Participants at O.C. Rally Denounce Terrorist Attacks in Mideast

About 250 people attended an emotional rally Sunday night to condemn the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and to show their support for the fragile peace process in the Middle East.

“We must resolve not to let radicals, hatemongers or desperate people destroy the promise of peace and cooperation among the family of nations which constitutes the Middle East,” said Jerry Werksman, a vice president of the Jewish Federation of Orange County.

The rally’s participants--mostly members of Orange County’s Jewish community--gathered at the Jewish Federation Campus in Costa Mesa for about 90 minutes. They sang songs of hope and peace and listened to speeches from various religious and community leaders who denounced the four terrorist bombings that have occurred in Israel over the past couple of weeks. All of the bombings are said to be the work of Hamas, a militant Islamic movement.

“On behalf of the entire Muslim community, I extend our sincerest sympathies,” said Haitham Bundakji, president of the Islamic Center of Orange County. “We must all understand that there are two sides to every story, but we should put the past behind us and strive for peace. . . . We reject all acts of violence. The enemy of peace is our enemy.”

Ido Aharoni, a spokesman from the Consulate General of Israel, told the gathering that “this is the time for us to be united and put aside all the political issues that have divided us.”

Several participants Sunday spoke of the fear that has gripped their family and friends in Israel since the terrorist acts. They said people there are afraid to ride buses, go shopping or stay out past dark.

“We all feel a sense of shock and sorrow,” said Roberta Catalinotto, associate executive director of the Jewish Federation.

Beverly Jacobs, whose 23-year-old daughter lives in Israel, encouraged people Sunday to write letters to leaders in the United States and Israel expressing their solidarity for the Israelis and the current peace efforts.

“It’s tough,” said Jacobs about the recent acts of violence. “I try to do things like the letter-writing campaign to stay upbeat. It’s a tough time.”