Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Bienvenido a casa, Gilad Shalit
Dice el Talmud: “si se salva una vida, se salva la humanidad”.
Cada cultura, pueblo, religión o civilización, tienen su propio criterio con respecto a la vida, su valor, comienzo, final y esencia. En el caso de la civilización judeocristiana, las raíces judaicas de la misma imprimen su sello. “No matarás”, dice el sexto mandamiento.
El estado de Israel, como cualquier estado en guerra, mata a sus enemigos, pero la ley no contiene condenas que incluyan la pena de muerte, siendo el único caso, en 1962, el del genocida nazi Adolf Eichman. Aunque el aborto es legal, el Estado ayuda a las madres que prefieran dar sus hijos en adopción mediante un trámite realizado con facilidad.
Para mí, fue una espina clavada hondo en mi alma desde que Gilad fue capturado, porque entendía lo que podría pasarle, además del dolor y la angustia de su familia, pues aunque, gracias a Dios, no pasé por una experiencia similar, sí recuerdo nuestro desasosiego durante la tercera intifada en el otoño del 2000 cuando mi hijo servía en las gloriosas fuerzas de defensa del Estado de Israel (IDF). Veíamos y oíamos “con el corazón en la boca” las noticias que llegaban de Israel.
No fue a James Bond, ni a un súper agente a quien canjearon por 1,027 terroristas. Fue al hijo de Naom y Aviva Shalit, simples vecinos del pequeño pueblo de Mitzpe Hila. No se rescató al hijo de un alto funcionario. Se rescató a un simple miembro de una familia típica israelí, demostrando, una vez más, el compromiso de ese estado para con los ciudadanos que garantizan su defensa.
No es la primera vez, ni será la última. De acuerdo a reportes de AFP, en marzo de 1974, 65 palestinos fueron canjeados por dos espías israelíes detenidos en Egipto. En marzo de 1979, 76 palestinos por un militar israelí prisionero en el Líbano. El 23 de noviembre de 1983, 4,600 palestinos fueron canjeados por seis soldados capturados por la OLP en el Líbano. El 20 de mayo de 1985 Israel liberó a 1,150 palestinos a cambio de tres soldados israelíes capturados en 1982 por el Frente Popular de Liberación de Palestina. El primero de octubre de 1997 Israel liberó al guía espiritual de Hamas, el jeque Ahmed Yasin, así como a decenas de prisioneros palestinos y jordanos a cambio de dos de sus agentes secretos. El 6 de agosto de 2003 ocurrió la liberación por Israel de 341 palestinos, vinculados a Fatah, partido dirigente de la OLP. El 29 de enero de 2004 Israel libera a 408 palestinos y 23 libaneses del movimiento chiita libanés Hezbolá a cambio de los cadáveres de tres soldados israelíes.
Entre el 27 de diciembre del 2004 y el 15 de diciembre del 2009 alrededor de 8,700 prisioneros palestinos son liberados por Israel, pertenecientes en su mayoría a Fatah; entre ellos, los dos prisioneros más antiguos de Israel, Said al-Attaba y Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Ali. El 2 de octubre del 2009, Israel liberó 20 palestinos a cambio de un vídeo de Gilad Shalit.
Por fin, el 11 de octubre del 2011, luego de arduas negociaciones, se revela que Israel y Hamas han llegado a un acuerdo bajo mediación egipcia para canjear a Gilad Shalit por 1,027 terroristas palestinos y, finalmente, el 18 de octubre, Gilad Shalit es liberado.
En conclusión, para los que han criticado la negociación y sus resultados desde los ángulos más alucinantes del espectro de opinión, Israel desde 1974 a la fecha ha canjeado alrededor de 9,800 terroristas palestinos, jordanos y libaneses por 18 israelíes incluyendo tres cadáveres.
El estado de Israel, como cualquier estado en guerra, mata a sus enemigos, pero la ley no contiene condenas que incluyan la pena de muerte, siendo el único caso, en 1962, el del genocida nazi Adolf Eichman. Aunque el aborto es legal, el Estado ayuda a las madres que prefieran dar sus hijos en adopción mediante un trámite realizado con facilidad.
