Sunday, April 29, 2012

PRIORITIES


    [Originally published in The Times of Israel on April 28]

It would be funny if it weren't so pathetically predictable.

In the last few weeks Palestinian Authority President Abbas has again refused to negotiate unless Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu makes huge concessions regarding borders in advance of negotiations.

Rockets specifically intended to kill and maim civilians continue to be fired from Gaza into Israel's south. The "moderate" regime of President Abbas announced its intention to hang a Palestinian for selling his Hebron property to a Jew--a capital offense if there ever was one.

Apparently not to be outdone by Abbas' government, Hamas, the half elected/half bloody coup rulers of Gaza, announced that they will begin public executions of "collaborators," rapists, and murderers.

None of the above elicited a squeak from the international community. It is all just business as usual.

Then Israel made legal an action permitting three communities totaling 188 families that were originally approved about 10 years ago, and the response would have left Pavlov's dogs in the dust. UN Secretary-General Ki-moon said that he was "troubled" by the action and that it went against the Quartet's calls to refrain from "provocations." And, of course, the U.S. government expressed its "concerns."

Despite the fact that it is entirely natural for Jews to desire living in their ancestral homeland, I and many other Israelis would prefer that the Netanyahu government would not take these sorts of actions. We support compromise, even if it disturbs us that the Palestinians apparently intend that no Jew will be allowed to live in their proposed state.

These actions are simply easy pickins' for those who love to attack Israel, and they help mislead many well-intentioned but ill-informed people about the reasons the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has not been resolved. And the fact of the matter is that legalizing them will be meaningless if and when a peace deal is made.

The communities in the Sinai that Israel returned to Egypt in exchange for a peace deal were legal under Israeli law, as were the communities in Gaza and the northern West Bank from which the Sharon government unilaterally withdrew in the hopes of peace. When it came time to take steps for peace, whether as part of a deal or unilaterally, the legality of the communities was not an obstacle.

Having said that, can anyone in their right mind think that about 600 Jews living in an area that might become the Palestinian nation is the reason the dispute has not be resolved? As many critics of the government's actions have said, these are the first "new" "settlements" "established" in a decade.

Moreover, several Israeli governments have offered virtually the entire West Bank in exchange for peace. And, yet, there has been no resolution of the conflict.

President Abbas will not negotiate unless he is guaranteed his terms before the negotiations. The two Palestinian governments that do exist seem to be in competition for the most crude and unfair executions. Rockets are fired at civilians on a daily basis.

None of this seems to cause much concern or attention in the UN or by anyone else in the media or officialdom.

But the legalization of the tiny communities of a few Jews who have been living in the legalized locations for several years focuses the world's attention. That's setting priorities.

                                         





6 comments:

  1. The press plays to worn-out perceptions and myths. They are too lazy to dig below the surface and tell the whole story.

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  2. the police in a town focus on black drivers and cite them for every infraction, while speeding white motorists are routinely ignored, we would call that racist. The UN and international NGOs constantly put the actions and policies of the Jewish State under a microscope, but never see themselves as antisemitic.

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  3. Thanks and no doubt from a real perspective in Israel. This is important to circulate since the real obstacles and facts are rarely reported. Thus, the anti Israel attacks go on and on.

    Here's what we continue to get here, ie., 60 Minutes/media bias http://www.aish.com/jw/mo/60_Minutes_Hatchet_Job.html

    This month we were at an event introducing many prominent Jewish business leaders to these so called "disputed areas". Some may have been unaware of this heartland, nor its unbroken Jewish history. Great education and some may see Judea and Samaria. They will be amazed how our fellow Jews are not occupiers, but very peaceful. Who knows since these new media forms can really be a messenger of truth.

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  4. Thanks for keeping me on your blog list. I enjoy reading your musings.

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  5. And so we fight the good fight on behalf of our elder brethren of the faith - the apple of His eye - the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

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  6. i guess shepards pie too.

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