- Title: USA: New York shows its support for Israel
- Date: 21st November 2012
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) WIDE OF RALLY OUTSIDE CONSULATE OF ISRAEL IN NEW YORK NEW YORK POLICE OFFICER WATCHING EVENT WIDE OF PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL MILLER, CEO OF JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL, SAYING: "We are here today to collectively, unequivocally, emphatically say that Israel has the legitimate right to engage in self-defense to protect its citizenry -- the primary responsibility and obligation of any government. And I want to be perfectly clear, we reject in the strongest possible terms any moral equivalency between the actions of Israel and those of Hamas." CROWD LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHARLES RANGEL, SENIOR NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE, SAYING: "It's almost awkward for me during this holiday season to have to be out here in this weather saying we stand with the people of Israel. I am a patriot, and I stand for the United States of America, and I stand for democracy, and I stand for justice. And the people of Israel don't have to come to the United States, me or anyone else to ask for the right to protect their people. They do this because civility and international relations demands that she does this. But the fact is that you cannot negotiate with someone who's already taken an oath to kill and distinguish you -- and that is a democracy that's a friend of the United States of America." IDO AHORONI, ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS, LISTENING CAMERAS AHORONI MOVING TO PODIUM CROWD LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) IDO AHORONI, CONSUL GENERAL AT THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ISRAEL, SAYING: "We are moved beyond words as representatives of the State of Israel for this display of solidarity and support. New York and Israel are one in war and in peace. New York is Israel's best friend. There's no other community in the world; there's no friendly, accessible and supportive to Israel like this great community of New York. We are here to say thank you. The people of Israel see the support. They're encouraged by it. They're inspired by it. They need it. And they accept it with love." NEW YORK POLICE OFFICER WATCHING EVENT PAN FROM PODIUM TO CONSULATE OF ISRAEL IN NEW YORK
- Embargoed: 6th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA425270FZNGUPN9WIOO89BFUSE
- Story Text: New York city officials and elected representatives show their support for Israel as truce remains elusive.
A crowd of New York city and state officials gathered outside the Israeli consulate in New York on Tuesday (November 20) to show their support for the U.S. ally amid the ongoing confrontation with the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip.
The list of speakers included all ranks of politicians from community leaders to city officials to congressional representatives all with one message for the Israeli Consul: New York, with its almost 1.5 million residents with Jewish heritage, supports Israel.
"We are here today to collectively, unequivocally, emphatically say that Israel has the legitimate right to engage in self-defense to protect its citizenry -- the primary responsibility and obligation of any government," said Michael Miller, the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
"We reject in the strongest possible terms any moral equivalency between the actions of Israel and those of Hamas," he finished.
Adding his voice was New York's senior representative in Congress, Charles Rangel.
"The people of Israel don't have to come to the United States, me or anyone else to ask for the right to protect their people. They do this because civility and international relations demands that she does this," said Rangel.
"But the fact is that you cannot negotiate with someone who's already taken an oath to kill and distinguish you -- and that is a democracy that's a friend of the United States of America."
Israel's Consul General at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, Ido Ahoroni, thanked the speakers and the audience for their support.
"New York and Israel are one in war and in peace. New York is Israel's best friend. There's no other community in the world; there's no friendly, accessible and supportive to Israel like this great community of New York," said Ahoroni.
"We are here to say thank you. The people of Israel see the support. They're encouraged by it. They're inspired by it. They need it. And they accept it with love."
As the rally continued, representatives from Israel and Hamas, who control the Gaza Strip, were near to confirming a truce to end the recent flare up of violence. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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