The Zionist Organization of America has urged supporters of Israel to assemble in Philadelphia on Tuesday to demonstrate against a city-sponsored program that criticizes the creation of the Jewish state.
For the second year in a row, the city arranged an “International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People” at its Municipal Services Building.
According to a promotional poster, the event is sponsored by Mayor Jim Kenney’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the City Representative’s office.
Last year, state legislators spoke alongside Kenney and at least three Philadelphia City Council members.
“Too many Jews have been murdered and maimed by Palestinian-Arab violence.
There have already been too many lies and propaganda attacking Israel’s right to exist and seeking to delegitimize Jewish heritage and Jewish rights to self-determination,” the Greater Philadelphia ZOA said in a statement.
“Endorsing more violence and lies and propaganda is beneath the obligation of officials who represent all Philadelphians.
Please do not further trample on the already-under-attack Jewish community,” the group added.
The PLO banner, which the United States has labeled as a terrorist organization and which has been involved in the death and maiming of tens of thousands of Israeli civilians since its formation in 1964, is prominently shown on the poster for Tuesday’s Philadelphia event.
A resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly has recognized Palestine Solidarity Day every year since 1977.
The date of November 29 falls on the anniversary of a UNGA resolution that divided the British Mandate of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state, a resolution that Palestinian Arabs have yet to ratify.
The establishment of the Jewish state by the Palestinians is known as a Nakba or tragedy.
Zionist Organization of America’s Greater Philadelphia Chapter encourages counter-demonstrators to join a vigil today at noon outside the Municipal Services Building, located at 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
According to a statement from the Greater Philadelphia ZOA, “the goal of the city’s event and the violent and bellicose imagery in the poster publicizing the city event is a danger to every Jewish person and every friend of Israel.”
“That Philadelphia officials would send such a message in this era of widespread attacks on Jewish people and institutions, combined with severe encouragement of hatred of Jewish people and the Jewish homeland, is very alarming.”
1987 saw the U.S. Congress classify the PLO as a “terrorist organization” and forbade it from establishing any branches in the country.
Until President Donald Trump closed the PLO office in Washington, D.C., every American president ordered the closure of its American bank accounts to pressure the Palestinians to stop cooperating with the International Criminal Court against Israel since the 1993 Oslo interim peace agreement between Israel and the PLO was signed.
The ZOA invites supporters to bring American and Israeli flags to the rally on Tuesday.
JOIN US ON WHAT'SAPP, TO GET INSTANT STATUS UPDATES AND BE IN THE KNOW.
CLICK HERE
