All decent people mourn the death and destruction caused by
the terrorists in Friday’s attacks in Paris.
French President Hollande has identified the attackers as ISIS. These are truly evil people.
The Washington Post of Nov. 13 reports: 'According to reports, Hollande declared
there that France was "going to lead a war," presumably against
Islamist militants. He said his country's response would be
"ruthless."' President Obama
and other world leaders are offering their full sympathy and support.
This is in sharp contrast to the response when Israelis and
Jews are the victims of terror. I am
waiting for the U.S. State Department, the UN, and the EU to call on all parties
to "exercise restraint" to end "the cycle of violence," to
not use “excessive force” in responding, and to not use “disproportionate
force.”
This is their usual mantra when Jews are killed in Israel
and the territories due to terror. Are
Jewish lives worth less than the lives lost in the terrible attack in
France? Does not the murder of Jews by
terrorists deserve the same response that Pres. Hollande now calls for?
When the Western world advocates a different response to
terror by Palestinians because it somehow believes the Palestinians' alleged
grievances are credible, or because the victims are Israelis or Jews, it gives
a green light to terror elsewhere. In ISIS' thinking, its grievances are every
bit as legitimate as those of the Palestinians, if not more so.
If terror is
justified or excused, or if the victims are admonished to limit their response
because of the alleged legitimacy of the attackers' grievance, terror becomes a
legitimate tool for any allegedly aggrieved party.
Trying to pick and choose when terror is a legitimate tool
is counterproductive and self-defeating.
Excusing it or trying to mitigate the victims' response when the victims
are Jews but not in other instances, demonstrates bigotry and immorality.
(Originally published in The Times of Israel)
For speaking engagements, ae@edelsteinstrategies.com
Now someone will seek to blame Israel.
ReplyDeletewonder if this wake up call will will change policy or thinking in europe
ReplyDeleteEvery day terrorist attacks are happening in Israel and most of the world blames Israel. Why not to blame French authority at least for not learning from Israel how to provide security for their citizens.
ReplyDeleteIt is an upside down world. When Jewish lives are killed it doesn't matter. Only when it hits home. Let us hope Hashem saves us, but letting the world see what we are up against..
ReplyDeleteWe are the canary in the coal mine.
Could have waited a day before turning these deaths into a complaint about how Israel is treated unfairly.
ReplyDeleteA world we call alma dishikra, yet still hard to fathom the hypocrisy. Good article !
ReplyDeleteyes
DeleteIn addition to the double standard articulated so well here — let’s add the UN and its focus on Israel while doing nothing in Syria and Africa nations being brutal and brutalized — let’s question the US response to theatre (Denver), schools (Connecticut) (Oregon) and so many more shootings in the USA. Response anyone? Guns everyone?
ReplyDeleteYes, the Paris massacre is criminal in every respect. And I take nothing away from the world’s response. But, where was/is that response when Americans are murdered by domestic terrorists whose only allegiance is to the NRA?