December 20, 2016

The New York Times attacks America’s new Israel Ambassador . . . for all the wrong reasons.

But we can beat the Times—and with your help, we’ll win the nationwide PR battle for Israel.

Won’t you act now to help us tell the truth about Israel’s righteous cause?
Just go to donate now to contribute.

Dear Friend of FLAME:

Were you one of the 500,000 people who received the New York Times op-ed on Saturday, which called America’s next Israel ambassador “dangerous,” even before he starts the job? It seems the Times doesn’t like anything about David Friedman, the man Donald Trump has chosen to reinvigorate the U.S.-Israel relationship and “strive for peace in the Middle East.”

The Times editorial board objects that Friedman:
✔ “has doubted the need for a two-state solution” (who but the most fervent anti-Israel commentators doesn’t now doubt the viability of two states, given the Palestinian Arabs’ 68-year refusal to accept the Jewish state . . . and their unwavering commitment to Islamic jihad?)

✔ “has endorsed continued settlement of occupied territory in the West Bank” (note the pejorative use of “occupied territory,” which actually refers to disputed territory in Judea and Samaria, and which legally belongs to no one)

✔ “has gone so far as to endorse even the annexation of some of that land where Palestinians hope to build a state of their own” (neglecting to note that every Israel-Palestinian peace proposal in the last 50 years has included land swaps of the type Mr. Friedman endorses and also neglecting to note that the Palestinians still openly vow to build a state not just in the West Bank, but in the entirety of Israel)

✔ “has “called supporters of J Street . . . ‘far worse than kapos—Jews who turned in their fellow Jews in the Nazi death camps’” (call ultra-left J Streeters what names you will, their betrayal of Israel on the Iran Deal and on demanding recognition of the State of Palestine is a calumny with few equals among the Jewish community)

✔ “has announced that he expects to have his office in Jerusalem, rather than in Tel Aviv” (fulfilling the promise that both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush made to move our embassy to Israel’s capital, but soon abandoned in typical, disingenuous fits of political flip-flopping)

In other words, the New York Times objects to David Friedman’s positions on which most educated Israel supporters—including we at FLAME and I suspect, you yourself—agree.

Why am I telling you this? Because a lot of people read the New York Times, and because the Times is not alone. Many mainstream newspapers, broadcasters (like CNN) and college press will express similar anti-Israel sentiments throughout the coming 2017

While many tens of millions of Americans support our and Mr. Friedman’s positions on Israel, many do not—and many more are simply ignorant.

This is all proof positive that we Israel supporters simply cannot rest. The moment we stop broadcasting the truth about Israel to the American people is the moment we—and Israel—begin to lose the public relations battle.

That’s why you’ve supported FLAME over the past year and why I hope you’ll take a minute to make your final 2016 donation at this time. Because only FLAME publishes the truth about Israel in media nationwide every month—reaching far more people than read the NY Times.

Let me give you another example: Some Israel supporters and friends of FLAME have taken great comfort in the election of Donald Trump. And certainly early indicators are that Mr. Trump and his new ambassador will treat Israel better than President Obama has.

But let me remind you: Israel is not and cannot be a partisan issue. We must fight every day for the President’s support, for Republicans’ support, for Democrats’ support and for the support of independents and college students.

In order to protect Israel, the overwhelming majority of American must realize that Israel’s cause is just—on the front lines in the battle against global Islamic jihad, as a bulwark of pro-American stability in the treacherous Middle East, and as America’s most steadfast ally in the world.

As you know, these are precisely the messages that FLAME delivers every month in media—including in college newspapers—that reach more than 10 million readers.

Palestinian Incitement to Terror
BDS, Academic Freedom and Anti-Semitism
A Cheater’s Dream: Can’t Trust, Can’t Verify (on the Iran Deal)
U.N. School for Terrorism

These messages are powerful PR for Israel—and we’ve published dozens more—but as I’m sure you can imagine, telling the truth about Israel via such paid editorial messages in media nationwide is costly. Are you ready to join us for 2017?

Here’s the double payoff for making a membership donation to FLAME at this time:

First, you help tell the truth about Israel in the media—something that’s sorely needed if we’re to maintain the support of all Americans over the coming year.

Second, you can celebrate the upcoming holidays this weekend with even more joy in your heart, because you have done a mitzvah for Israel—a generous good deed appropriate to the season.

That’s why, if you don’t want to let criticism of Israel go unanswered, if you don’t want one-sided news stories about Israel to go uncorrected, and if you’ve ever bemoaned Israel’s “bad PR,” I urge you to help FLAME with your financial support at this time. Just go to donate to join us and help now.

Second, you can celebrate the upcoming holidays this weekend with even more joy in your heart, because you have done a mitzvah for Israel—a generous good deed appropriate to the season.

Please remember that the nearly 100% of FLAME’s financial support comes from individuals just like you. One by one, Jews, Christians and unaffiliated alike contribute generously to this noble cause---to help ensure that Israel survives.

So whether you give $1,000 or $500 or $100 . . . or even $50 or $36 or $18---every membership donation is important---every dollar you contribute helps us keep telling the truth about the inspiring Jewish nation.

Best of all, of course, your donation is tax-deductible.

Won’t you act now to make your membership donation online? Just go to donate now.

Thanks in advance for your year-end generosity and your continued support of FLAME’s good work.

Best regards,

Jim Sinkinson
President, Facts and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME)