Support Israeli Newschannel

[maven]

To update you all on The Campaign For An Israeli International Newschannel.

I am still working away at this but find the Govt. of Israel fairly hard to reach.

I would be grateful if other members could do their bit and write to anyone of any importance or influence that you know in any field who is favourable to the State of Israel to spread this idea.

I enclose a sample letter below which you could use or base your own on.

PLEASE HELP TO GET ISRAEL TO JOIN THE INFORMATION WAR in any way you can,
Regards,
Maven.

Subject: Israeli International Newschannel.

Dear............

Israel is currently losing the International 'Information War'.

Al Jazeera English has now been joined by Press TV Iran English which broadcasts around the world on sattelite and is very popular in Europe with students, followers of ME affairs and Western Muslims.

It spews out 24 hours of anti-Israeli propaganda and part sponsored the 'Viva Palestina' Gaza convoy'.

Even a number of left and liberal young Jews in the UK now support it's daily repeated call for the replacement of Israel with a "Non-racist, non-relegious Palestine State with justice for Palestinians and Jews."

I envisage an independent Israeli Newschannel broadcasting from Jerusalem, London and Washington with an English and Arabic service.

If Richard Murdoch were involved it could not only challenge the above stations but the BBC and CNN and other networks often critical of Israel.

Israel must join the 'Information War' to counteract missunderstandings, missrepresentations, missinformation, ignorance and downright lies aimed at her by her enemies in the International media and politics.

I believe that such a station could help to alter perceptions of Israel and Jews in the Middle East as well as elsewhere.

I would be most grateful if you could acknoledge recipt of this email so I know that you have received the idea.

[Sharona]

Thanks Maven.

I suppose a rally of sorts is out of the question?

Or a letter signed by the masses and handed into the Israeli Embassy?

Or even a protest outside the Embassy ?(I think they might actually like one that isn't calling for their heads!)

[Sharona]

Have you thought of sending this letter round to some of the Synagogues? Or perhaps the Jewish schools - there's a lot of support from the lower/upper sixth in Jewish schools and colleges.

[maven]

Have you thought of sending this letter round to some of the Synagogues? Or perhaps the Jewish schools - there's a lot of support from the lower/upper sixth in Jewish schools and colleges.

I have made two attempts to contact Mark Regev through the Israeli Embassy in Washington and through the Israel foreign Affairs Ministry without success. I have written to Melanie Phillips who did not answer. That's the problem, trying to reach someone senior enough to take it to government or high media circles. I will write to David Horowitz of the Jerusalem Post next but if you feel contacting the people you list will help please do. After all your Rabbi might have a friend or relative in high places? (I mean apart from God to whom I hope he is very close).

[Sharona]

No - no friends in high places, Maven.

He's practically there himself, though. Bless him.

How about the JC? If not an actual contact then a letter seeking support?

Or a petition in a couple of the Jewish communities; a few in North London spring instantly to mind.

[Sharona]

A thought - what about Julia Neuberger?

She's in the Lords now, isn't she?

Surely as a Rabbi she'd at least answer?

[maven]

A thought - what about Julia Neuberger?

She's in the Lords now, isn't she?

Surely as a Rabbi she'd at least answer?

Hi Sharona,
I just wrote to David Horovitz editor of the JP. I previously wrote to 'The Jewish Chronicle' who did not have the courtesy to answer.

I have just emailed Rabbi Neuberger who frankly often gets on my nerves, she is so liberal that she is a member of a party dedicated to replacing Israel with a Palestinian State and full of anti-Semites, so I don't expect much joy from her.

Perhaps you might try emailing the Jewish Chronicle? They might take notice of a second request.

[Sharona]

Maven - I suspect the only way you'll get anywhere is if you go with a petition and present it to the Israeli embassy.

My experience of these things is that one person seeking answers from those in 'power' (I use the term loosely) are nearly always ignored. When the one person becomes a group and gets press attention, the 'powers' then turn up for the party.

My feeling on this is that it would either work as a door-to-door mini-campaign in Jewish areas or a hanging-about-in-the-street thing - in Jewish areas, of course.

