A newly formed broad-based coalition of Jews and Christions, “The Coalition to Stop the Abandonment of Israel,” is sponsoring a rally in Washington on Sunday, Apr. 25 to express its concern with the present course of the Reagan Administration’s Middle East policies, it was announced here by Peter Goldman spokesman for the Coalition.
The rally, which will take place in Lafayette Park, opposite the White House, is expected to attract thousands of people from the Mid-Atlantic region, according to Goldman. He said there is great concern in this country among Christians and Jews that American Middle East policy is based on appeasement of the Arab nations at the expense of Israeli and American security.
“The rally is both a protest against the Administration’s policies and an appeal to the President to reaffirm and implement his pledges and principles in support of the State of Israel,” Goldman said. “While we are rallying for Israel, we are also rallying for the conscience of America. While we are marching for a secure Israel, we are also marching for a secure America, since these two concepts are inextricably linked.”
CHRISTIAN APPEAL TO REAGAN
The Rev, Isaac Rottenberg, chairman of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel, one of the sponsoring groups, said “the minds and hearts of many Christians are going out to the State of Israel as it continues to make many sacrifices for peace.” He called upon Christians to appeal to President Reagan to “keep our word to our ally, Israel” and to refrain from applying pressure on Israel to take risks for peace “while delivering lethal weapons to its enemies.”
Goldman said that more than 60 rabbis have formed a Rabbinic leadership conference and joined the Coalition. A statement issued by the co-chairmen of the Committee, which includes, according to Goldman, Rabbis Fabian Schoenfeld, Shlomo Riskin and Isaac Pupko, expressed “the strong feeling of unease in the Jewish community about American policy towards Israel.”
Goldman said sponsoring organizations of the rally include: Jewish Community Council of Queens (NY); Zionist Organization of America, Washington chapter; American Forum for Jewish Christian Cooperation; Americans for a Safe Israel; World Organization of Jews from Arab Countries; Christian United for Israel; Herut, Washington; Betar USA; B’nai Akiva; Concerned Jewish Youth; and Religious Organization of America. Forest Hills (NY).
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