Send Page to a Friend Jewish Community Supports Israel's Brave Step Towards Ending Violence (August 13, 2006) Following the Israeli cabinet's approval of the United Nations Security Council cease-fire resolution, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston released the following statement: We support the democratically elected government of Israel as they once again endure great sacrifices and take enormous risks to achieve peace and security.  Even in the face of ongoing terror by Hezbollah missiles throughout the north of Israel - and with no commitment from Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran - the desire for peace and concern for the innocent lives on all sides of the conflict leads Israel to accept the cease-fire resolution. "Israel is taking a brave step toward ending this conflict.  Our partners in Boston's sister city of Haifa - Jews and Arabs - have suffered greatly in these last weeks. But, their spirit and determination remains strong," said JCRC Executive Director Nancy K. Kaufman.  Kaufman returned to the United States today from a solidarity trip to Israel where she spent time visiting Boston's sister city.  After the sirens went off, she descended to the bomb shelter along with dozens of parents and children to await a missile attack.  The shelters have become an alternative way of life for many residents of Haifa as they attempt to carry on with their lives.  Kaufman also met with the Mayor of Haifa and the senior staff of the Office of Welfare to learn of the many challenges they are facing as they respond to this new phenomenon and attempt to meet the needs of Haifa's at-risk populations. Israel was the victim of an unprovoked terrorist attack across the UN certified international border on July 12.  She withstood a brutal assault for four weeks upon her cities and towns by Hezbollah terrorists who fired thousands of missiles upon the northern third of the country.  Well over a million children, women and men were forced to live in underground shelters as hundreds of thousands became refugees in their own country.  Most tragically, over one hundred Israelis, Arabs and Jews alike, lost their lives, hundreds more suffer life-altering injuries and the fate of two abducted soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev remain unknown. A lasting end to the violence will require full implementation of the UN resolution, including the disarmament of Hezbollah as required in UN resolution 1559 and the prevention of Iranian or Syrian resupply of arms to the terrorist group operating a state-within-a state.