Z STREET

Here is my take on the opposing demonstrations outside the Waldorf Astoria in NYC where the annual Friends of the IDF held its major fundraising dinner.

More Haters than Supporters were present outside the IDF dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on Tuesday night, March 9th, but.....

OUR BEST REVENGE against the HATERS:
MORE THAN $20 million WAS RAISED AT THE IDF DINNER !!!!

Watch an interview with Col. Bentzion Gruber, pictured below, (that's Eli Hertz of Myths and Facts and Chairman of CAMERA in the background, over the Col.'s right shoulder)

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a ground commander during Operation Cast Lead.  He joined us at the pro-IDF rally outside of the Waldorf Astoria on Tuesday evening, March 9th.  Below are some photos from that evening, with more to come.

We made a copy of the flyers dropped by the IDF warning the Gazans of the impending operations, an  irrefutable demonstration of the IDF's humanitarianism at the great forfeiture of the most important military tactic: the element of surprise.  We included on the flyers the translation (for those who don't read Arabic).

TRANSLATION:
To the residents of the Gaza Strip:
The IDF will act against any movements and elements conducting terrorist activities against the residents of the State of Israel.
The IDF will hit and destroy any building or site containing ammunition and weapons.
As of the publication of this announcement, anyone having ammunition and/or weapons in his home is risking his life and must leave the place for the safety of his own life and that of his family.
You have been warned.
IDF Command

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The document on the left, which we had on the back of the flyer, provided detailed information about the times and methods used by the IDF to ensure civilians were warned in sufficient time to escape harm.  That information is reproduced below:

To make sure these warnings reach the residents, the IDF  used different measures: dropping leaflets, making phone calls, and commandeering local radio and TV stations.
The main messages include:
Calls to evacuate buildings where weapons are stored and/or where tunnels have been dug (since December 27)
Instructions to move to the center of towns (as of January 3)
Instructions to residents to listen to IDF advisories and avoid interaction with terrorist elements
These messages were conveyed by several means:
1. Dropping leaflets:
On December 28, 300,000 leaflets were dropped throughout the entire Gaza Strip
On December 29, 80,000 leaflets were dropped in Rafah
On January 3, 300,000 leaflets were dropped in the entire Gaza Strip, especially in the northern and eastern parts
On January 5, 300,000 leaflets were droopped in Gaza City, Khan Yunis and Rafah.
Leaflet (December 28, 2008)(see above)
2. Phone calls
On December 27, around 20,000 phone calls were made throuthout the entire Gaza Strip
On December 29, around 10,000 phone calls were made to the residents of Rafah
Phone Message (December 27, 2008)
.  The IDF will hit and destroy any site or building containing ammunition or weapons.
As of the publication of this announcement, the life of anyone in whose home ammunition and weapons are to be found is in danger, and he must leave the place for the sake of his own safety and that of his family.
 
IDF Command
3. Breaking into local radio transmissions 
(Radio Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Radio and Radio PFLP)
a. Specific local announcements
Radio Announcement (December 29, 2008)
  

To the residents of Rafah:
A military announcement - 
The IDF will act against any organizations and elements carrying out terrorist activities against the residents of the State of Israel.
The IDF will hit and destroy any building or site containing ammunition, weapons or tunnels.
As of the issuing of this announcement, anyone having ammunition and/or weapons or a tunnel in his home is risking his life and must leave the place for his own safety and that of his family.
You have been warned.
 
IDF Command
Radio Announcement (January 3, 2009)
   
Military announcement
To all residents of the area
For your own safety, you are required to leave your homes immediately and move to the city centers.
 
IDF Command 
b. Daily news bulletins (since December 27)
 
News Bulletin - Breakin into regular radio transmissions (January 3, 2009)

And here are pictures of the Israel supporters who showed up:

Here is Lori Lowenthal Marcus and Atlas (Pamela Geller), thrilled with the pro-Israel energy generated!

 

LLM of Z STREET(l)and Helen Freedman of AFSI (r) See Freedman's report about the event in the Always Israel blog.

Yossi Baumel of the Hebron Fund (r) and Rabbi Algazi (l) were also speakers at the event.

Helen Freedman of Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI), one of the co-organizers of the event.

Roberta Dzubow, pictured at left, came up from Philadelphia to support the IDF, as did Marcus of Z STREET on the right.

That's Stephen Rubin holding the Stop the HAMAS Terrorist Occupation of Gaza sign - Steve came in from Connecticut for the event.

To the left is Marvin Belsky of Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam (HRCARI) and co-coordinator of the event.

 

Steve Feldman, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia District of the ZOA is at the far left, and next to Steve is our youngest pro-Israel demonstrator at the event - a 14 year-old from Philadelphia.

Celeste Marcus and Lori Lowenthal Marcus of Z STREET and Pamela Geller - Atlas Shrugs.

Here's the background information:

They want to shame us?  Let's demonstrate our PRIDE!

In the past, the Haters have turned out in large numbers while those in support of Israel have mostly stayed home.  Come, we will have flags, banners, information, Col. Gruber, the leaflets and ENERGY.

Be a part of the groundswell in support of Israel - Z STREET, along with more than a dozen truly pro-Israel organizations and individuals will be there - add your voice, your body, and bring family and friends.
Questions about logistics?  Want to help?  Let us know.  Help make this a huge event.