En el antiguo Israel, se apedreaba a los condenados a muerte, embriagándoles a priori para mitigar su dolor. De ahí la costumbre de que cuando bebemos alcohol en fiesta, decimos lejaim –por la vida– como implícitamente aclarando que en ese caso no es por la muerte.
El pueblo de Israel está de fiesta por el regreso a casa, sano y salvo, de Gilad Shalit. Respiramos luego de cinco años de incertidumbre, dado el salvajismo de sus captores y el hermetismo circundantes. Gilad podía haber corrido la suerte de Daniel Pearl, decapitado frente a las cámaras de televisión, trasmitido al mundo como diversión dominical de sus asesinos; o la del piloto Ron Arad, desaparecido en el Líbano en octubre de 1986 prisionero de las milicias chiitas libanesas y del que nunca más se ha sabido; o la del bebé de la familia Fogel, recientemente decapitado por terroristas palestinos. Para mí, fue una espina clavada hondo en mi alma desde que Gilad fue capturado, porque entendía lo que podría pasarle, además del dolor y la angustia de su familia, pues aunque, gracias a Dios, no pasé por una experiencia similar, sí recuerdo nuestro desasosiego durante la tercera intifada en el otoño del 2000 cuando mi hijo servía en las gloriosas fuerzas de defensa del Estado de Israel (IDF). Veíamos y oíamos “con el corazón en la boca” las noticias que llegaban de Israel.
No fue a James Bond, ni a un súper agente a quien canjearon por 1,027 terroristas. Fue al hijo de Naom y Aviva Shalit, simples vecinos del pequeño pueblo de Mitzpe Hila. No se rescató al hijo de un alto funcionario. Se rescató a un simple miembro de una familia típica israelí, demostrando, una vez más, el compromiso de ese estado para con los ciudadanos que garantizan su defensa.
No es la primera vez, ni será la última. De acuerdo a reportes de AFP, en marzo de 1974, 65 palestinos fueron canjeados por dos espías israelíes detenidos en Egipto. En marzo de 1979, 76 palestinos por un militar israelí prisionero en el Líbano. El 23 de noviembre de 1983, 4,600 palestinos fueron canjeados por seis soldados capturados por la OLP en el Líbano. El 20 de mayo de 1985 Israel liberó a 1,150 palestinos a cambio de tres soldados israelíes capturados en 1982 por el Frente Popular de Liberación de Palestina. El primero de octubre de 1997 Israel liberó al guía espiritual de Hamas, el jeque Ahmed Yasin, así como a decenas de prisioneros palestinos y jordanos a cambio de dos de sus agentes secretos. El 6 de agosto de 2003 ocurrió la liberación por Israel de 341 palestinos, vinculados a Fatah, partido dirigente de la OLP. El 29 de enero de 2004 Israel libera a 408 palestinos y 23 libaneses del movimiento chiita libanés Hezbolá a cambio de los cadáveres de tres soldados israelíes.
Entre el 27 de diciembre del 2004 y el 15 de diciembre del 2009 alrededor de 8,700 prisioneros palestinos son liberados por Israel, pertenecientes en su mayoría a Fatah; entre ellos, los dos prisioneros más antiguos de Israel, Said al-Attaba y Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Ali. El 2 de octubre del 2009, Israel liberó 20 palestinos a cambio de un vídeo de Gilad Shalit.
Por fin, el 11 de octubre del 2011, luego de arduas negociaciones, se revela que Israel y Hamas han llegado a un acuerdo bajo mediación egipcia para canjear a Gilad Shalit por 1,027 terroristas palestinos y, finalmente, el 18 de octubre, Gilad Shalit es liberado.
En conclusión, para los que han criticado la negociación y sus resultados desde los ángulos más alucinantes del espectro de opinión, Israel desde 1974 a la fecha ha canjeado alrededor de 9,800 terroristas palestinos, jordanos y libaneses por 18 israelíes incluyendo tres cadáveres.
