By Andrew Coen
The aim of the "Rally For Israel" and against state-sponsored terrorism, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday in Cedarhurst Park, is to show support for Israel's right to defend itself and retaliate against militants who attack innocent families. Elected officials and an Israeli Consulate representative are scheduled to address the crowd.
Israel and Hezbollah have been locked in a fierce battle and missile fight for about a week, leading to the death and injury of hundreds of victims, many of them civilians in Israel and Lebanon, after the terrorist group refused to release captured Israeli soldiers.
Another goal of the rally, sponsored by the Five Towns Jewish Council and the Jewish Community Center of the Greater Five Towns, is to launch a new movement, called "I Saved a Gallon," hoping to end America's reliance on oil supplied by terror-sponsored nations, such as Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia, by urging consumers to conserve gas as much as they can.
Sunday's rally will be held just over four years after a similar gathering took place on April 14, 2002, when more than 3,000 participants packed Cedarhurst Park to show support for Israel during the height of the intifada with the Palestinian terror group Hamas. Organizers hope for a similar turnout on Sunday.
"We're hoping to attract as many people as possible," said Edith Pollack, who became the new Five Towns Jewish Council executive director on July 1, joining newly installed president Eli Hermes.
Five Towns Jewish Council Chairman Dr. Norman Amer, who coordinated the 2002 rally, is going all-out trying to spread the word about the upcoming rally by distributing fliers to advertise the event. As part of the "I Saved a Gallon" movement, Amer said, leaflets will be handed out to those who attend the rally, suggesting ways to reduce gas consumption, such as carpooling and running as many errands during one trip as possible.
"Instead of shouting and yelling, we wanted something positive to come out of this thing," said Amer. "The idea is to become a patriotic member of the gallon club."
Amer said that until America's dependence on foreign oil is reduced, political problems will always exist in dealing with terror-sponsored countries which have seemingly endless supplies of the product. "We know we're funding our destruction," Amer said of how every time consumers fill up a tank of gas they are indirectly supporting Middle East countries that sponsor terrorism. "We're self-destructing ourselves."
Amer said he hopes the rally and the "I Saved a Gallon" campaign will draw participants of different religions, since the terrorists have targeted the region's Christian population as well as Jews. "It's not just a Jewish problem," said Amer. "[The terrorists] don't just want to discriminate against Jews, they want to discriminate against Judeo-Christians."
Dr. Amer's wife, Jo, a former Five Towns Jewish Council executive director who was heavily involved in planning the 2002 rally, said while uniting the community together for a cause is wonderful, she's disappointed that four years later terrorists still target Israel. "It is just frustrating that it is happening again and again," she said.
For further information about the July 23 "Rally For Israel," call (516) 374-6374.
Comments about this story? Acoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
