Markey speaks out on Israel Markey Leads Israel Rally
By Dan Tress
Tewksbury Advocate
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Malden, brought hundreds of people to Temple Emunah in Lexington last week.
They turned out to hear Markey speak with some showing support for Israel and some for Palestine. Israeli Consul General Meir Shlomo joined Markey for the event, which was sponsored and organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Community and Temple Emunah.
The visitors were not limited to inside the event, though, as several people holding signs with sayings such as, "Ed Markey Supports Israeli Genocide," gathered outside.
Inside the temple there were large "We Support Israel" signs. Many in attendance were wearing stickers with the same saying and blue ribbons, as Shlomo and Markey delivered their speeches to the packed auditorium.
Markey and Shlomo both spoke about Israel's history and urged the crowd to be optimistic about the recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Hezbollah has been in Southern Lebanon since 1982 and have been blamed for numerous attacks in Israel, they said. For the past month Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel and Israel has been counter fighting to push Hezbollah away from their border and out of missile range.
Shlomo said: "Israel will win this war against Hezbollah."
Markey said the United States and Israel have been partners since 1948, and called Israel, "an oasis of democracy in a desert of despotism."
Markey's speech was accompanied by a large screen which displayed pictures and quotes chosen to reinforce his message. Among them were quotes from the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah calling for the destruction of Israel.
Shlomo stated that Israel has no claim to Lebanon; it only wants to protect itself. He asked, "When will Lebanon takes its fate in its own hands?"
Markey had one underlying message throughout the event, though: The Malden native and Boston College graduate, repeatedly said, "If Hezbollah put down their weapons, there would be no more fighting. If Israel put down their weapons there would be no more Israel."
