President Obama SUPPORTS moment of Silence for Slain Olympic Athletes

This just in from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA):

(JTA) – President Obama joined the campaign for a moment of silence (vb1 emphasis) at the London Olympics to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the massacre of 11 Israeli Olympians at the 1972 Olympics.

“We absolutely support the campaign for a minute of silence at the Olympics to honor the Israeli athletes killed in Munich,” National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor told Yahoo News in an email.


The families of the victims of the 1972 massacre have mounted a global campaign to get the International Olympic Committee to hold an official moment of silence at the Games -- something IOC officials already have rejected for this year and have never done in the past. However, IOC representatives have attended Israeli and Jewish-organized commemorations....


Aside from Obama, the U.S. Senate, the German Bundestag, the Canadian and Australian parliaments, about 50 members of the British Parliament, the Israeli government, Jewish organizations worldwide and about 100 members of Australia's Parliament have urged the IOC to hold a moment of silence.

Apparently taking a break from cozying up to Nazi Based Jihadi's and "defaming" the Jewish People" (as the lunatic fringe of the Right Wing puts it), the President once again has shown that he is a true friend to both the Jewish and Israeli People.

Also at a campaign stop today in West Palm Beach the President had this to say regarding U.S. ties to Israel:

"And we’ve strengthened our alliances and stood with countries that shared our values. I know a lot of people in this community care about the state of Israel -- (applause) -- and we are heartbroken -- and it’s an important time to talk about this because of these barbaric attacks that happened in Bulgaria -- young people being killed because of this ruthless terrorist attack. And I want everybody here to know, under my administration, we haven’t just preserved the unbreakable bond with Israel; we have strengthened it.   (vb1 emphasis)(Applause.)


We’ve stood by Israel’s side in the face of criticism. Our military and intelligence cooperation has never been closer. And obviously this is a moment of great uncertainty in the Middle East given what’s happening in Syria and what’s happening in other places. So now is the time to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect Israel’s security. And I want you to know that that’s something that should transcend party. That’s not a Republican or a Democratic issue. That is an issue of how we work with one of our closest allies in the world that shares our values and believes in democracy. (Applause.)"

Of course, this goes hand in had with phrasing from President Shimon Peres as well as Defense Minister Ehud Barak who had echoed the Presidents words when they said:

(Peres) "To receive it is an honor (the Presidential Medal of Freedom). And to receive it from you, Mr. President, is a privilege that I shall cherish forever," Peres said after receiving the medal. "It is a testament to the historic friendship between our two nations. I receive this honor today on behalf of the People of Israel. They are the true recipients of this honor. With this moving gesture, you are paying tribute to generations upon generations of Jews who dreamed of, and fought for, a State of their own. A state that would give them shelter. A state that they could defend. Mr. President, you are honoring the pioneers who built homes on barren mountains, on shifting sands. Fighters who sacrificed their lives for their country. On their behalf, I thank America for days of concern, for sleepless nights, caring for our safety, for our future."

and from DM Ehud Barak:

Addressing the Home Front's state of preparedness, he noted that the "US is standing by us in an exceptional way and will help us purchase more Iron Dome and Magic Wand systems as well as cruise missiles which could dramatically improve Home Front protection."

Anyway... the most important thing is not only to let the President know we "have his back" in the coming 2012 elections but to support the move by the President to get the IOC to grant that moment of silence to the slain Israeli athletes in the Munich Massacre. Please read Reuven's article here and sign the petition asking that indeed we all support such a memorial.

FINALLY Please keep the families of the slain in the horrible attack in Bulgaria in your thoughts and prayers. YNET released their names. If anyone is in shul this shabbat please remember:

Itzik Kolengi (28) from Petah Tikva,
Amir Menashe (28), also from Petah Tikva,
Maor Harush (25) from Akko,
Elior Priess (26) from Akko
Kochava Shriki (44), of Rishon Lezion.