Coincidentemente el número 18 coincide con la letra jai, que en hebreo significa vida. Pese a todos los enemigos, Israel seguirá esforzándose por la humanidad salvando vidas diariamente gracias a sus logros científicos y luchando por su sobrevivencia apoyado por sus Fuerzas de Defensa.
Read more: http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2011/10/22/1049786_roland-j-behar-bienvenido-a-casa.html#storylink=addthis#ixzz1bzy3nJNR
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
El Tiburón y el pequeño pez
En la billetera de su padre, en el bolso de su madre, en la mente de sus hermanos, en la mesa de noche de una novia y en el corazón de muchísimos amigos, compañeros de escuela y de diversiones, está retratado, con dolor y pena, el rostro de un muchacho de cara aún infantil, grandes ojos tristes y amplia sonrisa.
Pocos saben que cuando este joven tenía once años de edad, escribió un cuento con la ternura e ingenuidad que sólo la límpida mente de un niño puede concebir. El cuento trata sobre un pequeño pez que se encontró en el mar con un tiburón a quien invitó a jugar a los escondidos. Jugaron hasta que el sol cayó, sin incidentes para el pequeño pez y, por supuesto, para el tiburón. Narra el cuento que, cuando ambos peces describieron su experiencia a sus respectivas madres, estas les transmitieron sus criterios.
La madre del tiburón dijo: “no juegues más con él, los pequeños peces son para que nos los comamos”.
Por su parte, la madre del pequeño pez, horrorizada, le relató las horribles historias de los familiares devorados por los tiburones, de modo tal que, desde entonces, basados en lo inculcado por sus madres, ambos, el tiburón y el pequeño pez, evitaron encontrarse.
Así transcurrió un año, al cabo del cual se produjo el inevitable encuentro. El tiburón le dijo al pequeño pez:”Tú eres mi enemigo, pero podemos hacer la paz”
La historia escrita por el niño relata que los peces jugaron secretamente por días, semanas y meses, hasta que un día decidieron ir juntos a contárselo sus madres. Desde entonces el tiburón y el pequeño pez vivieron en paz.
No deja de ser un cuento infantil; pero es un sueño maravilloso si pudiera hacerse realidad en tantos conflictos que la humanidad en general sufre, entre enemigos por definición y hábito.
Este muchacho, casi un niño hace solamente cuatro años, es hoy víctima de una práctica medieval devenida en moda a manos de los piratas de finales del siglo XX y, lamentablemente, del XXI: el secuestro.
El secuestro es una de las maneras más degradantes en que un humano puede someter a otro, pues la victima pierde, inmediatamente su valor como el ser persona y se convierte en “cosa intercambiable” por un valor material o por otras personas legal o ilegalmente cautivas.
La prensa nos informa constantemente de casos de secuestro en todo el orbe, desde las selvas latinoamericanas hasta el Golfo Pérsico, con toda una serie de variantes y paisajes que compiten en su crueldad y vileza. Nada que ver con la historia del tiburón y el pez.
A los dos años de su cautiverio, le permitieron a este joven escribir una carta a sus padres donde les contaba cuánto les extrañaba, cuánto sufría física, mental y emocionalmente y en la que les pedía que siguieran haciendo todo lo posible para que se negociara su liberación y hacer realidad su sueño perenne de reencontrarse en libertad y abrazarles.
Sólo sus verdugos saben en realidad a qué suplicios le han sometido, sólo ellos conocen de su estado físico y mental. Las experiencias vividas por otros en dichas circunstancias nos hacen presumir lo peor. Este muchacho antes de ser capturado se distinguía mucho más por su entendimiento y sensibilidad que por sus atributos físicos; aunque su carácter y coraje le conseguían sobreponerse y realizar labores físicas superiores a sus limitaciones. Ojalá que aún sea así.
Quienes le quieren no lo ven desde que tenía 19 años en Junio del 2006 cuando fue secuestrado mientras hacía posta en la frontera por terroristas de Hamas, quienes le mantienen, como él mismo ha descrito en una de las pocas comunicaciones que sus verdugos le han permitido, “en una inhumana e intolerable pesadilla”.
