JUF Report

In this Issue:

• 9,000 celebrated Israel Solidarity Day May 3

• Biden: U.S. committed to Israel, peace process; Peres & Obama reaffirm partnership

• Peres: Israel won't apologize for Gaza op

• TIP Dinner Season begins this week

• Analyst: Pope's visit might become rife with minefields

• JUF presents Terezin tree to Illinois Holocaust Museum

• Ben Gurion scholars present Israel's quest for environmental solutions

• Chicago teen raises money for school in Southern Sudan




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9,000 celebrated Israel Solidarity Day May 3


Some 9,000 people throughout the Chicago metropolitan area participated in the annual Israel Solidarity Day, featuring the Walk with Israel May 3. The six-kilometer walks at seven locations highlighted Chicago’s support for Israel and its citizens and celebrated the 61st anniversary of Israel’s founding. The festivities included entertainment and food, Walks for suitable for all ages in the South Suburbs, Skokie, Oak Park, Northwest Suburbs, West Suburbs, the City of Chicago, and the North Suburbs.

The Walks were kicked off with inspiring words of encouragement from Israeli diplomats and Illinois Reps. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Mark Kirk, Jan Schakowsky and the newest member of Congress, Mike Quigley. State legislators also showed their solidarity throughout the various walks.

View more photos from the various events here and here.
Biden: U.S. committed to Israel, peace process; Peres & Obama reaffirm partnership


Expressing strong support for the U.S.-Israel alliance, Vice President Joe Biden in his address at the annual AIPAC conference noted that "all the good intentions of the last decade have not resulted in a more secure, more stable Middle East; a more secure, more stable Israel; a more secure, more stable United States." To make progress in the peace process, Biden said, Israel "must work toward a two-state solution, not build settlements, dismantle outposts and allow Palestinians access to freedom of movement."

In a special video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel wants "peace with the Arab world ... [and] peace with the Palestinians. I believe it is possible to achieve it, but I think it requires a fresh approach, and the fresh approach that I suggest is pursuing a triple track towards peace between Israel and the Palestinians - a political track, a security track, an economic track."

Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres met with President Obama at the White House, where the two leaders acknowledged the longstanding partnership between Israel and the United States and committed to working together toward peace.

In related news, former Israeli Foreign Minister and Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni told representatives from the Council on Foreign Relations that "while the Middle East is increasingly divided between moderate and extremist actors, [she sees] growing opportunity to foster regional stability." In her remarks, Livni emphasized that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would benefit both Israelis and Palestinians.
Peres: Israel won't apologize for Gaza op

President Shimon Peres told reporters Wednesday that IDF forces did not intentionally aim at civilians or United Nations facilities during Operation Cast Lead, but acknowledged that Israel may have made "some mistakes," according to The Jerusalem Post.

Speaking after a private meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Peres repeated the government's position that it would not accept "one word" of a report about attacks on UN facilities during the war that was released Tuesday.

The report, commissioned by Ban in February, blamed Israel for failing to take adequate precautions to ensure that UN installations and civilians sheltering in them would be protected from shells or other fire intended for Hamas terrorists.