Doc's Talk: Self-reliance should be our ultimate goal

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Self-reliance should be our ultimate goal

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256150048825&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
By STEWART WEISS

This is a bad time to be claustrophobic in Israel. One can almost feel the walls closing in as we are barraged from all sides by condemnations, critiques and curses. Making matters worse, some of the harshest diatribes are coming from people and places previously regarded as our friends, or at least our allies. London courts have made many of our most important political and military leaders persona non grata, causing them to cancel visits and speaking engagements in the UK In the United States, more Jews are engaging in "soul-searching" over Israel's moral conduct and wondering how long they can continue to defend us in the face of a media onslaught.

Speakers coming to America to define and defend Israel's position - most recently former prime minister Ehud Olmert - are routinely heckled and harangued before they can utter a single syllable.

Most galling of all, perhaps, is the behavior of Turkey. Once, we considered Turkey our most reliable partner in the Middle East, a bulwark against Syria and a model of non-radical Islam with which we could peacefully coexist. Not anymore. Moving ever closer to Iran and the rejectionists, Turkey has unleashed a series of insults at us that would make a longshoreman blush.

THE HEIGHT of hypocrisy came when the Turks accused us of committing genocide against the Palestinians. True, the Turks do know whereof they speak when it comes to genocide. Virtually all the historians agree that the Turks engaged in the systematic destruction of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I.

As many as 1.5 million Armenians were said to have been exterminated by the Turks, who are "credited" with introducing the phenomena of mass shootings, deportations and forced marches that would later be emulated by Hitler. The New York Times, reporting almost daily on the mass murder of the Armenian people, described the process as "systematic, authorized and organized by the government."

American president Teddy Roosevelt characterized the Turkish atrocities as "the single greatest crime of the first World War."

What makes this even more appalling is that, for years, Israel refrained from openly criticizing Turkey's World War I massacres, due to Ankara's hypersensitivity over the issue. Sadly, despite our own tragic experience with holocausts, we suppressed our ethical responsibility to condemn the Turks, and at times even lobbied other countries to downplay the issue. It didn't get us all that far; we scratched Turkey's back, but they didn't scratch our's.

So it seems to me that we ought to think about spending less time, energy and effort courting the outside world, and concentrating more on our own well-being. We ought to be seeking ways to make our own country stronger, safer and more self-reliant. To the extent that we can depend more on our own resources, we will not only be less susceptible to boycotts and blackmail, but may even gain greater respect - however grudging - in the eyes of the world community.

We can start by making sure our military is as strong as it absolutely can be. Defense spending should be increased, not slashed, even if it means painful cuts elsewhere in the budget.

Draft-dodging, which has reached frightening proportions - as many as 30 percent-40% of those eligible for army service now manage to evade the IDF - should be drastically reduced, if not eliminated.

Every school child should be educated early on as to the vital role the military plays in our lives, and the necessity of each and every citizen to sacrifice his personal needs to that of the community.

Internal tourism should become a top priority, promoted at the highest levels of government, and not assigned to the low minister on the totem pole. We have an amazing, diversely beautiful country, and most Israelis have never seen it.

Tel Avivians needs to walk the ancient and modern streets of Jerusalem, soaking in its history and character, while Jerusalemites should experience the vibrancy and culture of Tel Aviv. Why do 5,000 Israelis each week need to visit Turkey, when gorgeous, world-class resorts can be found right here, from Eilat to the Golan?

And our economy, vibrant and resilient as it is, could be even stronger, if we put the nation to work improving our infrastructure. We need better roads, a national mass-transit system, more universities and the cultivation of more agricultural land. With the exception of a few commodities, we lack for nothing in this country.

Even the absence - so far - of oil under our land can be significantly alleviated by the promotion of alternative energy sources.

