Unlike most of their American counterparts who remained holed up indoors, Israeli students who attended the AIPAC conference in Washington went outside and faced the anti-Israel activists fearlessly.
Security forces have closed the main doors to the Washington Convention Center Sunday to protect some 18,000 attendees at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference from hundreds of anti-Israel protesters outside.
The protesters included fervent anti-Israel journalist and author Max Blumenthal, whose father, Sid Blumenthal, is a strong supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Marc Prowisor, director of Security Projects for One Israel Fund and a resident of Shiloh in Samaria, refused to remain indoors.
‘Not One Ounce of Fear’
“I am so proud of my fellow Israelis, many of them recently released from the IDF, who didn’t stand behind the windows and police lines… Who went out to confront the Israel haters, who spoke with strength and dignity and showed them just who we are,” Prowisor wrote on Facebook.
“I went out,” he told United with Israel in a telephone interview. “I’m seeing other Israelis there standing tall and proud. These Israelis, university students and some adults, have not one ounce of fear. The people around them could sense that and that they better not mess with them. It’s beautiful.”
After being interrupted briefly by a phone call from Israel from his son, an IDF soldier, Prowisor continued to explain that many American Jew “have been emasculated. Most of the American kids stayed indoors. A lot of them were afraid.”
Ryan Bellerose, a Native Canadian pro-Israel activist who also attended the conference, posted on social media: “I think I’m gonna go outside and say hello to the people who are so hate filled and irrational that they were screaming outright lies at everyone. I think it’s important to show that not only are we unapologetic, but that we are unafraid.”
By: Atara Beck, United with Israel
Sign the Declaration to Keep Jerusalem United
Jerusalem Must Remain the United Capital of Israel
I declare that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish People and support all efforts to maintain and strengthen a united Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel.
See our Privacy PolicyDo You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!