One man stands up for Israel
More than 200 protesters demonstrated in Washington outside the White House yesterday as President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu….with a lone voice supporting Israel coming from former Sydneysider Ari Briggs.
Ari Briggs supporting Israel
The protest was aimed at AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the US pro-Israel lobby organisation which is currently holding a three day conference.
Occupy AIPAC, a conglomerate of more than 100 organisations had planned the protest displaying the “Zionist=Racism” placards.
The sole voice supporting Israel came from Briggs who told J-Wire: “I didn’t come to DC to protest. I had been speaking to different groups in Florida about our struggles in Israel and came to DC to attend AIPAC- to get to know the pro Israel group and it’s supporters better.
On the second day, I decided to walk to the convention centre via the White House and was shocked and surprised to see 10 Neturei Karta members carrying posters calling or the disappearance of the State of Israel and waving a Palestinian flag. Understanding that Bibi was going to be at the White House meeting Obama and seeing there was a lot of press and tourists talking to the NK’s, I decided it was not right to only have such a negative representation of the Jewish people there.
I saw there was no one else around supporting Israel so I started to counter their lies and speak to people. I also desperately sought an Israeli flag to wave. I ran down the road to Blair House where Bibi was staying and begged the Israeli security there to find me a flag to wave. The best they could do was give me was a jacket flag pin the size of a 10 cent coin. Not too useful but a souvenir I will keep.
As luck would have it, a Christian supporter of Israel from Miami and a member of the Zionist Organisation of America turned up with an Israeli and American flag and we were in business. We waved those flags and countered the now 100 Palestinian supporters that had turned up to protest Bibi’s visit as best we could.
They tried to drown us out and crowd us out but we wouldn’t be moved.
I have to admit it was one of the proudest moments of my life. ”
Briggs was attending the conference on behalf of Regavim, an independent professional research institute & policy planning think tank incorporated as a private non-profit company in Israel. The mission of the Institute is to ensure the responsible, legal
use of Israel’s national lands and the return of the rule of law to all aspects of the land and its preservation.
He lives in Ra’anana with his wife Shuli and five children. The Briggs made Aliyah 18 years ago from Sydney.
Other protesters were dealing with different causes…
Thanks For Being There Ari you are the perfect representative – our man from the Shormron. The brave few who bear flags on these occasions – are salient heroes because they dare to stand up and out.
Kol Hakavod to you all.
It is unfortunate that in the White house we have a man who pretends to support Israel but his activities in helping CAIR and OIC in white washing Islam and “negotiating” with islamists speak otherwise. Barak Hussein is no friend of Israel and he is endangering not only Israel but the Western world, which those 200 morons do not understand since they did not bother to read Koran, Hadith and bloody history of Islam and Mohamed.
Any American who votes for Obama is working against the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which most Muslim countries refuse to sign but they are still allowed to US and UN to defame Israel.
We are not Jewish – but we have always been strong supporters of them and Israel…………now we are going to get a flag from Israel to fly outside our house. Be’ahavat Yisrael. Maybe we will get to visit Israel one day. Shalom.
Well done Ari.
Well done Briggs…………….Halzlachah to all Jews.
Wow!! Impressive!! I’m proud we have such good and devoted zionists among us!!
See you soon,
Michal Weill
A 200 to 1 ratio speaks volumes. End of STORY!!!
David won against Goliath, didn’t he?
Ari,
You are an inspiration to all of us.
Kol Hakavod
Your “bro'”, Adam
Way to go Ari!
Wow Wow Kol HaKavod , am so proud I know you. Wish I could have been there by your side,
Purim Smeah
Are Palestinian supporters capable of ANYTHING besides protesting Israel’s existence? Kol hakavod Ari.
Go Lionel go! Alias Action Man.
Hi Henry –
One little correction that might cause our parents palpitations!
We made Aliyah 18 years ago and have been married 19! Not Aliyah more than 20 years ago as reported!
Thanks
Be well,
Shuli Briggs
Git the info from a certain David Singer!
But he wan;t sure – bless ‘im.
An Israeli rallying in support of Israel. And there were 200 protestors opposed to it in the USA! And the usual hasbara tack of ignorant people convinced by false messages, while Zionists rarely agree to a principled debate with those opposing Zionism.