Israel's conference in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland warns that enemy of peace is untruth.

Conference warns that enemy of peace is untruth

THE recently formed Dumfries & Galloway Friends of Israel held its first event last weekend. More than 60 people attended a day conference, 'What about Israel?'  Delegates came from as far afield as Dundee and Whitehaven to hear keynote speakers reinforce the message that the enemy of peace is untruth.  Speakers were Avner Lustig, of StandWithUs UK, BICOM manager Simon Barrett and Scottish Friends of Israel's Raymond Mann.  The aims of the conference were to bring together those who have a love of Israel, to learn more about the challenges Israel faces, to offer practical steps that people can take to support the Jewish state and to show their friends in the Jewish community that they do not stand alone.  Mr Lustig dispelled the myth that Israel is populated by western, colonialist and imperialistic land-grabbers.  He said that few things were crueller for people running for their lives from Nazis and racists, than to accuse them of being the same.  Mr Barrett explained why 2014 has been a dark year for Israel, Israelis and the Jewish people.  He spoke about the collapse of the peace process from March, following the co-operation between Fatah and Hamas in the Palestinian national unity government.  The close links between Hamas leaders, the Muslim Brotherhood and the state of Qatar were explained.  Paying tribute to local heroine Jane Haining, whose love for Jewish orphans led her to Auschwitz, Mr Barrett stated that they too have an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the Jewish people under a banner of truth.  The morning ended with a questions and answers session.  Mr Mann confessed to being war-weary after 12 solid years of pro-Israel advocacy, often feeling alone in the task.  Being among like-minded friends at the conference, however, had given him a renewed burst of energy.  In response to BDS, Mr Mann wants CCD - Counter, Confront and Defeat - in the name of the truth.  Conference organiser Nigel Goodrich said that all three speakers alluded to what can be done to stand for the truth when it comes to Israel.  "Many friendships and connections have been made as a result of this conference," Mr Goodrich added.  "It was genuinely humbling to receive messages of goodwill and encouragement from a wide spectrum of Jewish agencies and individuals.  "Good will come of it. Meanwhile the hope is that others will be provoked or inspired to set up their own events up and down the land, increase the number of hubs, strengthen the network and prevail."