Gatekeeper means, doorkeeper, caretaker, a person who has
the ability to protect a gate, another person, or a country.
Mistaken means, erroneous and misguided.
The subject
Maj. General (Ret.) Amihai "Ami" Ayalon, whom I heard
speaking in front of audience this week, is a feisty man. He is one of the
recipients of Israel's Medal of Valor for his participation in Operation Bulmus
6, also known as the Green Island raid in the Red
Sea at the southern mouth of the Suez Canal, on the night of July 19,
1969 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bulmus_6); he is also the former commander-in-chief of Israel's Navy, the previous head of Israel's Secret
Service and a former member of the Knesset for the Labor Party. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_Ayalon). Ayalon also headed the "National Census" joint Initiative, in support of the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative,
with professor Sari Nusseibeh, the president of Al Kuds university in East
Jerusalem. But his claim to not so much fame is his
recent contribution – by participating – in the disgraceful Oscar-nominated Israeli
movie "The Gatekeepers." (http://www.thegatekeepersfilm.com/)
It
is worthwhile noting Melanie Phillips' review on the film: "Phew! Thank
heavens the Israeli film The Gatekeepers failed to win an Oscar. Maybe the
Almighty is a cinema-goer and also felt like throwing up when he saw it. The
Palestinians believe that the Jews' uniquely developed conscience and sense of
compassion will ultimately undermine their necessary defence against
aggression. In the battle between those who love life and those who love death,
there is alas no contest. And on the evidence of this film, the Palestinians
are right. https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/142058e757005406
Mr.
Ayalon's speech topic was, 'Israeli Perspective-40 years after the Yom Kippur
War'. He claims that the Yom Kippur War – the war the shook the Israeli nation
to its core - has been the discourse in the Israeli street for over a year.
But
I find that Mr. Ayalon has rather a removed from reality opinion on this
subject, and the reality in Israel in general, which is rooted in his Left
leaning ideology.
Ayalon
claims that in 1972-73 Israel had an opportunity to sign a peace agreement with
Egypt, conditioned to Israel's withdrawal from Sinai; then prime minister Golda
Meir turned the opportunity down. Reasons:
The
timing was off
The
partner, new elect president Sadat was weak
Concessions
were too high, and
Domestic political pressure too strong.
With
different approach, could Yom Kippur War been avoided? Ayalon mulls. Israel has
become an expert in identifying risk and because of that could it be that she
became blinded to the political opportunity?, he questions. Israel must not
miss, rather seize, present opportunities he asserts.
The
Middle East is tectonic, experiencing clashes within Islam, between pragmatism
and radicalism. Israel is right in the heart of it all. Political Islam is
getting stronger in the Middle East while economic crisis everywhere is
deepening and the governments simply cannot supply the people with basic needs.
Additionally, the USA influence in the Middle East is declining and the
region's governments are getting weaker while the people in the street are
getting stronger. In all likelihood the people will be those who will shape the
future of the Middle East, Ayalon claims. People in the region no longer
believe their governments and the people posing as leaders. Traditional
governance is not working and the leaders do not have the power to execute.
Therefore, Ayalon suggest that wholesale diplomacy and politics is moving toward
retail politics, to the street, which will shape the Mideast future. And in
that turmoil Israel has to deal with Iran.
Iran
is thriving for regional dominance and this it can achieve only by having
nuclear arsenal power.
Israel
will have to find a formula for a regional alliance that will stop Iran from
going nuclear and stopping nuclear proliferation and terror. Ayalon suggests
that Turkey – the country that unilaterally has made 180° turn on its close
ties and relations with Israel - should be the corner stone of such regional
alliance that will include the USA and EU. Why? Because Turkey is not seeking
to become a nuclear power and it is the closest to a democracy, with a twang,
as a Moslem country could be.
Ayalon
believes that Israel must make progress in the "peace" process with
the Pal-Arabs because without this progress this "pragmatic"
coalition will not happen. Therefore, the road to Ramallah is a critical issue.