Lamentablemente, el papel de la Cruz Roja y de Amnistía Internacional ha sido nulo ya que Hamas no ha permitido su acceso, ni dichas organizaciones han puesto el máximo ahínco para conseguirlo.
El Gobierno de Israel ha realizado esfuerzos importantes para lograr su liberación, incluso como en casos anteriores, a cambio de prisioneros palestinos condenados bajo las leyes de un estado democrático, con todas las garantías procesales y la transparencia que ello requiere. Nada ha sido suficiente para sus captores y este joven sigue siendo martirizado.
Su nombre es Gilad Shalit y ya es hora que vuelva a casa. Que D-os así lo quiera
Roland J Behar
rjbehar1050@hotmail.com
Conmemorando su 25th cumpleaños
Monday, September 19, 2011
Freedom for Alan Gross
Please whoever can assist to these important events please do so, the life of a good man is in the hands of a tyranny with no respect for human rights or human life’s
Roland J Behar
Chair Hispanic Jewish Iniciative
ADL Florida RegionBoard Member
Cell: (305) 793-0950
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Notice: This e-mail (including attachments is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 10 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is confidential and may be legally priveleged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copy of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error and then delete it. Thank you."
For Immediate Release:
September 19, 2011
In Washington DC:
Ron Halber
Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
W: (301) 770-0881 c: (301) 602-5709
Rev. Clark Lobenstine,
Executive Director,
Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
w: (202) 234-6300 c: (202) 487-8635
In New York:
Michael Miller
Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
w: (212)-983-4800 #130
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
Executive Vice President
New York Board of Rabbis
Executive Vice President
w: (212) 983-3521 c: (917) 903-9111
Malcolm Hoenlein
Executive Vice Chairman
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
(212) 318-6111
Greater Washington DC and New York City Interfaith Leaders to Gather in Prayer and Solidarity Calling For Alan Gross’ Immediate Freedom from Cuba on Humanitarian Grounds
Simultaneous Vigils to Take Place at Cuban Interests Section (DC) & Cuban UN Mission (NYC) with Gross Family
Interfaith leaders will gather in prayer and solidarity in DC and New York on Friday, September 23, at 9:30 am and call for Alan Gross’ immediate freedom from Cuba on humanitarian grounds. The simultaneous vigils will take place at the Cuban Interests Sections in DC and in New York at the Cuban UN Mission. Members of the Gross family will participate in both vigils. At both events, event organizers plan to present Cuban authorities with the results of a national online petition drive containing over 10,000 signatures supporting Alan’s immediate freedom. The DC event will be sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. The New York event will be sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the New York Board of Rabbis.
Revered Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, said “This cause is important to the interfaith community and all people of conscience. Alan has been a humanitarian and development worker for over 25 years, working in over fifty nations, and devoting his life to fulfilling the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world, a value that all people of faith admire. He has testified that he never meant any harm to the Cuban government or their people. He is a loving husband, father and son, and should be released immediately to allow him to be with his family for the Jewish holiday season. It is time for the Cuban leadership to let him come home.” “The painful plight of Alan Gross requires the that the moral voice of the faith community be heard now,” added Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Director of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Since his incarceration began nearly two years ago, Alan’s eldest daughter has been diagnosed with breast cancer and undergone a double mastectomy; his 89-year old mother is suffering from inoperable cancer; and his wife Judy has undergone surgery for an undisclosed medical issue. Alan has lost approximately 100 pounds since his arrest and is suffering from several health ailments.
Alan Gross, a resident of the DC area, was arrested in Cuba in December 2009 while working with the small Jewish community there to improve their internet access and to create an intranet for them. He has been incarcerated ever since. He languished in prison for over a year until he was finally charged by the Cuban government. He was convicted by a Cuban court of "actions against the integrity of the State," and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He subsequently appealed his sentence to the Cuban Supreme Court, and the court reaffirmed the sentence, exhausting all of Alan’s legal options. His only remaining avenue is commutation of his sentence by Raul Castro, President of Cuba. Alan and his supporters have fervently rejected all accusations that he did anything, or intended to do anything, to harm the Cuban government. Quite to the contrary, his work in Cuba was only to help improve the Cuban Jewish community's ability to use the internet. The President of the United States, senior Administration officials, Members of Congress, national leaders, and newspaper editorials have all called for his immediate release.