So you will tell me that we live in a global village, where the fate of every country is inextricably connected to that of every other nation, that we cannot "go it alone" without diplomatic, economic and military cooperation and support from those around us. But while I am not suggesting that we adopt a completely isolationist policy - we ought to seek friends wherever we can find them, forge alliances and develop markets whenever possible - engagement cannot come at the cost of our own national pride. To the extent that we can stand on our own two feet and fend for ourselves, we will actualize our potential, enhance our survival and restore the feeling that once was taken for granted here: Israel is the greatest country on Earth in which to live.

The writer is director of the Jewish Outreach Center of Ra'anana. jocmtv@netvision.net.il
Guest Comment: There are some very definite measures Israel can take in order to straighten the world and its overwhelming anti-Israel sentiments Israel faces these days:

1. To get respect from the world and peace from the world the Jewish state must show pride in itself. Restore the feeling that once was taken for granted in the land: Israel is the greatest country on Earth in which to live

2. As Prime Minister Netanyahu said: bring the Jewish brain home and do not let the Israeli brain drain…

3. Develop Israel’s self reliance…build and strengthen from within and build it good like never before… actualize Israel’s full potential, enhance its survival.

4. Invest in Jerusalem, Israel and the people and there will be exponential return.

4. Remember that Israel’s job is to be the Light Unto the Nations…remember the future is bight … remember that Israel is here to stay and the only way everyone is going to learn this is if we, Israelis and Jews, teach the world this truth ...
---
Shalom,
Nurit

4 comments:

Tikvah Tal said...: 1) It's not the job the state to inform children that the military is vital to Israel, it's the role of the parents, if that's what they believe.

2) So you're admitting Israeli responsibility for genocide against the Palestinians? You ignore Turkey's sins if they'll ignore yours? Shouldn't you address the issue of genocide in Israel and not worry as much about what your allies think of your policies?; 2:41 PM
GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...: I acknowledge that having been attacked by individual Arab nations, individual Arab groups and individual Arabs we in Israel have protected ourselves. I further acknowledge that the actual data, the facts recently acknowledged by a UK military man indicates our military is the best in the world at limiting collateral damage. This unlike Arab states that hide behind human shields, use religious buildings, schools, homes as weapon storage areas, these same Arabs who send children in front of their adults to serve as targets-yet, with all of this we sacrifice our own soldiers to protect civilians. Next time, avoid talking points and use sourced data.; 2:46 PM
Tikvah Tal said...: So this justifies Israeli settlers in Gaza gunning down 17 year old girls for rock-throwing demonstrations or justifies Israeli bulldozers running over and fatally injuring international nonviolent protesters? These are sourced facts, and they don't leave Israel looking terribly innocent and defensive. If you don't think that Israel engages in genocide just say so, because you seem to be tacitly admitting that Israel Does engage in genocide, just not as much as countries like Turkey.; 3:11 PM
GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...: Tikvah,

My oh my, your "facts" are tainted, inaccurate and right out of the "playbook". Your "conclusions are illogical. First we left Gaza some time ago-Second, you have conveniently left out the murders of innocent Israeli women and children by homicide bombers-convenient on your part.Third, ask Arab-Israelis if they want to forfeit their lives here and "return to Palestine"! You have had your moment in the sun to make your points.; 6:38 AM

The IDF’s Minorities in Numbers and Pictures

In honor of IDF Diversity Week, we present diversity through numbers and pictures. Each year, more and more Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouin and immigrants from around the world take on the responsibility of defending Israel.

MUSLIMS:

Muslim Arab Israelis are not required to draft in the IDF, but there are many who volunteer. In 2013, there were over 200 Muslims serving in the IDF and over 300 in the reserves.

Bedouins:

Bedouins are nomadic Muslims who were in Israel when modern borders were set in place and are now considered Israeli citizens. They are not required to draft but a growing number choose to enlist. In 2012, there were over 1,400 Bedouin Muslim soldiers doing regular IDF service and almost 1,500 in the reserves.

Read more:http://www.idfblog.com/2014/02/27/truth-idf-numbers-pictures/#more-34027

Are you aware that in 2013, Middle class taxes go up-significantly?

