Ari Bussel
There is nothing that can stop Israel or destroy her completely, if she only sets her mind on standing up and fighting back, if she only makes a decision to survive.
Something touched a raw nerve in the Israeli Government when Palestinian terrorists entered a home, murdered the parents, 35 and 36, and three of their children, 11, four and a three-month old. Three children survived—the eldest daughter who was out while the stabbing massacre was in progress and two of her younger brothers who were in a different room.
What is different this time than all other times? These horrific murders have happened before. Lip service by the Palestinian Authority and their backers, primarily the EU and the White House, could be heard, speaking out of both sides of their mouths, in a way understood differently according to the various audiences. Hamas went on the attack, claiming the deaths were absolutely justified in retaliation for the atrocities committed by Israel and as part of the continued struggle to rid the land of the Zionist Occupiers. Even a ranking officer in the IDF seemed to think along the same lines, albeit more subdued, when he expressed his opinion that it was a quid pro quo for a “day of rage” by the “Settlers.”
American Jewry, from Americans for Peace Now to Jews for Peace to everything in between, will likely subscribe to the same old same, the usual approach: “They were settlers. They were in the Occupied West Bank. If only Israel would give back the land and allow the Palestinian refugees to return and create, finally, after sixty three years of immense suffering, a state of their own with Jerusalem as its capital, OH THEN THERE WILL BE PEACE, TWO STATES LIVING SIDE BY SIDE.” What utter nonsense and rationalized tripe this is.
“It is all for Israel’s sake, for her safety and security” that these measures must take place they proclaim, while handing out millions to local anti-Israel organizations. “The murder is horrible, but it is just an outlet for steam, for the poor, victimized Palestinians have no other way to protest, to engage in civil disobedience and a non-violent struggle.” This foolishness is what those on the Left to Extreme Left and their vocal decrees will say, and then be echoed by Israelis.
The melody, so familiar and horrific, that it is all Israel’s fault, and that the burden and responsibility fall on Israel’s shoulders to usher in the elusive peace, resonates too well. The reason: NO ONE ELSE IS TALKING. The Government of Israel is silent and that silence screams volumes about their capitulation.
Those last defenders of the Jewish state, standing on the front line of the public diplomacy front around the world, are exhausted, but more so they are frustrated to the very core. There is no back up; no support—regular or intermittent—so they battle alone. They must fight the enemy that surrounds them and they need to respond and counter the attack from their own back as some Israelis and Jews do everything to help the enemy.
The Government of Israel, its elected and appointed officials and layers and layers of bureaucrats, must be doing something to earn the billions spent on and by them. When one listens to an Israeli ranking minister, it seems that the material is understood, well versed and analyzed. So at the very least they are aware of the situation.
They may even condemn work by the likes of the Olive Tree Initiative, J Street and others, but this condemnation does not reach the ground. If the Olive Tree Initiative is bothersome enough to mobilize Israel’s Minister of Public Diplomacy and the Diaspora to fly to Los Angeles and San Francisco, why do Jewish Federations support this initiative? What is the local Consulate doing about it both before the Minister’s visit and after his departure?
While Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister calls J Street (George Soros’s so-called “Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace” lobby) an “anti-Israel organization” and the President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles puts in writing that the Federation “does not support J Street,” several Members of the Knesset, primarily from Kadima, the Opposition party that had enjoyed the popular support of Israelis, fly for an all-expense paid appearance before J Street.
The end result: any effort to fight Israel’s delegitimization is completely neutralized.
While the same script plays over and over again—Israelis murdered, their blood quenches the thirst of the land, there is some condemnation, but more acceptance and understanding and the wheel turns again toward the very same point—something very different happened on the last Shabbat.
The Palestinian Terrorists stabbed three children to death. The pictures were released, probably for the first time, and Israel is shocked, hopefully, finally moved to action.
One does not know how long this determination will persist, and a betting person would have the odds in his favor presuming it will soon die. But allow me to enjoy the moment since it provides a glimmer of hope I so rarely see.
Like a tsunami wave, miles long and tree-high, Israel has roared to life. The President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, the Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora and the Prime Minister’s Government Press Office they all—as if suddenly awakened at once—speak in unison. It is no longer relegated to the lower echelons. Everyone seems to be personally engaged, listening and acting.
Finally, they are on the attack. “Despicable murder, a terrorist attack, a loss of humanity, the murder of Jewish infants.”
Like a person who has just awakened and is not quite clear on the direction, they call the UN, the EU and the US to condemn the terror act in deeds and action, not with the regular lip service.