For additional information about Alan Gross, or to sign the petition, please visit www.jcouncil.org
# # #
About the Jewish Community Relations CouncilThe Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) is the public affairs and community relations arm of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington representing over 100 Jewish organizations and synagogues throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The JCRC focuses on government relations, Israel advocacy, inter-group relations, and social justice.
6101 Montrose Road, Suite 205│Rockville, MD 20852│Tel. 301-770-0881│Fax. 301-770-7553│www.jcouncil.org
Virginia Office: c/o JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031-3123│Tel. 703-893-4007│ Fax 703-323-1993
DC Office: 1720 Eye Street, NW Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006│Tel. 202-552-5355
Virginia Office: c/o JCCNV, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031-3123│Tel. 703-893-4007│ Fax 703-323-1993
DC Office: 1720 Eye Street, NW Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006│Tel. 202-552-5355
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Shark and the small fish
In his father’s billfold, in his mothers purse, on his brothers minds, on his girlfriends nightstand, in the hearts of a great number of friends and peers from school and fun times; there in a snapshot, with pain and woe one finds the profile of a lad with a boy’s face, large sad eyes and a wide smile.
So few are yet aware that when that lad was only 11 years old he wrote a book with such tenderness and ingenuity as only the pristine mind of a child can conjure. The story is about a small fish that encounters, at sea, a shark; whom he invites to play a game of hide-and-seek. They played until sundown, without incidents for the small fish and of course neither for the shark. As per the narrator, when both fish tell the story to their respective mothers, both were administered their criticism.
The sharks' mother said:
“...don't play with him anymore, the small fish are for us to feed upon”.
Accordingly, the mother of the small fish, who was horrified, recounted the horrible tales of relatives devoured by sharks, in such a way, that after that time, based on what both mothers had told them; the shark and the small fish avoided each other.
Thus a year went by, which toward the end, produced the inevitable chance encounter. The Shark said to the small fish: “You are my enemy, but we can make peace”
That story written by the child re-tells how the fish played secretly for days, weeks and months; until one day they decided to go together to tell their mothers. From that day forward, the shark and the small fish lived in peace.
Nothing stops it from being a children's story; albeit a miraculous dream if it were to become a reality in so many conflicts that humanity suffers, between enemies both definitive and habitual.
This lad, who was almost a child only four years ago, is the victim of a medieval practice of hand changing by pirates of the latter 20th century and, lamentably, the 21st ; the kidnapping.
The kidnapping is one of most degrading conditions that one human being can force upon another since the victim immediately loses their value as a person and becomes an “exchangeable commodity” for material wealth or for other legal or illegal captives.
The press informs us on a continuous basis of cases involving kidnappings of every stripe; from the jungles of Latin America to the Persian gulf, with a host of variations and backdrops that vie for the greater cruelty and foulness. A far cry from the story of the shark and the fish.
During the 2nd year of his captivity, they allowed that lad to write a letter to his parents- to tell them how much he missed them, to what degree the extent of his suffering was physical, emotional and cerebral; to plead for a negotiated liberation and fulfill that perennial dream of his in which he finds himself free and embracing them.
Only his tormentors know in actuality what has been wrought upon him, and in what state his mind and body are. The life experience of others in similar circumstances forces us to assume the worst. That lad, before being captured, was better known for his sensitivity and wisdom than for his physical appearance; however, his mentality and courage enabled him to overcome and execute physical tasks beyond his limitations. We hope that remains so.
Those who love him have not seen him since he was 19 years old in June of 2006 when he was kidnapped while guarding a post on the frontier with the Hamas terrorists. He has himself described in one of the very rare statements the torturers have permitted, how they keep him in “an inhumane and intolerable nightmare”.
Lamentably, the role of Amnesty International and the Red Cross in Gaza have been null and void as Hamas has barred them access, while neither of those organizations have exerted a maximum earnestness to do so.
