Consul General Aviran's Remarks

Yom Kippur, September, 2012 

I want to begin by thanking YOU, the members of the Jewish communities throughout the Southeast for your warm support and gracious hospitality. As you know, I am just beginning my third year here in Atlanta, and my wife Talyah, our daughters Adi and Noa and I feel at home here in the Southeast as much as in our beloved Israel.

It is a special honor for me to be able to address you all on this most holiest of days Yom Kippur.  You have graciously invited me into your homes and enthusiastically partnered with the Israeli Consulate on many initiatives. Our work has grown exponentially in scope due to the unrelenting support of this community. 
 
Yom Kippur is a time for penance. We reflect solemnly on the acts that defined us throughout the past year, asking forgiveness from those we have wronged and absolving those who have wronged us. This is a time we start anew in both thoughts and deeds in hopes of amending our lives and the lives of those around us. 

We are Jews: We are a peace loving people. We are traditional and progressive, inventive and intuitive; we strive to become better. 
 
But, we must not forget what happened on this day nearly 40 years ago: In 1973, on Yom Kippur, the Jewish state was attacked by its neighbors.  Israel found itself, yet again, fighting for her existence.  The Jewish people received a clear signal from their Arab neighbors - "You are not welcome."
 
Today, on THIS Yom Kippur, Israel and the U.S. are facing great challenges. We live in uncertain and often difficult times.  Our enemies are ignorant of our two nations' freedoms and regard our liberty with contempt. We fight not against a nation, but against an ideology that calls for our destruction.  

Today, on THIS Yom Kippur, the leadership of Iran is calling for the destruction of Israel, the Jewish State. 
 
A nuclear Iran is no longer a possibility looming on the horizon; it is a reality growing closer to our shores. Iran sits dangerously close to Israel AND the United States.  Just over 1,000 miles from here, Iran's agents are operating in Central and South America.
 
A nuclear Iran will spark an uncontrollable nuclear arms race throughout the entire Middle East. Countries like Libya and Syria will also feel entitled to possess nuclear weapons, and we all know about the nature and stability of these regimes.

With the steadfast effort of the United States, the West and Israel, Iran can be and must be stopped from getting nuclear weapons.  We must be fervent in our speech and diligent in our actions.

 
I must also make mention of our Palestinian neighbors.
 
Israelis long for peace with the Palestinians, but alas, peace has evaded us.
Over the past 20 years Israel has made crucial compromises with the Palestinians in the name of peace.  Unfortunately, since the Oslo Accords, in 1993, the Palestinians have continued to use terrorism against us and embarked on a campaign to de-legitimize Israel as the Jewish State. 

 

Israel has adopted the Two-State Solution, but the Palestinians are choosing to boycott us and to seek, again, a unilateral recognition of their future independent State from the United Nations. They have disregarded all our sincere gestures and compromises.
 
Peace will be achieved only through direct negotiations, but sadly, at this moment, it seems Israel has no partner for peace.  
 
My American Jewish Brothers and Sisters, this is a pivotal time in our history.  When we say "Never Again" we mean "Never Again!"
 
As we battle terrorists seeking to destroy our way of life, our religion and our country, we must continue to teach our sons and daughters the American and Israeli values – our values of pluralism and Democracy. Together our nations will remain beacons of liberty and freedom in a sea of suppression and violence.
 
The relationship between American Jews and Israel is firm, but we must endeavor for an even more verdant bond.  Today is the day to go on that mission to Israel, to return to Israel not only as an explorer of its history, but as an adventurer of Israel's modern day Culture and High-Tech.  Now is also the time to sign up your children for a Birthright trip.  
 
Thank you all for your support for Israel, for the Consulate and for me and my family.

Toda Raba. Gmar Hatima Tova.
I wish you all a meaningful fast.