Efrat Benn, our recently appointed Coordinator for the DA-Israel Jerusalem & Area Local Group summarizes the information table she and her team organized at the Association of Americans & Canadians in Israel (AACI) US Independence Day Celebration held on July 1st in the Jerusalem Cinematheque central plaza. 

Below are some central points that Efrat noted:

"We were the only political table.  Out of 15 tables, 4 were food, 2 were newspapers and the rest were generally commercial, internet services, etc." 

"Overall, we were a success.  We had a presence, people noticed us, and we had the opportunity to promote ourselves.  A few Republicans and Obama-haters came by to heckle, but we got more traffic from citizens who were interested in our activity.  The respectable Republicans just kept walking."

"I felt like we were something of a confessional booth with citizens telling us that they approved of Obama and some Democrats telling us that they voted for McCain."

"We focused on distributing flyers listing our coming events and the tear-off stubs flyer promoting  www.VotefromAbroad.org." 

Efrat continued that they gave out nearly 3 dozen of the VFA flyers and that several people signed up to become DA members.  

She added that as she had never been to a previous  AACI July 4th celebration, she can't compare attendance to previous years. It was, however, certainly festive. 

A reporter from the Jerusalem Post interviewed Efrat, Becky and Ari who were staffing the table, and  "Rusty Mike Radio", an Anglo internet radio program based out of AACI, conducted an interview with Efrat with such questions as: "What is the purpose of the organization (i.e. DA)?  Why should Americans in Israel be involved in

US politics?

One could say that Efrat's T-shirt sporting the statement "No Taxation Without Representation" offered a clear answer!

Hats off to our Jerusalem Local Group!  Another success following the great Inauguration Celebration they organized on January 20th at the Zollis Pub Restaurant in Jerusalem!