United States Embassy
Israel
71 Hayarkon Street,
Tel Aviv, Israel
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American Embassy Tel Aviv - Press Section
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Richard H. Jones Daniel Pearl Music Days Enav Cultural Center October 8, 2005  AMBASSADOR JONES: Thank you very much. Ms. Dalia Rabin, Chair of the Yitzhak Rabin Center, Ms. Hanna Ranen, aunt of Daniel Pearl, distinguished guests and your excellencies, the representatives of foreign missions in Israel, Alei Gefen and members of the Alei Gefen Chorus, ladies and gentlemen: Good evening, erev tov ve Shana Tova.
I did not know Daniel Pearl personally. I first heard his name through press reports of his abduction in Pakistan in January of 2002. Over the next several weeks I followed the story, along with millions of others around the world, hoping that it would end happily, and then grieving for him and his family when it did not.
Like all too many thousands in dozens of countries, Daniel fell victim to terrorists who sought to strip him of his individuality and humanity, and to turn him into a two-dimensional symbol that they could exploit to somehow further their twisted political agenda. They did not succeed.
First, they underestimated modern law enforcement professionals who were able to identify and track them down with amazing efficiency. Four arrests were made within two months of Daniel's disappearance. Convictions were obtained within six months. Perhaps more importantly, though, the terrorists also underestimated the love Daniel's friends and family felt for him. Having lost Daniel to the terrorists, they were not about to let the terrorists steal his memory.
Thanks to them, his legacy would not be that of a tragic victim of a brutal crime, but rather that of a courageous young man who lived life to the fullest and touched the lives of thousands of others through his journalism, his love of humanity and his passion for music.
In fact, Daniel was an accomplished musician for whom music was an essential form of expression - a way of making himself understood, of understanding others, and of celebrating their common humanity. Transforming their personal tragedy into a bridge between cultures and peoples, Daniel's family and friends established the Daniel Pearl Foundation, which today sponsors activities and events all over the world to promote tolerance and understanding.
 The most famous of these events are "The Daniel Pearl Music Days," which are now held annually around the time of Daniel's birthday. In fact, that is what we are here tonight to celebrate.
So, tonight Israel joins with countries as diverse as Cameroon, Sweden, Pakistan and the United States, not only in celebrating the life of Daniel Pearl, but also in celebrating a passion common to every country in the world: music. In its mission to bridge religious and cultural gaps, to celebrating sacred music, the Alei Gefen Chorus is a perfect example of the kind of understanding between different cultures that is the goal of Daniel Pearl Music Days and of the American people.
The United States Embassy is committed to facilitating such encounters between people of different backgrounds and faiths. We are very proud to support tonight's concert. I would also like at this time to call for a moment of silence to honor the victims of today's tragic earthquake, which took place in the Indian sub-continent and ironically affected thousands of people in the very country where Daniel was abducted: Pakistan.
Thank you all very much. I would like to close by wishing you Ramadan Kareem and a Gmar Khatima Tova.
Thank you. (Applause)
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