The Barak government has put the state of Israel on an auction block. "Everything must go" seems to be the mantra of those whose sole purpose is the liquidation sale. The elite of the left has no time to lose. While terrorists pour put of Israel's jails and "negotiators" agree to every Arab demand the academics debate the law of return, which is the fundamental principle of Zionism.
Fortunately, not every citizen is waiting to sip from the cup of poisoned Kool-Aid being proffered as a "peace potion."
There are now demonstrations and outrage from Israel's grassroots population. In spite of the New York Times' predictably hostile and misleading reporting, over 250,000 citizens of Israel took to the streets in oppositon to a pullout from the Golan Heights. Apparently another 100,000 people could not make their way into the metropolitan center, where the protest was held. Busloads came from as far away as Eilat. Their message was loud and clear. No pullout, no U.S. "guarantees or soldiers, no deal with the Syrian thug who butchered" 20,000 Syrian citizens in Hama.
The residents of Israel whether they live in Gush Etzion, Haifa, Rosh Pina or Beersheba are equally vulnerable to an Arab onslaught. Whether they are religious or secular, Sephardi or Ashkenazi, liberal or hawkish-- in the mind of the Arab enemy they are simply human targets.
Kaunas is in Lithuania, one of the sorriest corners of the Diaspora. Its history is rife with anti-Semitism, and collaboration with the Nazis. In short, it's a good place for a Jew to be "from" rather than "in." Nonetheless, American philanthropists have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into rebuilding its Jewish Center. I just don't get it. All the cities in Eastern Europe should have a memorial to the Jews who once lived there, and, in spite of overwhelming odds, made a Jewish culture flourish. Their citizens should be reminded daily of their role in the near extermination of the Jewish people. However, the real memorial to the Jewish martyrs is Israel a safe and eternal Israel.
I can readily understand a desire to trace one's roots and to visit an ancient home. I am a firm believer in the renovation and landmarking of Ellis Island and historic Jewish edifices or monuments in America or nations that played a role in the rescue of Jews, but to rebuild ghettos and synagogues where Jews no longer dwell seems ludicrous. There is only one fitting place to build and rebuild: Israel, including Hebron, Jericho, Galilee, Ashkelon, and Jerusalem, and not some pathetic reminder of a cursed past.
Those well-intentioned philanthropists should stop squandering resources. Unless, of course they plan to relocate to Lithuania and wish to get a condo close to the shul.
The newspaper Forward (January 7, 2000) has a front page story by Eli Lake "Callahan Warns of 'False Hopes' on the Golan - Key Congressman Asserts Syrian Talks Are Based on 'Financial Opportunism.'" Rep. Herbert "Sonny" Callahan is a Republican from Alabama and the powerful chairman of the House subcommittee which funds foreign operations. A staunch opponent of funding for the Wye agreement, he is even more forthright in opposing the entire negotiation in Shepherdstown. In an exclusive interview with the Forward, he declared: "I don't know how the Israelis will ever agree to give up the Golan Heights. I don't know what they are talking about. I hope that Israel will not agree to give up lands strategic to their national defense, and I think the Golan Heights are strategic." Callahan made it clear that he opposes American military aid to Syria. "Why would we give them military aid?" he asked in his interview with the Forward. "I'd give them money to buy jets to bomb Israel?"
Rep. Callahan is also angered by Barak's demand that the U.S. pay compensation to Jews who are evicted from the Golan. Callahan said he "would only provide this money if it were calibrated to comparable American relocation projects, such as flood relief projects...If we give an Israeli citizen $100,000 but we
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Outpost - 10 - January 2000