International Assembly Address
Spring 2002
Remarks of PNC Robert M. Zweiman, JWV Chairman, delivered to the Reception and Solidarity Convention attended by the Israeli Defense Minister, the IDF chief of staff and over 2,000 TZEVET Members on February 27, 2002 at The Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel: Strange How Death – the terminal condition in one’s life – is now considered as a wake up call Not Battlefield Death – Death in the Towns and cities Not Death of Warriors – Death of Innocents On September 11th, the son of BGen (Res) Dov Shefi, your TZEVET Member, was murdered along with over 3,000 sons and daughters from more than 75 other countries. Fear encompasses a tendency to immobilize the individual into a shell of indecision to accept or reject We, the Jewish War Veterans from Britain, France, the USA and other countries have come to be with you, the soldiers of Israel, in Solidarity – a mere word, but not an action We are not here to patronize you We came because we care Our presence makes a statement – a difference We bond as a people Simplicity – the butcher death of Daniel Pearl jars the conscience not for what he reported – he was murdered for being a Jew It has been said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This is no longer a truism. It has changed as said by my President – George W. Bush: "And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded as a hostile regime." Terrorism is state sponsored. Terrorism to the Jew is not merely political – Terrorism seeks to make Judenrein more than just a philosophy. You of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stand as a firewall against making Judenrein a reality. Being a Jew is more than a culture – a religion – a race Being a Jew is the Experience that – we are you – and you are us – throughout Eternity.
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