HAeD Letter-Writing Campaign

Currently there are over 300 refugees from Sudan in Israel. Often
these refugees are sent to prison. Over the last few years, CARD
(the Committee for Advancement of Refugees from Darfur) has
arranged for many of the refugees to be allowed to work in
Kibbutzim and Moshavim around the country. However, many of the
refugees are still in prison and as people fleeing from genocide, do
not deserve to be treated like criminals

In the past few weeks, former Chief Rabbi Lau has petitioned Olmert
to release the refugees and Justice Minister Daniel Friedman was
quoted saying, "Israel must become part of those who help the
refugees. It is important that we realize that they need help and we
must provide them with the assistance they need. That is the
desired approach, not to treat them as criminals. We are obliged to
assist foreigners, and anyone who has escaped danger and slavery."

What can you do to help?

One of the most important ways to help is to lobby PM Olmert. The
most effective way we can do this is by conducting a letter-writing
campaign . Basically, we want to inundate Olmert with letters from
both Israelis and Jews in the Diaspora asking for the government to
release the refugees from prisons and grant asylum to the refugees.
It is best to write a letter yourself to show this issue means enough
to you to spend the time and effort of drafting a letter. Letters
should be kept short, simple and to the point. Also remember to
keep letters forceful but not aggressive. Letters can be written in
either English or Hebrew and should be addressed to:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

3 Kaplan Street, Hakirya,
Jerusalem, Israel
91950

Or

‫ראש הממשלה אהוד אולמרט‬

,‫ הקריה‬,3 ‫רחוב קפלן‬
‫ירושלים‬
91950

Or

Fax/02-670-5475) 97226705475+ : ‫)פקס‬

• Most importantly, ask for Olmert to:

1) Help facilitate a quick release of the refugees.

2) Grant asylum and refugee status to those fleeing the genocide in
Darfur

• Points to focus on:

1) Jewish tradition (Exodus, treatment of "stranger")
2) Focus on the fact that refugees are fleeing genocide
3) 60 odd years after the end of the Holocaust, we
remember that we have been persecuted refugees seeking
asylum.
4) Many Israelis were once refugees (from Europe and Arab
countries)
5) Previous History of Israeli humanitarian gestures
(Vietnam, Bosnia)
6) For Diaspora Jews: Israel's image ruined by this breach
of humanity

• Sign your letter with your name, organisation/synagogue/youth

movement, teudat zehut number and country of residence.

See below for a sample letter (but please write your own).

Letters from Israelis and those in the Diaspora are equally

vital in this campaign. Olmert will take note of Israelis because
they vote and Diaspora Jews because they help shape world opinion
on Israel. Please ask as many people as possible to join in this
campaign. See if you can make it a project of your
University/College, youth movement, Shul or Temple.
It is important for each person to send their own letter (a hard
copy), so as to maximise the effect. If money is an issue, contact us
and we will reimburse you.

Don't hesitate to ask us any questions. Email us at

haedarfur@gmail.com or contact Seraphya on +972546213792 /
054-621-3792

Thank you,

Seraphya and Arielle

HAeD - Hatizule et Amei Darfur
http://www.haedarfur.org
Join our email list by clicking:
http://groups.google.com/group/HAeDarfur/subscribe

------------

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Prime Minister Olmert,

As a Jew and a life-long supporter of Israel, I am very concerned with
the situation of Sudanese refugees in Israel. It upsets me that
genuine refugees who are fleeing genocide are sitting in prison like
criminals.

Sixty odd years ago, we Jews were facing our own genocide and
watched as countries blocked our entry and resigned us to the gas
chambers. How can we, the descendants of those victims of
genocide, allow the Sudanese victims of genocide to be imprisoned?

I urge you to:

1) Help facilitate a quick release of the refugees.

2) Grant asylum and refugee status to those fleeing the genocide in

Darfur

In the words of Former Chief Rabbi Lau, "We, the members of the
Jewish people, who suffered from persecutions and the world's
indifference to our fate when we came to Israel as refugees, cannot
allow ourselves to ignore the suffering and distress of other
nations... the Torah orders us to love the foreigner."

Sincerely,

John Smith

President of Dandenong Synagogue,

Australia