On Sunday June 6, The Jewish Federation of Rockland County, along with the Rockland Board of Rabbis, held a rally in support of Israel. The rally, on the New City Court House steps, drew more than 450 people on a Sunday afternoon, right in between two rain storms. The rain held, so we were able to send a message that we stand united with the state of Israel! We gathered to let President Obama the United Nations and world leaders know that we cannot and will not sit silently as Israel, our homeland is attacked by her enemies.

 The world is so quick to condemn Israel and hold her to a double standard. Would any other country be expected to let a ship, even one perceived as humanitarian, into its waters without having the right to inspect its contents? Would the UN be so quick to condemn any other country without knowing the facts? The newspapers and television stations are really no better. It is hard to take, being so far from Israel. Attending a rally is just one way to show our support but it doesn't make the feeling of despair and discrimination disappear.

. Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organization by most of the world. In 2005 Israel evacuated Jewish settlements in the Gaza area in exchange for peace with the more moderate Palestinian Authority. Unfortunately, within months of the evacuation, Hamas won the Palestinian elections and subsequently gained control of Gaza while the Palestinian Authority continued to control the area that the media refers to as the West Bank. Hamas soon began sending missiles into the neighboring Israeli town of Sderot and kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He has been held captive for four years and Hamas has denied the International Red Cross access to visit him. Is the world condemning this crime? Does the U.N. condemn the constant Hamas missile attacks on the residents of Israel?

After four years of terror inflicted on the residents of Sderot and Hamas' refusal to cease the missile attacks, Israel was left with no choice but to enter Gaza in 2009 to break Hamas and seize the caches of missiles, and weapons. Unfortunately within a short period of time after the Israeli incursion of Gaza, Hamas resumed missile attacks into Sderot and other southern Israeli cities. More than 8,000 missiles have been fired into Israel from Gaza since 2005. It is the constant killing, maiming and terrorizing of Israeli citizens that led Israel to limit the flow of goods -- suspected of being used to make bombs and missiles -- entering Gaza.

Hamas's charter clearly states its intention to annihilate Israel and urges the death of all Jews. Why would any other country be so naïve to allow a boatload of so-called humanitarian goods to enter into enemy territory without inspecting its contents for munitions? Would the United States? Peace activists are not armed with pipes, knives, Molotov cocktails, and slingshots loaded with glass balls. Israel provides 15 tons of food to Gaza weekly. The primary goal of many of the passengers on the Marmara ship was to provoke Israel to respond violently. There was no need for humanitarian aid; rather it was a guise to sway world opinion to force Israel to end the blockade and ultimately receive arms shipments.

It is no accident that Turkey sent the flotilla at this time. Turkey is clearly trying to win favor with Iran by moving toward breaking ties with Israel. Turkey's accusations against Israel were meant to show Iran that Turkey is playing a new role in the Middle East.
We cannot stop today or with just a rally -- our voices must continue to be heard.  Write to representatives in congress and the senate. Write to the president. Visit www.theisraelproject.org for help doing this.

Stay educated and know how to use your words and knowledge to spread the truth.  If we don't stay informed and speak up, who will?

Carol Blau is co-president of The Jewish Federation of Rockland County.