In January of next year, the federal income tax rate for middle-class taxpayers is scheduled to rise from 25 percent to 28 percent, and the payroll tax is scheduled to rise from 13.3 percent to 15.3 percent… This drives the marginal tax rate based on the aforementioned three taxes to 48.12 percent. Add in state and local property, corporate, excise, and other state and local taxes, and the percentage of each additional dollar that is taxed hovers around 50 percent… When half of each additional dollar earned is taxed away, taxpayers experience a disincentive to start businesses or expand existing ones. This leads to fewer jobs being created.

Why is HAMAS Inside Tampa Schools?

Clare Lopez

Kelly Miliziano, who teaches history classes at Steinbrenner High School in the Tampa, Florida area apparently thinks it’s perfectly OK to invite a senior official of a HAMAS-affiliated organization into her classroom to discuss Islam with her students. According to local media reports, not only has this been going on for years, but in spite of the civil and criminal proceedings that could result from such reckless negligence, the Hillsborough County school superintendent, Mary Ellen Elia, and the chairman of the school board, Candy Olson, also expressed approval for students under their responsibility to be exposed repeatedly to guest speaker, Hassan Shibly, who is the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Tampa area.
More...

Did You Know... Ignoring the Call to Islam will Bring Jihad

‘Conquest through Da’wa [proselytizing] that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through sword but through Da’wa.’
-- Yousef al-Qaradawi , Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader The Arabic word ‘Da’wa’ means the “call to Islam.” But do not think that Da’wa is the same thing as an invitation to an optional holiday event. The classical Islamic doctrine of jihad mandates that enemies must be given the opportunity to convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax before it is permissible to attack them.
Clare M. Lopez

Who is being discriminated-facts tell the truth

Religious bias

Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,409 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-bias offenses showed:

65.4 percent were anti-Jewish.
13.2 percent were anti-Islamic.
9.5 percent were anti-other religion, i.e., those not specified.
4.3 percent were anti-Catholic.
3.8 percent were anti-multiple religions, group.
3.3 percent were anti-Protestant.
0.5 percent were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2010/narratives/hate-crime-2010-incidents-and-offenses.

On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview

with PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here's what he said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

In March 1977, Zahir Muhsein, a PLO executive, said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct Palestinian people to oppose Zionism."

"For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

The Arab Apartheid

Ben-Dror Yemini
In 1948, the Arab countries refused to accept the UN partition proposal and they launched a war of annihilation against the State of Israel which had barely been established. All precedents in this matter showed that the party that starts the war - and with a declaration of annihilation, yet - pays a price for it. Between 550,000 and 710,000 Arabs fled because of the war and a larger number of 850,000 Jews were expelled or fled from Arab countries (the "Jewish nakba").
Population exchanges and expulsions were the norm at that time, occurring in dozens of other conflict points and affecting about 52 million people. In all the population exchange precedents that occurred during or at the end of an armed conflict, there was no return of refugees to the previous region, which had turned into a new national state.
Only the Arab states acted completely differently from the rest of the world. Instead of assimilating the refugees, they crushed them despite the fact that they were their coreligionists and members of the Arab nation - instituting a regime of apartheid. So the "nakba" was not caused by the actual dispossession, which had also been experienced by tens of millions of others. The "nakba" is the story of the apartheid, oppression, abuse and denial of rights suffered by the Arab refugees at the hands of the Arab countries. (Maariv)

International Law and Military Operations in Practice - Col. Richard Kemp

"Islamist fighting groups study the international laws of armed conflict carefully and they understand it well. They know that a British or Israeli commander and his men are bound by international law and the rules of engagement that flow from it. They then do their utmost to exploit what they view as one of their enemy's main weaknesses. Their very modus operandi is built on the correct assumption that Western armies will normally abide by the rules, while these insurgents employ a deliberate policy of operating consistently outside international law. "

Lost Historical Moments

What Rabin’s last Knesset speech really said:repudiation of a Palestinian state

Rabin ruled out a fully sovereign Palestinian state :

“We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority.”

