JCRC Statement
June 25, 2024
The following is a statement from Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, and Vicki Fishman, director of Virginia Government and Community Relations for the JCRC of Greater Washington, on the protest planned for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors public meeting Tuesday afternoon by Fairfax for Palestine:
“Nearly nine months after Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre against Jewish people since the Holocaust, an end to the ensuing hostilities remains elusive. Yet the protesters planning to make a scene today in Fairfax County, like so many of their counterparts across the country, fail to grasp that siding with terrorists is both an immoral and ineffective path to true peace.
We all have a responsibility to remember how this war began: Hamas killing 1,200 innocent Israelis, raping and assaulting scores of women and young girls, and holding hundreds of people hostage. It is equally important to remember why this war continues: Hamas’ continued war crimes and its ongoing rejection of a real ceasefire proposal — one that would free the remaining hostages, end terrorist rule in Gaza, and finally put Israeli and Palestinians on the path to a lasting peace — that is strongly supported by the United States, Israel, and other nations.
In light of these facts, we question how anyone could not only support and even glorify Hamas, but expect government officials at any level to join them. Today’s protesters appear to be under the exceedingly misguided impression that the Fairfax County community is a receptive audience to their cause, and that the Board of Supervisors has a say in U.S. foreign policy matters. Neither assumption is grounded in reality.
We are confident that the Board will act responsibly and tune out this noise. Meanwhile, we urge anyone affiliated with this protest to stop and think before they act. Condemn terrorists instead of exalting them. Fight antisemitism instead of stoking it. Support your community instead of dividing it.
That’s the path to achieving the lasting peace that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.”