Most importantly, they went on the attack. It turns out that the Government via its Ministry of Strategic Affairs has been consumed for the past 15 months creating an “incitement index” in the Palestinian Authority.
This index follows the following building blocks: (1) direct support of terrorism and terror attacks (2) promoting a culture of terror and violence (3) promoting hatred and demonization of Jews and Israelis (4) the building of a culture of peace.
Investigative journalist David Bedein in Jerusalem and the NGO Palestinian Media Watch have been engaged in this research for much longer than 15 months. Their work is published, regularly disseminated and available on a timely basis to everyone who asks for a copy.
Thus, in essence, the index exists, as do experts in the field, who can provide the information at a moment’s notice. What they lack is two-fold: first, the financial backing, and second, the huge organization and power of the Israeli Government.
In essence, the time a Ministry has spent on gathering and studying the information, and the resources it still intends to spend to make them available, are a waste. That same money could have been channeled to those organizations that are experts in the field and the Ministry could, with very little investment, put its huge back to moving the work forward and disseminating it internationally.
Israelis do not understand that it is this back wind that is so necessary. Those who know that the “military marches and advances on its logistics support (without gas even tanks will not be able to continue and without food and water, soldiers will only survive so long) have deserted their forces on the front line to survive on their own.
The Director General of the Ministry, when asked if the results of the study can be made available, said “soon.” A website will “soon” be up and running. Why wait if all the information is readily available, compiled, analyzed and presented, just take it and move it forward.
Israel still does not comprehend the forces at her fingertips, but she will. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel, just to change the frame of reference and her mindset. It is tantamount to changing from a defensive posture to an offensive one, but to do that a strategic vision must be provided. Leadership must set the objectives and road maps that need to be achieved for the culmination of the agenda.
Israel seems to have achieved consciousness, but the real litmus test is will the talk at the very top percolate down to all levels? For instance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a Newsletter to its subscribers. But the Ministry has offices throughout the world, each with its own database of subscribers. The same has not been disseminated throughout.
Where are the full-page ads in local papers condemning these murders? We must not expect others to do the work for us—the United Nations will not condemn the murders of Jewish children, nor would Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. But the Jewish Communities throughout the world can and should.
A day will come and another murder, not much different than this Shabbat’s murder of the innocents, will finally mobilize the Jews, all 14 million of them. Then rather than asking for money and debating if we should do even more for our enemy, we will be out demonstrating, purchasing ads, billboards and banners to send a clear message.
When we finally set our minds on protecting Israel’s future and her survival, we will do a fantastic job, since no one is better at it than us. But until that day, not much seems to change, despite the tiny sliver of hope I witnessed in the past 24 hours.
The series “Postcards from America—Postcards from Israel” by Ari Bussel and Norma Zager is a compilation of articles capturing the essence of life in America and Israel during the first two decades of the 21st Century.
The writers invite readers to view and experience an Israel and her politics through their eyes, Israel visitors rarely discover.
This point—and often—counter-point presentation is sprinkled with humor and sadness and attempts to tackle serious and relevant issues of the day. The series began in 2008, appears both in print in the USA and on numerous websites and is followed regularly by readership from around the world.
© “Postcards from America — Postcards from Israel,” March, 2011
Contact: bussel@me.com
2 comments:
Ari -- the horrific murders should be condemned for what they are. Peace Now has done this. Passions rightly elevate after such an act, but I'm disappointed that you would assume our position in advance and then group us with the entire 'left' when the differences (I.e. Peace Now's Zionist foundation) are significant. I wasn't aware of the controversy with the Olive Tree Initiative. We'll talk at the breakfast program with them today. See you soon.
DPine
The time of appeasement must end! This “we have to understand their anger Bullshit must stop now. The radical Muslim scum is no better then a roach! It must be squashed once and for all. When one can watch a people celebrate an atrocity such as this as the Muslims are doing and in turn not hear one word from the idiot in the White House condemning it, one has to know it is time to strike back once and for all at these heathens! I don’t want too hear any more about the “religion of peace” crap! I want these radical eliminated once and for all. I want the world to understand there is no place in any sane society for the hateful scum that is the Radical Islamic Terrorist! Someone has to say it and someone has to stop it now!
The people involved in this atrocity have decided to follow the dictates of an element that has called for the death of all Jews and Western inhabitants that disagree with their warped version of religion! The world must fight back now! (And yes, I know this is harsh even for me, but it has to stop!)
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