The Government of Israel has taken important steps to attain his freedom, concurrently as in previous engagements, in exchange for Palestinians convicted in a democratic state, with all of the guarantees of due process and transparency entailed therein. Everything has been insufficient for them and that lad is made to live as a martyr.
His name is Gilad Shalit and it is about time for him to go back to his home. As G-d would will it.
Roland J Behar
Conmemorating his 25th birthday
Monday, August 15, 2011
Freedom for Alan Gross
Phillip Peters, a research analyst at the Lexington Institute, told the New York Times that the key issue regarding the trial and conviction of Alan Gross was political and that the verdict of ratification of the Cuban Supreme Court showed that the case was not to be resolved in court but by diplomacy. Peters is right on the intentions of the Cuban government to solve it in this way, since the law for them is irrelevant.
Despite the general criteria, the exchange for the 5 Wasps spies trapped and the catch of Faget, the Alvarez, Ana Belen Montes, and more recently, Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers are not the main reason for the kidnapping of Alan Gross.
Let’s start from the beginning. For years, Cuba's government mounted an intelligence operation aimed to discredit the exile organizations that ran aid programs to support democracy in Cuba. It should be noted, incidentally, that these programs are very modest compared to what the Soviets did when, through Cuba, unlimited resources were allocated to subvert order and spread death and pain in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
In the case of these aid programs, they are intended to give economic independence to the opponents’ pro- democracy that are usually expelled from their jobs by the only employer, the government. The reality is that the opponents’ pro- democracy in Cuba, regardless of their current ideological empathies or affinities with exile’s groups, they have taken peaceful struggle as means to change the status quo to a state of law in their country. The Cuban government only uses violence in response, while the opposition is growing in number and presence.
For this operation the Cuban government used every means at their disposal. They began to puzzle through their agents within the internal opposition a very effective speech, "while you are risking your lives, liberty and the welfare of your family here, there are people in Miami who enjoy luxuries with money that belongs to you ".
The reaction was swift. Soon were heard accusing voices from Cuba, against those who until then, and for years were the moral and material support. Then, allured on by Cuban government spokesmen and agents in Miami, began the struggle between those who were not receiving funds here and those receiving funds. The scandal was heard in Washington and sparked investigations thoroughly. The corollary of the investigations was some money used for chocolates, three scarves and two Nintendo games for the children of some prisoners badly purchased according to the guidelines. They found a corrupt person who, without knowledge of his superior overcharged on the price of items sent to Cuba. No more irregularities were found worthy of scorn or imprisonment. More bark than bite.
Following these incidents, the House and Senate frozen the funds until the matter were clarified and then the U.S. government and its agencies decided to spend the bulk of the support channeled before through the exile’ organizations, trough subcontractors more in line and complacent to the U.S. government.
With the funds frozen, the Cuban government was very happy, but working through these new entities, made it more difficult for them, than to penetrate, than the Cuban exiles organizations, they realized they have lost even the possibility of receiving funding for their fake organizations in Cuba and in Miami. The Cuban government understands that this flow has to stop anyway and kidnapped Alan Gross to prevent the arrival of more uncontrollable people, unknown to them. The U.S. government misreads, reacts accordingly and suspends the plans. So, the government of Cuba is emboldened and begins to ask for more.
After the promise of Fidel Castro for the release in December of 2010 of the 5 Wasps (the five spies imprisoned in USA) embarks in a worldwide campaign for their liberation and, sotto voce, insinuates the exchange for Alan Gross, but Obama responded negatively to the offer.
When Gross landed in Havana, the dictatorship knew who he was, whom he worked for, what he brought, who was he meeting with and what his plans were. Gross went to Cuba, to do what he has been doing during his whole life, from Kenya to Palestine, to cooperate in developing democracy. His work in Cuba was trying to help peaceful people to access the internet. Gross is now known worldwide. The latest verdict of the supreme court of Cuba just transformed him from a hostage to a prisoner of conscience.
The most important Government and Jewish organizations condemned the injustice done to this peaceful man and this is just the beginning of an international campaign for his release. G–d willing Alan Gross will be free.
Roland J Behar
rbehar@live.com
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