“Standing Up for the Truth” – The Endowment for Middle East Truth’s 8th Annual Rays of Light in the Darkness Dinner

Washington, D.C. – June 23, 2014 – The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET), an unabashedly Pro-American and Pro-Israel Washington, DC based think tank, is pleased to announce the success of its 8th Annual Rays of Light in the Darkness dinner held on Wednesday, June 18th, in Washington, DC, honoring Dr. Charles Krauthammer, Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), and Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL).

EMET is humbled to have had Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer attend and offer his remarks on the recent Fatah-Hamas alliance and the kidnapping of the three teenage boys in Israel, and his praise for the audience for “standing up for the truth.”

“President Abbas has made this or that comment about what happened, it was a little late, and it was always, he always finds a way to condemn acts on both sides. It’s a very bizarre thing. It’s almost as if after 9/11 somebody would say, ‘well we condemn the killing of Americans and the killing of Afghans, a day after.’ Because you’ll notice that when they [the PA] condemn it it’s never a full throated condemnation,” Ambassador Dermer said. “You can’t say you are against these acts when you forged an alliance with the terror organization that is celebrating these acts and that is perpetrating these acts. So the best thing that you can do, that President Abbas can do, is break his alliance with Hamas. It’s very simple. If he does not do it, then he’s just not serious,” the Ambassador added.

The dinner garnered roughly 350 attendees, including Congressmen, journalists, and supporters of Israel. Among many of the distinguished guests in attendance include: Rosemary Schindler, the grand-niece of Oskar Schindler of Schindler’s List, and her husband, Skyline Church Pastor Jim Garlow; Brigitte Gabriel, the founder, president and CEO of ACT! For America; Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC); Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL); Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ); Congressman Ron DeSantis (R-FL); and Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD), among other attendees.

The first honoree, Dr. Charles Krauthammer, American Pulitzer Prize winning syndicated columnist, author, and political commentator, received a standing ovation.

“The first truth, the undeniable truth, is that the Jewish people have the right to a sovereign state, independent and free,” Krauthammer, said. “It is also a right that derives from sacrifice. The Jews of Israel have fought and died for this independent sovereign state,” Krauthammer added to an applauding audience.

“The Jews have always been willing to compromise in the name of peace while the Arabs have rejected every overture for almost 100 years,” Krauthammer said on the peace process.

“Oslo was a lie and a deception,” and “I was on the White House lawn that day that it was signed. I remember seeing people around me weeping with joy that the peace has arrived. I was so dismayed, I was heartbroken. All you had to do was to listen to Yasser Arafat’s speech that day. He spoke not of reconciliation, he spoke not of peace, he spoke of success and triumph,” Krauthammer added.

Every year, EMET holds its Rays of Light in the Darkness Gala Event in the Washington, DC area. The event brings together the pro-American, pro-Israel national security community to celebrate those who are standing up for an unbreakable bond between Israel and America, and standing up for the emet, (Hebrew for truth), despite the cost.  EMET honors those persons – whether they be U.S. public officials, human rights activists and/or journalists – who are willing to speak the truth about Israel and the threat both Israel and the U.S. face from radical Islam.  EMET is the only organization that honors bold individuals (Muslim, Christian, and others) from the Muslim world who have had the courage to speak about radical Islam and the nature of the anti-Western world from which they hail.

Sarah Stern, founder and president of EMET, opened the evening with a moment of silence for the three kidnapped teens in Israel, who have been missing for more than 10 days now.

“EMET is so proud and privileged to be the first pro-Israel organization which has made it a priority to express gratitude to amazingly courageous defenders of the truth about Israel and its incredible triumphs and accomplishments in just 66 years. EMET’s 8th annual Rays of Light Dinner has proven to be our most successful one yet. Our honorees eloquently and pointedly expressed their unwavering dedication to continue to speak the truth about Israel, paralleling EMET’s work on Capitol Hill to reveal the true facts about Israel and the threats she faces,” Stern said.

“Particularly at this time, when three innocent teenage boys have been kidnapped in Israel, it is critical that the Jewish people and pro-Israel community unite together to do all we can to help with their release and demonstrate our support to their families, the Israeli Defense Forces, and the State of Israel.” Stern added.

EMET relies on the Rays of Light in the Darkness dinner to keep its doors open, and continue its vital work educating members of Congress, Senators, their staff, and the American people to help protect America’s and Israel’s security and their strategic relationship. To learn more about this year’s Rays of Light in the Darkness Gala Event, please visit EMET’s website.

About The Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET)

Founded in 2006, EMET’s mission is to educate policymakers in Washington and the general public about the importance of Israel to the United States in their common struggle against radical Islam.  For more information, please visit, https://emetonline.org. Follow EMET on Twitter and Facebook.