Yoram Ettinger |
Israel’s battle against
Hamas constitutes the most recent chapter in the clash of civilizations
between Western democracies and Islamic terrorism. This battle
highlights the role of the Jewish State, as the national security and
high-tech beachhead of the U.S., in a region which is critical to vital
U.S. defense and commercial interests. The role of Israel as a national
security and high-tech producer for the U.S. is doubly pertinent at a
time when the U.S. is experiencing a military and economic contraction.
Israel is designated by
Hamas, the PLO, as well as most Muslim/Arab regimes in the Middle East,
as “The Little Satan,” due to its values and unconditional alliance
with “The Big Satan,” the United States. Israel confronts Hamas, which —
just like the Arab Middle East — is increasingly dominated by the
intolerant, supremacist 7th century aspects of Islam. The 2012 Arab
Street in Gaza, Ramallah and throughout the Middle East is growing more
Islamic and less democratic. Contemporary Middle East Muslim societies
embrace jihad, the execution of apostates, “honor killing” of women by
their own relatives, and the genital mutilation of (90 percent of young
Egyptian) women. While Western democracies cherish life, Hamas and the
PLO consecrate martyrdom, suicide bombings and the virulent use of human
shields.
Unlike Western
democracies, Hamas, the PLO and the Arab Middle East enshrine
hate-education and fanatic bigotry toward the “infidel” Christian, Jew,
Buddhist or Muslim of different persuasion. Contrary to the ideal of
peaceful coexistence, Hamas and Islam at-large intend to bring Muslims
and all “infidels” to total spiritual and physical submission (the root
word for Islam is “al-silm,” which means “submission” or “surrender).”
Therefore, Middle East Arab/Muslim regimes consider the lifeline of
democracy — freedom of expression/criticism, religion, press and
political association — a lethal threat. The Middle East has never
experienced Muslim democracy during the last 1,400 years.
Israel is urged to
conclude an agreement with Hamas, a serial violator of prior agreements
with Israel and with fellow Arab/Muslim organizations. Moreover, the
culture of compliance is foreign in the Middle East, which has not
experienced intra-Muslim compliance with most intra-Muslim agreements
for the last 1,400 years. It is a culture that reveres the 7th century
Muhammad’s treaty of Hudaybiyya, stipulating that treaties are not in
perpetuity. Treaties may be violated — to achieve the overriding goal of
bringing enemies to submission — upon amassing sufficient power to
overcome the enemy. The noncompliant nature of the Middle East has most
recently been highlighted by the violent abrogation of political and
social accords on the Arab street.
Israel, the only
Western democracy in the Middle East, an unconditional ally of the U.S.,
is confronted by the nondemocratic Palestinians who aligned themselves
with America’s enemies: Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, North Korea, Hugo
Chavez, Khomeini, the Communist Bloc and Nazi Germany, as well as with
America’s rivals: Russia and China.
Israel has been the
role model for countering terrorism, facing the PLO, Hamas and
Hezbollah, which have been the role model for international terrorism
and anti-U.S. terror organizations in Latin America, Africa, Asia,
Europe and the Middle East.
Israel’s power
projection contributes to the stability of pro-U.S. Arab regimes,
threatened by anti-U.S. rogue and terrorist regimes. For example, the
1967 Israeli devastation of the pro-Soviet Nasser of Egypt aborted the
latter’s attempt to topple the House of Saud. In 2012, Israel’s posture
of deterrence bolsters Jordan’s pro-U.S. Hashemite regime. The
Hashemites are currently threatened by the surging transnational
anti-U.S. Muslim Brotherhood, the “parent” organization of Hamas, which
is using Russian-manufactured military systems, supplied by Iran through
the anti-U.S. Sudan.
A strong Israel extends
the strategic hand of the U.S. in the Middle East, at a time when Arab
allies of the U.S. are increasingly threatened by Hamas-like terrorists.
On the other hand, a stronger Hamas or PLO would deepen the penetration
of Russia, China and North Korea into the Middle East.
Israel’s ongoing war
against Hamas terrorism highlights Israel’s added-value to the U.S.
national security and economy via the “Iron Dome” air defense system.
The ground-breaking Israeli-developed “Iron Dome,” which is co-financed
with the U.S., eventually will be employed by the U.S. and its allies,
such as South Korea and India, which face the threat of low-level
missiles. The Iron Dome and medium-level air defense systems are
systematically developed and upgraded by the battle-tested,
time-efficient and cost-effective Israeli laboratory, which is at the
disposal of the U.S. They will be co-manufactured by the U.S. and
Israel, expanding employment, research and development and the export
base of the U.S.
This Israel-Hamas
confrontation underscores the broad implications of Israel’s national
security challenges. It underlines the mutually beneficial, win-win
U.S.-Israel defense and commercial relationship at this time of strain
on the U.S. budget.
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An attempt is made to share the truth regarding issues concerning Israel and her right to exist as a Jewish nation. This blog has expanded to present information about radical Islam and its potential impact upon Israel and the West. Yes, I do mix in a bit of opinion from time to time.
Friday, November 23, 2012
The Israel-Hamas clash of civilizations
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