September 18/2015

Violence in Jerusalem and Palestinian Incitement

If anyone was wondering what has been fueling the violence in the Temple Mount and in and around Jerusalem this week, the answer can be found in inciting rhetoric by Palestinian Authority president, Mahmud Abbas, which was widely broadcasted this week on Palestinian and Arab media.

"… We welcome every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem. This is pure blood, clean blood, blood on its way to Allah. With the help of Allah, every shaheed will be in heaven, and every wounded will get his reward…Al-Aqsa is ours, and the (Church of the) Holy Sepulcher is ours, all ours. They have no right to desecrate them with their filthy feet, and we won't allow them to."

The Government of Israel is committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount, which protects the right of Muslims to pray in the mosque, ensure freedom of religion for all and access to all of Jerusalem's holy sites.

There are all too many on the Palestinian side who are actively attempting to violently change the status quo and undermine the delicate balance in Jerusalem. Radical Islamist rioters on the Temple Mount have deliberately desecrated, damaged and endangered a site holy to Muslims and to Jews, turning it into a battle field, using stones, Molotov cocktails and explosive devices. Such violence led to the murder of Alexander Levlovich, on the eve of the Jewish New Year this week. If kept unchecked, it will lead to other casualties.

Unfortunately, that violence is fueled and inspired from the very top, as illustrated by the words of President Abbas. It is our hope that such Palestinian incitement stop and that worshipers and tourists of all faiths will be able to safely visit and pray in Jerusalem. 

Shabbat Shalom,

  

Yaron Sideman
Consul General Of Israel,
Mid-Atlantic Region

September 04/2015

Shalom Kita Alef- New school year starts in Israel

Throughout Israeli this week, one could hear “Shalom Kita Alef(Hello First grade)! As the nation marked the start of the 2016 school year and two million students and kindergarten children had their first day of school. The nearly 160,000 students who entered first grade took the first step in their 12 year journey of learning and discovery, and gaining the educational tool that will serve them the rest of their lives.

These children are our future. They are Israel's future. 

The educational system they are partaking in is more thanmerely a place that transfers knowledge, rather it is these children's gateway into Israeli society. 

This gateway should continue be an open door to all Israeli children, no matter what religious, ethnic or socioeconomic community they come from. Whether rich or poor, Jewish, Christian or Arab - all Israeli children should be provided with an equal opportunity to fulfill their inherent potential, to successfully integrate into the social fabric of the nation and participate in shaping its future. 

Keeping the gates of our educational system open for all children has been the secret of Israel's success throughout the years. It is the main reason that Israel is at the forefront of global technology; the Start-Up Nation. 

Providing a solid education with open gates for our children should be a top priority for any future seeking society. It is certainly the number one priority and challenge for Israel. 

I have no doubt that we will successfully meet this challengeface on, as we continue from year to year to hear our enthusiastic first graders shout with excitement, Shalom Kita Alef.

Shabbat Shalom,

  

Yaron Sideman
Consul General Of Israel,
Mid-Atlantic Region