel’s response to the terrorists -- not the terrorist attacks themselves -- a threat to the “truce.” Unbelievable! Israeli families are dodging missiles. Israeli shoppers are blown up at a mall. But according to the media pundits these things don’t threaten the so-called truce. Only Israel’s normal self-defense is seen as a problem.
By the way, none of this would be happening if Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was fulfilling his obligations under President Bush’s “Road Map to peace.” Abbas is obligated to disarm the terrorists and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. He has done neither. Just a few days ago he issued another empty statement saying that terrorism wouldn’t be tolerated - a statement issued while new rocket attacks against Israelis were under way.
On behalf of Stand for Israel, my family and I will be reminding Israelis this week that millions of Christians believe they have a right to defend themselves against terrorist thugs. We will also tell them that countless people like you are praying for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem.
Gary L. Bauer.
Co-chair, Stand for Israel