Those who Cherish Liberty and Life

Julie Strauss Levin is a longtime friend of the MRC and the wife of Mark Levin. She is an attorney who has worked in the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Julie has been appointed to two Presidential Commissions, as well as the Virginia Commission to Combat Antisemitism, the Commonwealth's Virginia Israel Advisory Board, and she also sits on non-profit Boards. As a Jewish woman, she understands the importance of standing with Israel in her fight against Hamas and other global terrorist organizations, and that this existential battle is one that also threatens those of the Christian faith, as well as Western Civilization overall.

MRC founder and president Brent Bozell asked Julie to write up her thoughts and she kindly agreed. Please find her heartfelt words below and consider supporting our allies in Israel and beyond through these difficult times.

Fellow MRC Supporters, those who cherish liberty and life, 

Last week, MRC President and Founder Brent Bozell shared a heartfelt note with all of you regarding the atrocities that first descended upon Israel on the early morning of October 7, 2023, when those of the Jewish faith were not only celebrating Shabbat but the holiday of Simchat Torah, "Joy of the Torah." This holiday commemorates the day when Jews finish the annual Torah-reading cycle and begin rereading it. 

During that early morning, the Hamas global terrorist organization stole into Southern Israel and brutally maimed and murdered innocent Jews, including women, children and babies, burned the elderly in their homes, kidnapped Israelis and Americans, and committed other genocidal acts. The horrendous photographs and videos reveal unimaginable images of brutality. As the civilian death toll unfolds, now at more than 1,400 innocents, people equate it to twenty times America’s 9/11. 

Hamas' attack has been unrelenting since. Hezbollah, the Palestinian terrorist arm based in Lebanon, just north of Israel, is threatening Israel and has already committed acts of terror.

In addition to ground attacks, Hamas launches rocket after rocket into the tiny country of Israel, forcing its citizens to seek refuge in bomb shelters daily. I have the same "Red Alert" app on my phone that warns Israelis of incoming rocket attacks in real time, providing the location of the attacks. It warns, as well, of terrorist infiltrations.

My app rings constantly, and while this is very upsetting, I learn of these attacks in the seeming safety of the United States, thousands of miles from the war zone, and the searing sounds of the rockets in the sky. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have already called up more than 300,000 reservists to join its active duty military, as men and women battle in defense not just of this tiny country but of Western Civilization. Israel is at war, and the Jewish people are again fighting for their survival, as we did during the Holocaust. 

Frighteningly, Brent is right, and unsurprisingly, the world's empathy has been short-lived. 

Equally expected and dangerously so, the mainstream media is already highly biased against Israel, fueling the world's hatred of the Jewish people. So, too, the media is the mouthpiece of the Democrat Party and even of Hamas.

The media equates the number of murdered innocent Israelis, including the beheading of Jewish babies, to the death of Palestinians in Gaza, recklessly throwing around the concept of "proportionality" and "restraint" when reporting Israel's response to these heinous acts of terror. 

Just days ago, Hamas lied that Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza and killed 500 people. CNN, MSNBC, the AP, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and countless others immediately and almost gleefully parroted Hamas, maligning the Israeli government and the IDF without showing a scintilla of interest in investigating the facts. Heads of countries such as Trudeau in Canada and Biden jumped on the condemn Israel train. Yet, hours later, Israel proved undisputedly that a malfunctioning rocket fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad hit a parking lot next to a hospital.

The headcount of injured or dead is not clear. What is clear is that the media and the world have failed to correct the record. Israel remains accused by many, and this irresponsible and inciteful reporting has caused protests, injuries, and death the world over, including rabid protests at U.S. embassies and consulates, on college and university campuses in the United States, and elsewhere.

As Israel seeks only to eradicate Hamas' terror infrastructure, it continues to warn Gazan citizens in Arabic through leaflets, TV, social media, and otherwise to leave, even sharing where in Gaza the IDF will strike to provide time for citizens to leave. No other country does this, yet the media and the world ignore that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are telling Gazan civilians to ignore Israel’s warnings and stay. Hamas and the PA want the Gazan civilians to remain and serve as human shields. Egypt closed its borders to these citizens; the media knows this, doesn't report it, and the world blames Israel.

So, too, the media is silent about Iran, the world's single greatest sponsor of terror and the chief funding arm of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the PA. The media covers for Biden's infatuation with Iran, his begging this terrorist regime to enter into a new nuclear "deal" without the consent of the U.S. Senate, his recent release of $6 billion in sanctions relief to Iran, $10 billion just three weeks prior, and the more than $60 billion of oil sales by Iran to China, Russia, and Venezuela, all in violation of sanctions put in place against this terrorist regime.

The oil sales continue daily to the tune of billions of dollars. And the U.N. just lifted sanctions on Iran's development of ballistic missiles and the selling of drones. Iran has already been violating the latter sanction by selling drones to Russia.  

Joe Biden is silent, the media falls in line, and most people are unaware that Americans are unwittingly financing this terrorist regime.

The Biden Administration also provides millions of taxpayer dollars to the PA and Gaza under the guise of "humanitarian aid." Just last week, Biden announced another $100 million to these entities as he stood in Israel. Rather than question why, a member of the press asked Biden on the flight back on Air Force One, "Are the Israelis operating within the rules of law?"

That says it all.

There's much more I could share, but I know you understand the dire straits Israel is in as she fights not only for her survival but on behalf of the United States and Western civilization. The IDF is the first line of defense, and my husband Mark and I stand strongly and firmly with Israel, as we know Brent does.

Mark and I are immensely grateful for the Media Research Center and Brent's commitment to supporting Israel through prayers and donations to causes in Israel at this existential time. The people of Israel need our generosity to those organizations Brent has identified below. Any amount you are comfortable with is the right amount.  

• Friends of the IDF – provides support to soldiers in the Israeli military
• Lev Echad – recruits emergency volunteers and provides them with critical funding
• Natal – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, providing treatment and support to victims of war trauma

Your prayers are also crucial, as is your bravery in sharing the truth and facts with others about Israel's right, duty, and obligation to protect her people and defeat this scourge of Jew hatred. 

Please know that Mark and I are most appreciative of all of you. We thank you.

As I shout aloud at the finish line of every running race I run, "Am Yisrael Chai," the People of Israel live.

May G-d bless and keep you, and may He bless the United States and Israel.  

With gratitude and best wishes,
 

Julie Strauss Levin