We
have to have two states between the River to the Sea, Ayalon claims, and the time
ticking bomb for that is Spring 2014. To achieve the two states – Jewish and
Arab - Ayalon does not believe Israel needs to maintain control over the Jordan
Valley. He is willing to give up Israel's rights to vast portion of her land
for a dicey agreement and Arabian conniving promises.
The
other ticking bombs Israel is facing is Iran. If and when Israel is to attack
Iran, what will happen the day later? Such calculation is imperative. What will
be the level of violence that Israel will face and she can contain. And there
will be violence and people will lose their life.
In
summation, Ayalon sees Israel sailing in a very stormy region and navigating
her right is crucial. The captain of today, the government, is not listening to
the people, the sailors. He believes that the people will determine the course
of the state of Israel ship. I totally agree with this point
Mr.
Ayalon believes in diversity and not so much in a Jewish state identity. I do
not agree with this point. Diversity is secondary to being first and foremost a
Jewish state. People who choose to live in Israel need to succumb to the
fundamental idea that they are putting roots in a the Jewish people's homeland,
which differs from any other country in the world.
In
general, Ayalon's kind of mindset is helping the Arabs' intransigence to achieve
their goal. To eliminate Israel and replace it with an Arab Palestine. Because
the Arabs are not ready for prime time peace and for accepting the Jewish state
as a permanent and influential resident in the Middle East region.
I
oppose certain key points about which Mr. Ayalon spoke about. To me he is a
peacenik for a peace with the Arabs at any price. His outlook of what Israel
should or should not do, vis-à-vis the Arab population in her midst and the
"peace process", could pause danger to Israel's future. And after the
fact there is nothing you can do but lament.
If
you do not believe that the land – between the river to the sea – legally
belongs to the nation of Israel, as it appears in Ami Ayalon's case, then Tel Aviv and Haifa do not belong to Israel either.
If you give up on what belongs to you and you hold to now, the Arabs' claim to
more of Israel's land will continue until Israel is no more.
Surprisingly, Mr. Ayalon ignores all the conventional
wisdom, based or reality, not peace fantasy. That it is imperative for the
government of Israel to be guided by the LEGAL RIGHTS to the land and then the
security doctrine of ‘defensible borders’. Such defensible borders depend on
Israel's presence in the Jordan Valley that legally belongs to Israel, and from
which he is willing to part. His type of rhetoric is strengthens the Arabs
extortion of greater concessions from Israel and thus endangers Israel's
further.
The world from here: Why Jordan relies on Israel to
secure the Jordan Valley (http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/The-world-from-here-Why-Jordan-relies-on-Israel-to-secure-the-Jordan-Valley-329161)
The Ayalon type and his talk kind puts fuel into the fire.
If Israelis speak this way how can any Israeli expect the world to top them and
talk in more support of Israel and her defends needs?
Through the Ayalon words' type the world disrespects Israel even more. What nation is so uncertain of her legal rights to her own
land and is willing to negotiate these rights in return for vacuum? Negotiate for
nothing that will hold but water. If Israelis like Mr. Ayalon do not respect
their country's rights and needs why will anyone respect Israel and her many
plights?
It
appears that Israel has sown very bad seeds in the last 65 years and Ayalon is
a testimony to it. The minute Israelis adopt Left-leaning
agenda their Jewish values rot and everything that Israel stands for rots with
it. They don't understand WHY they are there on that sliver of Mediterranean
land and what is their purpose.
It is a pity that Israel produces such individuals that
serve in such important positions that give them the opportunity to sway the
minds of others in the wrong direction. Really, there is something wrong with
the education system in Israel that produces Ami Ayalon's type mindset.
So tell me, are we, Jews, the worst enemy of ourselves or
what?
One
of the victims of the recent anti-Semitic attack in Sydney, Australia, said
that the attack is why Jews need – a strong – Israel
(http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=12907). Because the
land of Israel belongs to the Jews; because to the entire Jewish nation Israel serves as
a HOME to where Jews who feel unsafe elsewhere can go live; because if Jews do
not have a homeland the nation of Israel has no future.
So please, with all due respect Ami Ayalon, maybe your way of thinking is
wrong? Surely the movie the Gate Keepers is a fine testimony of it!
There is a saying among the members of the Jewish people: If we do not depend on each other we will hang next to each other.
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