American Jewish Committee and ISRAEL21c Announce First-Ever Television Commercials Educating Americans About Israel's Vibrant Democracy
Taking unprecedented action, two American Jewish organizations-the American Jewish Committee and ISRAEL21c-have launched a national television advertising campaign designed to increase America's appreciation for Israel's democratic society and the individual freedoms of all its citizens. Launched in Washington, DC on September 12th, to coincide with the beginning of the Jewish New Year, a time of hope and optimism for the future, the two 30-second ads highlight the vibrancy of Israel's democracy and the values it shares with America. Each of the spots, one sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the other sponsored by ISRAEL21c, utilizes vivid pictures and words to convey the vitality of Israeli society, where, like in the United States, every citizen-Arab, Christian, or Jew-enjoys the right to vote, every individual-Muslim, Christian or Jew-enjoys freedom of religion, and every person-male or female-enjoys emancipation and equal access to education, employment and health care.
"The core values of democracy and pluralism are at the heart of making this world a better place. Until people have freedom of speech, the right to vote, and the opportunity to succeed, this world will continue to see repression and wars," said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee. "The continuing strength of the affinity Americans feel towards Israelis stands squarely on these shared values. The fact is that Israel is the only real democracy in the Middle East - a region desperately in need of reforms, freedom, and hope."
"We want Americans to know just how much Israel and the United States have in common," said Zvi Alon, founder and chairman of ISRAEL21c. "In Israel, democracy means every citizen of Israel, both Arab and Jew, enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities as Americans have in the United States. We want every American to know that in Israel's democracy, Arabs and women vote, in fact 17 women and 10 Arabs have seats in the Israeli parliament." Mr. Harris continued, "We want to remind people across the country that Israel was founded as a democracy more than 54 years ago, and though she has not known a day of real peace, democracy has flourished," he said. "Israel is a country with one million Arab citizens, and where each of them has more freedoms than in almost any of the 22 Arab nations." Mr. Alon added, "The Jewish New Year is a time of hope and a time of renewal. That is why we have decided to begin now-together with the American Jewish Committee-to help increase awareness and understanding of these issues."
For the American Jewish Committee, producing a television ad is a natural step in AJC's overall advocacy efforts on behalf of Israel. Founded in 1906, AJC is the United States' oldest human relations agency, and its central mission is advancing democracy, pluralism and mutual understanding through education and diplomacy. It has more than 120,000 members. Mr. Harris has been delivering similar messages every other week on major radio stations for more than a year in New York and several other major cities across the nation with the knowledge that a strong Israel will bring an even stronger America since protecting freedom is in everyone's interest.
For ISRAEL21c, a Cupertino, California-based non-profit founded just after the beginning of the second intifada, the television campaign is a natural progression as well. Its mission is to focus public and media attention on the Israel that exists beyond the conflict; the Israel of high tech development and advanced medical research; the Israel that is a force for decency and democracy in the world. The TV ad's democracy message is a perfect extension of the organization's educational and informational objectives which began with its website in November 2001.
For more information on the American Jewish Committee or to see its ad, go
to www.AJC.org
. For more information on ISRAEL21c, or to see its ad, go to
www.Israel21c.Org .
Taking unprecedented action, two American Jewish organizations-the American Jewish Committee and ISRAEL21c-have launched a national television advertising campaign designed to increase America's appreciation for Israel's democratic society and the individual freedoms of all its citizens. Launched in Washington, DC on September 12th, to coincide with the beginning of the Jewish New Year, a time of hope and optimism for the future, the two 30-second ads highlight the vibrancy of Israel's democracy and the values it shares with America. Each of the spots, one sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the other sponsored by ISRAEL21c, utilizes vivid pictures and words to convey the vitality of Israeli society, where, like in the United States, every citizen-Arab, Christian, or Jew-enjoys the right to vote, every individual-Muslim, Christian or Jew-enjoys freedom of religion, and every person-male or female-enjoys emancipation and equal access to education, employment and health care.
"The core values of democracy and pluralism are at the heart of making this world a better place. Until people have freedom of speech, the right to vote, and the opportunity to succeed, this world will continue to see repression and wars," said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee. "The continuing strength of the affinity Americans feel towards Israelis stands squarely on these shared values. The fact is that Israel is the only real democracy in the Middle East - a region desperately in need of reforms, freedom, and hope."
"We want Americans to know just how much Israel and the United States have in common," said Zvi Alon, founder and chairman of ISRAEL21c. "In Israel, democracy means every citizen of Israel, both Arab and Jew, enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities as Americans have in the United States. We want every American to know that in Israel's democracy, Arabs and women vote, in fact 17 women and 10 Arabs have seats in the Israeli parliament." Mr. Harris continued, "We want to remind people across the country that Israel was founded as a democracy more than 54 years ago, and though she has not known a day of real peace, democracy has flourished," he said. "Israel is a country with one million Arab citizens, and where each of them has more freedoms than in almost any of the 22 Arab nations." Mr. Alon added, "The Jewish New Year is a time of hope and a time of renewal. That is why we have decided to begin now-together with the American Jewish Committee-to help increase awareness and understanding of these issues."
For the American Jewish Committee, producing a television ad is a natural step in AJC's overall advocacy efforts on behalf of Israel. Founded in 1906, AJC is the United States' oldest human relations agency, and its central mission is advancing democracy, pluralism and mutual understanding through education and diplomacy. It has more than 120,000 members. Mr. Harris has been delivering similar messages every other week on major radio stations for more than a year in New York and several other major cities across the nation with the knowledge that a strong Israel will bring an even stronger America since protecting freedom is in everyone's interest.
For ISRAEL21c, a Cupertino, California-based non-profit founded just after the beginning of the second intifada, the television campaign is a natural progression as well. Its mission is to focus public and media attention on the Israel that exists beyond the conflict; the Israel of high tech development and advanced medical research; the Israel that is a force for decency and democracy in the world. The TV ad's democracy message is a perfect extension of the organization's educational and informational objectives which began with its website in November 2001.
For more information on the American Jewish Committee or to see its ad, go
to www.AJC.org
. For more information on ISRAEL21c, or to see its ad, go to
www.Israel21c.Org .