Rabin ruled out a total withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and thus a return to the pre-June 1967 borders :

“The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.”

Rabin ruled out withdrawing form the Jordan Valley:

“The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.”

Rabin ruled out uprooting settlement blocs, like the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza (which was subsequently uprooted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon):

“The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

AND

Rabin ruled out removing any settlement before coming to a full peace agreement with the Palestinians:

“I want to remind you: we committed ourselves, that is, we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.”

Rabin insisted on Israel retaining full security control of the borders with Egypt and Jordan, contrary to Israel’s relinquishment of the Philadelphia Corridor on the border with Egypt:

“The responsibility for external security along the borders with Egypt and Jordan, as well as control over the airspace above all of the territories and Gaza Strip maritime zone, remains in our hands.”

Correcting Oslo Myths-Part 2

3) Kuttab laments that the post-1993 Oslo process resulted in a Palestinian Authority "whose ministers and legislators are not guaranteed passage between Gaza and the West Bank ...."

Before free passage or other perquisites, PA leaders were obligated, among other things, to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, end anti-Israeli, antisemitic incitement in schools, mosques, and communications media, and resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations. They met none of these commitments, sometimes bolstering terrorism and greatly increasing incitement.

4) Kuttab complains that under Oslo the PA got "lightly armed police ---- but no real sovereignty over the land or contiguity between our communities in Gaza and the West Bank."

Oslo agreements repeatedly were revised, regardless of Palestinian non-compliance, until the authorized number of police grew from 8,000 to 40,000. Though they were to be the only armed forces in the territories, Israeli estimates early in the second intifada put the number of gunmen - police, "security services," terrorists, and armed gangs - at 85,000. Their armament reportedly included not only heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, but also anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Sovereignty was to be negotiated in the envisioned 1998 "final status" talks - after a five-year period of confidence-building. Palestinian leadership chronically undermined the process. Palestinian terrorism made the 1993 - 1998 Oslo period more deadly for Israelis than the 15 years preceding it.

The United States doesn't have contiguity between the lower 48 states and Alaska and Hawaii; territorial contiguity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip - that is, through the 20 miles of Israeli territory between them - was never promised and would destroy Israeli contiguity.

5) "Palestinians have been made to endure hundreds of checkpoints in the West Bank, an eight-foot wall deep in our territories, and tight Israeli control over borders."

The security barrier is not "deep in Palestinian territories," but rather encompasses less than 8 percent of Judea and Samaria, and is mostly a fence, rarely a wall; the land in question is not "our [Palestinian] territories" but disputed territory to which, according to the authors of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, Jews as well as Arabs have claims; and there are no international borders, only the 1949 armistice lines with Jordan. Under 242, borders remain to be negotiated. As for checkpoints - like the security barrier and "tight Israeli control" - Palestinian Arabs precipitated these measures themselves. No terrorism and there would be no fence or tight Israeli control and few checkpoints - like before the first intifada.

Correcting Some Oslo Myths

1) In Oslo "Israeli, Palestinian and other world leaders promised that ... Palestinian sovereignty would be solidified."

No, they didn't. The 1993 Declaration of Principles and subsequent Oslo agreements outlined a process by which final status negotiations about the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be reached. The process required an end to anti-Israel terrorism and incitement and a commitment to peaceful negotiations. The PA, Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other terrorist groups, sabotaged the process from the start.

2) "The reality is that, in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which states that it is inadmissible to occupy land by force, Palestinian territories are still under foreign military occupation."
Wrong again. Resolution 242 (1967) does note "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war." It also affirms the right of every state in the area "to live in peace with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." There were no "Palestinian territories." Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt controlled Gaza. Israel did not have "secure and recognized boundaries," so retention of some of those territories was possible under 242. Israel is not a "foreign" military occupier in the West Bank but, pending final negotiations, the lawful military administrator as a result of a successful war of self-defense.

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