Prime Minister Ehud Olmert thanked a delegation of the Jewish Federations of North America Tuesday for their solidarity with Israel. He told the delegates that Hizbullah terrorists "are fighting against innocent civilians and... are not fighting against those who can fight back... The Jewish and human warmth that you are providing to the population reinforces the important message that we are all responsible for each other."
European Jewish leaders are also visiting Israel this week in a show of solidarity. A European Jewish Congress (EJC) mission to Israel included representatives of 24 Jewish communities in Europe, as well as non-Jewish lawmakers from France, Ukraine and the Netherlands. The delegation is led by Israel Singer, chairman of the Policy Council of the World Jewish Congress, and Pierre Beisnainou, president of the EJC.
The French Jewish umbrella organization, CRIF, organised its own solidarity visit to Israel. Over 70 Jewish community leaders from France arrived in Israel on Monday.
Christian Zionist individuals and groups are also expressing their support for Israel at this time. Some hotels in the north of the country reported that they have seen a few Christian Zionist pilgrims who refuse to be scared away by the Islamist attacks. US-based Christian broadcaster Earl Cox is calling on Christians across America to join him in prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem beginning on Sunday, July 30.
In a statement, Cox said, "Our Jewish brothers and sisters need friends now more than ever before since becoming a nation in 1948. Christians must put prayer boots on the ground in Israel to fight the spiritual war being waged against Israel, while Israel fights the physical war."
Outside of the country, Jewish communities have been holding and planning events in support of Israel.
In London, several thousand people turned out at a solidarity rally on Sunday. Israeli Ambassador Zvi Haifetz and British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks were among those on the list of speakers. The event followed a large anti-Israel protest held earlier in the day.
In Rome, both right-wing and left-wing Italian politicians joined hundreds of people in a public display of support for the Jewish State. The rally was held outside Rome's main synagogue, in the former Jewish ghetto, on Monday. Among those addressing the crowd were outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Italy Ehud Gol, Rome’s mayor Walter Veltroni, leader of the Left-Democrats Piero Fassino, and leader of the rightist National Alliance party, former Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini.
In North America, the Jewish communities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington D.C., Toronto, Baltimore and St. Louis, among others, have had, or will soon hold, rallies in solidarity with Israel in its war against Arab terrorism.
Among the largest of the rallies held in the US was the Sunday gathering in Los Angeles, which drew about 10,000 people. Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center opened the event, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also addressed the crowd.
"While we all regret the loss of innocent life, there is no doubt that Israel has the right to take all appropriate steps to keep its people safe," Gov. Schwarzenegger said.
American soldiers stationed in Iraq have also sent messages of support and encouragement to the IDF via a new website established to express solidarity with Israel. "Take care of the Hizbullah; we will take care of Iran," wrote one US soldier. Another wrote, "From Iraq, we wish good tidings for you brave IDF soldiers. The American army is 100 percent for Israel."
More than 400 messages from outside Israel have been sent to IDF soldiers via the new site thus far. British citizen John Wilkes, who established the forum, says that he did so primarily out of concern for a friend of his in the IDF.
European Jewish leaders are also visiting Israel this week in a show of solidarity. A European Jewish Congress (EJC) mission to Israel included representatives of 24 Jewish communities in Europe, as well as non-Jewish lawmakers from France, Ukraine and the Netherlands. The delegation is led by Israel Singer, chairman of the Policy Council of the World Jewish Congress, and Pierre Beisnainou, president of the EJC.
The French Jewish umbrella organization, CRIF, organised its own solidarity visit to Israel. Over 70 Jewish community leaders from France arrived in Israel on Monday.
Christian Zionist individuals and groups are also expressing their support for Israel at this time. Some hotels in the north of the country reported that they have seen a few Christian Zionist pilgrims who refuse to be scared away by the Islamist attacks. US-based Christian broadcaster Earl Cox is calling on Christians across America to join him in prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem beginning on Sunday, July 30.
In a statement, Cox said, "Our Jewish brothers and sisters need friends now more than ever before since becoming a nation in 1948. Christians must put prayer boots on the ground in Israel to fight the spiritual war being waged against Israel, while Israel fights the physical war."
Outside of the country, Jewish communities have been holding and planning events in support of Israel.
In London, several thousand people turned out at a solidarity rally on Sunday. Israeli Ambassador Zvi Haifetz and British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks were among those on the list of speakers. The event followed a large anti-Israel protest held earlier in the day.
In Rome, both right-wing and left-wing Italian politicians joined hundreds of people in a public display of support for the Jewish State. The rally was held outside Rome's main synagogue, in the former Jewish ghetto, on Monday. Among those addressing the crowd were outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Italy Ehud Gol, Rome’s mayor Walter Veltroni, leader of the Left-Democrats Piero Fassino, and leader of the rightist National Alliance party, former Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini.
In North America, the Jewish communities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington D.C., Toronto, Baltimore and St. Louis, among others, have had, or will soon hold, rallies in solidarity with Israel in its war against Arab terrorism.
Among the largest of the rallies held in the US was the Sunday gathering in Los Angeles, which drew about 10,000 people. Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center opened the event, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also addressed the crowd.
"While we all regret the loss of innocent life, there is no doubt that Israel has the right to take all appropriate steps to keep its people safe," Gov. Schwarzenegger said.
American soldiers stationed in Iraq have also sent messages of support and encouragement to the IDF via a new website established to express solidarity with Israel. "Take care of the Hizbullah; we will take care of Iran," wrote one US soldier. Another wrote, "From Iraq, we wish good tidings for you brave IDF soldiers. The American army is 100 percent for Israel."
More than 400 messages from outside Israel have been sent to IDF soldiers via the new site thus far. British citizen John Wilkes, who established the forum, says that he did so primarily out of concern for a friend of his in the IDF.