The opinions stated on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of Sites for Education and Culture or the views of other members of this site. All members and readers of this article are invited to respond and voice their own opinion. Write to write@ttt.org.il
The past month has been a turbulent one for Israel. Being an American (for now),
isolated from Israel by thousands of miles, it is quite natural to say that our views
differ on the whole matter. Here is my perspective. I probably stand apart, being the
Zionist I am, from most liberal, and now religious, Jews here.
Ever since the Wye accords began, which shouldn't have taken place at all, things have
gone downhill for Israel. First came the promises of annulling the PLO charter, and then
came the reality. Israel had to release 750 criminals, give away 27.1 percent of it's
land, basically say good bye to it's guarantee on security promises, and allow an airport
in Gaza to open. And this whole thing still was no promise, because like Arafat said,
"It can all trickle down to just ink on paper."
Yesterday, at the inauguration of Gaza International Airport, -um make that Yasser
Arafat International Airport -no, it's Gaza International Airport, Arafat said that this
thing (the inauguration) was in preparation for the declaration of his new state. At Wye,
Arafat promised that with the land withdrawal he would not declare statehood. Israel is
giving away land that it cannot get back peacefully. Only war can get it back. And with a
Palestinian state who knows how bad war can be - given that the Arabs are all brothers and
share everything - including weapons of mass destruction. This mess really disgusts
me. I am witnessing my country return to it's indefensible 1948 borders, which Bibi
promised would not happen --as recently as last May! I am seeing Israel lose its security
zones. Without security, you easily lose in war, because it is what keeps you somewhat
safe.
Not to digress, but I found this important. Recently, Judaism and Israel has been a target of anti-Semitism here. In the local papers, people respond to articles about current news they just happen to disagree with. One angry person wrote about Pollard as being this country's worst spy in its history who deserves nothing better than to serve a life sentence in jail. He later goes on to say, how ashamed Israel should be of itself, because the only friend in the world it has (America), it betrays. Another angry person wrote about the Holocaust and how he believes with utmost certainty that the majority of Germans under Nazi Germany were really against Hitler's campaign. (Like we always bluff and make up stories so the world should lament with us).
Going back to politics, and to finish off, I don't understand what's with the Israeli
Parliament today. First, David Levy resigns, then he comes back into office, but not as
Foreign Minister. With new elections for Prime Minister being called for early 1999 and
the prospects of war definitely not out of the question, Israel is earning itself another
bad image after an already miraculous 50 years.
Jonathan Friedson