“I would expand my call for rabbis and other Jewish organizational leaders and Israeli leaders to promote the pro-Israel cause by fighting anti-Israel propaganda lies: the lie that Israel is an ‘occupier’ of her own lawful, G-d given land; the lie that Jerusalem is holy to Muslims; the lie that Israel commits ‘genocide’; the lie that Israel is an ‘apartheid’ state; and the lie that Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are ‘moderate’…” – ZOA President Morton Klein

(April 1, 2025 / Moment Mag)

MORTON KLEIN

Thirteen years ago, I said that the Palestinian Arabs’ real goal was to destroy Israel (rather than to establish a peaceful Palestinian state in Gaza and/or Judea/Samaria and/or Jerusalem). This was unfortunately confirmed by events of the past 13 years, most dramatically by the horrors of October 7: the gleeful participation of Hamas terrorists cheered on by Gazan sympathizers; vows to repeat October 7 until there is no more Israel; the deadly “knife intifada” wave of terror incited by Palestinian Authority (PA) terrorist dictator Mahmoud Abbas from 2015 through today; the PA’s $400 million a year “pay to slay” policy rewarding Jew-killers; and more. Their real goal is to murder every Jew and destroy the Jewish state. Both the PA’s and Hamas’s charters call for that.

My calls then were for Jewish leaders to educate people much more and to inform people of Israel’s rights. The real threats Israel faces are as important as ever, given the onslaught of lies about Israel.

Today, I would expand my call for rabbis and other Jewish organizational leaders and Israeli leaders to promote the pro-Israel cause by fighting anti-Israel propaganda lies: the lie that Israel is an “occupier” of her own lawful, G-d given land; the lie that Jerusalem is holy to Muslims (it is a lie that Mohammed visited Jerusalem, almost no Arab leader visited Jerusalem when Arabs controlled it, and Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Quran); the lie that Israel commits “genocide” (in fact, Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid civilian casualties); the lie that Israel is an “apartheid” state (in fact, Israeli Arabs have equal rights in Israel); and the lie that Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are “moderate” (in fact, they are as bad as Hamas; the PA’s ruling party Fatah bragged in a video that its members participated in the October 7 attack, adding “We killed them…and stepped on their heads”).

I would likewise expand my call for rabbis and Jewish and Israeli leaders to support the United States in withholding any aid to the Palestinians while the PA continues to violate the Oslo Accords. The PA still refuses to arrest terrorists and collect arms; glorifies terrorists; names schools, streets and sports teams after terrorists; pays terrorists lifetime pensions, rewarding them for murdering Jews; and engages in anti-Israel lawfare at the UN, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Pro-Israel Jewish leaders should also support the virtually unanimous resolution of the Knesset and the Israeli people opposing a Palestinian state; support the Israeli government and a clear majority of Israelis who support Arabs’ emigration from Gaza; support the right of Jews to live in the Jewish homelands of Judea and Samaria; and support Israel in not giving away any more land, because any land given away becomes an Arab terrorist enclave.

I would also expand upon the list of actions that should accompany being pro-Israel. Being pro-Israel also means writing letters and articles promoting pro-Israel Jewish groups and positions; supporting and sending one’s children to Jewish day schools (day school graduates are much more supportive of Israel and often become informed pro-Israel activists); buying Israel Bonds; making Israel a priority when deciding whom to vote for; sending one’s children on Israel trips sponsored by ZOA, Birthright or other pro-Israel groups; urging one’s college-aged students to do a pre-college year learning in Israel or a mid-college year at a university in Israel; and learning Jewish history.

My statement in 2012 that exchanging 1,000 terrorists for Gilad Shalit was a terrible mistake was also sadly confirmed by the fact that released Hamas terrorist Yahya Sinwar and 40 other released terrorists led the horrific October 7 pogrom. I am deeply concerned that Israel is making the same terrible mistake again today by releasing thousands of Arab terrorists with Jewish blood on their hands.

I would change one aspect of what I previously said: At this point, I believe that those who still want a Palestinian Arab state in Gaza and/or Judea/Samaria and/or Jerusalem are either ill-informed, delusional (in that they fail to understand or appreciate the real threat) or anti-Israel. While I understand that someone who wants a Palestinian state may be well-intentioned or believe that he is pro-Israel, in fact promoting a Palestinian Arab state is not a pro-Israel position. The Israeli people understand that such a state would be an existential threat to Israel and every Jew. Indeed, in July 2024, the Knesset voted overwhelmingly to reject a Palestinian Arab state, with only the nine Arab Knesset members opposed.

Morton Klein is the president of the Zionist Organization of America, having served in that position since 1993.
This article was originally published by Moment Mag.

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