Israel Action ALERT - July 26, 2012 - REMINDER - Friday Moment of Silence for Munich 11

July 26, 2012

REMINDER

HONORING OUR FALLEN ISRAELI ATHLETES:

40 Years Since Munich

On Friday, July 27th, the 2012 Summer Olympics will begin in London and will mark 40 years since the murder of 11 Israeli athletes by terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games. Since then, the bereaved families have repeatedly asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to observe a minute of silence in memory.

A campaign led by one of those family members has attracted over 100,000 signatures to a petition asking the IOC for a moment of silence to remember the murdered Israeli athletes. A powerful CNN op-ed on the campaign has quoted Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird and Sports Minister Bal Gosal saying "The terrorist attack targeted not only Israel, but the spirit and goals of the Olympic movement...it should be marked publicly as part of the official ceremony...".

Click HERE to sign the petition on change.org.

Click HERE to watch Munich 11 Video with Danny Ayalon.

Read More:

- CNN Editorial

- Bob Costas in Favor

- Palestinian Olympic Committee Calls Proposal "Racist"

GLOBAL MINUTE OF SILENCE

In addition, the Zionist Federation UK is inviting supporters around the globe to join in remembering the 11 murdered Israeli Athletes.

On the morning of the Opening Ceremony, July 27th, people all over the world will stop for one minute and stand in silence as a personal tribute to those who lost their lives in the 1972 Munich Massacre. Wherever you may be and whatever you may be doing, please join in and stand in silence for one minute as we remember.

There will also be a short memorial service streamed live via a webcast at 10.45am (GMT+1 / London Time)(5:45am EST)

www.minuteformunich.org.

NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY STAND TOGETHER FOR A MINUTE OF SILENCE DURING THE 2012 OLYMPIC OPENING DAY

TO COMMEMORATE THOSE KILLED IN THE MUNICH MASSACRE

In the American time zones, there will also be a moment of silence and an accompanying ceremony taking place in New York across from the Israeli Consulate at approximately 11am EST. Consul General Ido Aharoni will be joined by numerous organizational leaders, elected officials and Avi Melamed, a surviving member of the 1972 Israeli Olympic Team. Federations along the east coast are joining in with this memorial, at this time, as a show of support.

Agencies in New Jersey will also be observing a moment of silence at 9:30am EST. Please join in with whichever observance you are able.

We are also asking that during Shabbat Services this weekend our community also take a moment to remember and reflect on the anniversary of this tragedy.

See Also:

- Congress Holds Moment of Silence in Memory of Munich 11

- How Munich 11 Effort Went Viral

- Israeli Olympians Bring Hope and Remembrance to London

- London's Jewish Community Get's Ready for Olympics

- America's Jewish Olympiads

IOC to BBC:

"FIX JERUSALEM"

A controversy has erupted around the BBC's Olympic website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/countries/israel), which refrains from identifying Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel. Each country profile on the BBC's website for the 2012 London Olympics contains basic information, including a map, country capital and picture. It refers to Jerusalem as the "Seat of Israel's government -- though most foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv."

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, among others, has reacted negatively to this designation. His statement: "Throughout the history of Jerusalem, with over a dozen conquerors, only the Jewish people have called the Holy City of Jerusalem our capital. Jerusalem today, under Israeli sovereignty, has returned to the role it played 2000-3000 years ago. There is unprecedented freedom of movement and religion and the world is welcome and encouraged to enjoy the beauty and majesty of Jerusalem. We will not accept those who deny our history, our sovereignty, and our right to determine our own capital. Irrespective of the BBC's political agenda, Jerusalem was, is, and will always be the capital of Israel and the spiritual, political, and physical center of the Jewish people."

The international community, including the United States, does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and stipulates that its status should be determined through negotiations. The BBC, however, is not a diplomatic entity and it could simply accept the "capital" designation as Israel has requested.

When the listing of Jerusalem initially did not even mention "seat of government", the International Olympic Committee contacted the management of the BBC on, and requested that they correct their listing of Jerusalem to say, Jerusalem - Capital of Israel. This came at the request of Alex Giladi, the Israeli representative on the Olympic Committee. In a response to an official complaint written by Mark Regev of the Prime Minister's office, the BBC said they would not write that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, but would be willing to say that Jerusalem is the seat of the Israeli government.

If you wish to have your voice heard and ask that the BBC list Jerusalem as its capital, please use this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/3701180.stm

Also, check out this Facebook page "Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel"

This issue:

One Minute for Munich 11

BBC & Jerusalem

NEW! Hot Topics

Upcoming Events

REMINDER:

SUPPORT THE VICTIMS OF THE BULGARIA BUS BOMBING AND THEIR FAMILIES

Support the Fund for the Victims of Terror

The Fund for the Victims of Terror, operated by The Jewish Agency for Israel and made possible by contributions from Jewish Federations across North America, will provide financial assistance to Israelis wounded in the attack in Bulgaria and to the families of those killed.

Contributions to the Victims of Terror Fund may be mailed to:

The Jewish Federations of North America / Wall Street Station
PO Box 157
New York, NY 10268
Attn: Victims of Terror Fund

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HOT TOPICS:

Iran's Support for Global Terrorism