ABOUT AMERICANS FOR A SAFE ISRAEL

Americans For a Safe Israel was founded in 1971 by concerned Americans convinced a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israel conflict would only occur when the Arabs realized once and for all that Israel could not be defeated militarily or in any other way. The founders were convinced that Israel must retain possession and control of Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan. To abandon territory won in wars forced on it would make it vulnerable once again to renewed subversion and attack, not only by hostile Arabs in Judea and Samaria but unstable Arab regimes.

AFSI is unique in its proud and outspoken advocacy of Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan as integral parts of Israel. AFSI believes that a strong Israel is essential to U.S. security and that the Jewish towns in these areas are the best guarantee against strategic vulnerability. Most importantly, the pioneering efforts of the residents in these areas have the potential of rejuvenating a dormant Zionism and igniting a second Zionist revolution.

The Philadelphia area chapter of Americans for a Safe Israel was founded in 1986 by Ronald I. Kravitz, Esq. Ron Kravitz who was also a longtime member of AFSI's national Executive Committee. The chapter became well known and respected for a highly popular lecture series that included speakers such as:

Dr. Arieh Eldad, MK
Shifra Hoffman, columnist The Jewish Press
Dr. Paul Eidelberg, Bar Ilan University
Yoram Ettinger, Formerly the Minister for Congressional Affairs to Israel's Embassy in Washington, DC
Dr. Marvin Maurer, Professor
Tom Marr, talk radio show host
Michael Teplow, Techiya USA
Daniel Luria, Ateret Cohanim / The Jerusalem Reclamation Project
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva, Ateret Cohanim Yeshiva
Dror Vanunu, Head of Public Relations for Gush Katif
Rachel and Moshe Saperstein, Gaza Settlers
Levi Chazen, Director of the English Division of Yeshivat HaRa´ayon HaYehudi in Jerusalem
Brig. Gen. (res.) Aharon Levran, formerly of the IDF Intelligence Corps
Prof. Shaul Gutman, MK, founder of the Yamin Israel Party
David Bedein, Bureau Chief Israel Resource News Agency
and many others

Past leaders of the Philadelphia AFSI Chapter include:

Ronald I. Kravitz, Esq. (z'l)
Leonard Tishgart, Esq.
Steve Jacobs (z'l)
David Lazowick
Kenneth J. Heller (z'l)

Throughout its history Philadelphia AFSI has worked with members of the Jewish Community and the Christian Community to strengthen the America / Israel Alliance.

AFSI's national newsletter, Outpost, has been published since 1971 and is archived at http://mideastoutpost.com.