The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the largest mainstream Orthodox Jewish organization in the United States, reiterates its horror at the continued acts of violence and brutality occurring in Yugoslavia. As reports continue of murder, expulsion, and genocide conducted by Milosevic and his allies, we can only emphasize our outrage at this horrific slaughter which evokes that dark period in our own history 50 years ago.

In the past, we have appealed to the United Nations and to NATO to intervene decisively and urgently to end the aggression. We strongly support the NATO airstrikes to increase the pressure on Milosevic and to call a halt to the murder and cruelty of the Milosevic regime. We stand in strong solidarity with and pray for the NATO forces and their allies whose lives are being risked in the defense of innocents and in the effort to end human rights violations and save lives.

We reiterate our call upon the prosecutor of the UN War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to warn Milosevic and his followers that they will be held responsible for genocide and any other crimes against humanity committed by their forces in Kosovo.

Our community remembers the brutality suffered by our people during the Nazi era and cannot sit idly by as this slaughter and genocide persist. We pray that US and allied forces engaged return safely and that all the people in the region will be able to live in peace and security.