Posted on 12/08/2001 1:32:05 AM PST by JohnHuang2
For a long time I've been questioning the sanity in statements from Americans, Palestinians and Israelis about their desire for peace in the Middle East, vs. their actions. So often the Bush administration voiced meaningless statements of moral equivalence regarding the so-called "cycle of violence" – which laid no blame whatsoever on the Palestinians for their terrorism against Israeli civilians.
So often the Sharon administration vacillated between pleas for the PA to live up to their Oslo agreements (to stop the incitement) and their ineffective military responses to the terror by complying with America's constant appeals for Israeli "restraint." All too often Chairman Arafat has claimed that the Palestinians want peace, and that Hamas is his enemy, but in Arabic statements – not generally translated for a western audience – he would praise the suicide bombers as "martyrs."
In this merry-go-round climate, the only result was going to be (predictably) continued bloodshed of innocent people on both sides. That is the only part of this insanity where there exists a true parallel … but the difference is whether these innocents are the targets of violence, or hapless victims.
Now, Chairman Arafat has been given his last, last chance to stand up against the suicide bombers that he claims to not support. Will he blow it!
Last weekend's carnage in Jerusalem and Haifa was comparable (as a percentage of the population) to approximately 1,250 Americans dying in one weekend. It remains to be seen whether this is enough Jewish blood to convince Israelis and Americans alike that Arafat is not a serious peacemaker.
And we still have the liberal Western media distorting the news, refusing to tell the truth about the continual incitement to violence in the Palestinian street and media (TV, radio and print). Also the teaching of hatred of Jews (and of Israel) in the Palestinian schools is not covered in the press, even in Israel. Instead, we have (on U.S. television) highly sympathetic stories about the "frustration" of the Palestinians due to border closures and their poverty – border closures that are brought on by the suicide bombings that the PA refuses to fight against (their Oslo War).
It has been suggested that in a post-WTC world, Arafat's metaphorical "nine lives" (i.e., as a peacemaker) are over. Why? Because, apparently, he has been stringing us all along. It must be that he's been placating the terrorist organizations and giving them a private "wink and a nod" (if not directly ordering terrorist acts) for their atrocities. But will the world crack-down on Arafat? Not unless something changes in world public opinion.
Unfortunately, the general public is apathetic about the PA's Oslo War … which is insanity.
Most Americans and Israelis (Jews and non-Jews alike) have not yet woken up from the dream of peace to accept the harsh reality that the Palestinians do not want peace with Israel (right now). The PA prefers a step-by-step plan for the destruction of Israel. This was always a part of the PLO Charter, in their "Phased Approach" to re-capture all of the land that was called Palestine prior to 1948.
Will the world eventually accept that the Jewish state is not going to just go away? Or will all nations come against Israel, in the last days, as the prophets declared? Our shameful media don't even mention the PLO anti-Semitic lies, which incite extremists to murder.
If our liberal media had its way, America would do better to continue to "restrain" the Israelis from their own self-defense. Then they would build more sympathy for the Palestinians, who present no solution to their own "victim behavior." Palestinian extremists simply harp on 50-plus years of Arab lands lost, and an "occupation" (that 's due to Arab countries starting a war with Israel). This imbalance in the liberal coverage of the conflict can only cause increased bloodshed, albeit not their own.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad will never rest until Israel is destroyed – they claim it is jihad (holy war) until victory or martyrdom. Which outcome is the world (and media) going to give them?
Something will have to change here! The world cannot tolerate this insanity for much longer (i.e., if you're doing the same things, over and over, but want a different outcome, that's a recipe for insanity). This weekend begins the eight days of Chanukah. Its a holy season which commemorates the victory of the Jews over the oppressive Syrian-Greek regime that had tried to prevent the Jews from observing their Torah, which is God's commanded lifestyle for them. Let's hope and pray for a victory over the Palestinian extremists … those who are committed to the destruction of Israel and the destruction of those Palestinians who really do want peace with Israel.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.