I've tackled 'powers' in the past and this is how it has always been.

Personally, I'd be willing to join a few people who are up for door-knocking/hanging-about.

[Y. Shulamith]

This is a good effort; everyone should try out help out with this one. If there is anything that I can do, personally, please let me know.

The TV is as mighty as the sword in these times, and any and all efforts to convey the news from an Israeli point of view, or even an impartial view, is an important effort nowadays.

[maven]

Maven - I suspect the only way you'll get anywhere is if you go with a petition and present it to the Israeli embassy.

My experience of these things is that one person seeking answers from those in 'power' (I use the term loosely) are nearly always ignored. When the one person becomes a group and gets press attention, the 'powers' then turn up for the party.

My feeling on this is that it would either work as a door-to-door mini-campaign in Jewish areas or a hanging-about-in-the-street thing - in Jewish areas, of course.

I've tackled 'powers' in the past and this is how it has always been.

Personally, I'd be willing to join a few people who are up for door-knocking/hanging-about.

Thanks Sharona dear but I live high in the mountains and miles from anywhere. I just wrote a personal email to Steven Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle London. If you know of a school who could get a petition up then you could leave it to them to do the work? They could also approach other schools. Our poor Jewish schoolchildren in the UK study behind bomb-proof doors and prison style fences. Just one phonecall from you could help.

[maven]

This is a good effort; everyone should try out help out with this one. If there is anything that I can do, personally, please let me know.

The TV is as mighty as the sword in these times, and any and all efforts to convey the news from an Israeli point of view, or even an impartial view, is an important effort nowadays.

Gezunterheyt Shule, if you can think of a congressman or anyone on your side of the water who is influential and contactable it would help. Sharona's idea of getting a Jewish school to petition is a great one especially if they then contact other schools. A petition from your Rabbi and Shul could help. I'm glad that we are making it a forum effort now and I believe when it goes on air we can all know it came from the Israel Forum and history can say we achieved one great thing for Israel and Jews everywhere.

[Y. Shulamith]

I will give a try at Sons of Israel.....The Politz Foundation does a lot of work in this direction. They are Orthodox, though. Otherwise, I could try something with the Jewish Community Center or one of the Reform or Conservative Synagogues in our area.

The Congresspersons in our state are very approachable, also.

[maven]

I will give a try at Sons of Israel.....The Politz Foundation does a lot of work in this direction. They are Orthodox, though. Otherwise, I could try something with the Jewish Community Center or one of the Reform or Conservative Synagogues in our area.

The Congresspersons in our state are very approachable, also.

~FOREVER ISRAEL~

[Sharona]

Maven, I appreciate your difficulties.

I live in an area where there's about one Jew per ten miles In fact, in the 12th century there was a Jewish massacre here.

But, I am not too far away from the North London area; in fact, I was born and raised in Bushey Heath, which is an area Aviva might know. It's a stone's throw from Stanmore, which again is a Jewish area.

I've got some experience of hanging-around-on-streets plus a bit of door-knocking so if anyone from the UK can join up with me in Nth London, or knows of anyone else who is willing, the offer is still good.

Maven - I'm going to PM you with the name of someone who might prove useful.

[maven]

Maven, I appreciate your difficulties.

I live in an area where there's about one Jew per ten miles In fact, in the 12th century there was a Jewish massacre here.

But, I am not too far away from the North London area; in fact, I was born and raised in Bushey Heath, which is an area Aviva might know. It's a stone's throw from Stanmore, which again is a Jewish area.

I've got some experience of hanging-around-on-streets plus a bit of door-knocking so if anyone from the UK can join up with me in Nth London, or knows of anyone else who is willing, the offer is still good.

Maven - I'm going to PM you with the name of someone who might prove useful.

Thanks Sharona. What I think is that all you need to is convince one school and they could do all the work. I would be very fearful of you taking sigs on a streetcorner in case you ran into one of Evonne Ridley's wolverines though.

I did get you PM but I wonder if it would not be better if someone who knew the person did it? Then they would not wonder who I was?