(Continued from p.2)
Aloni: "We cannot dare to tolerate the cynical, political and brutal reaction the settlers have had to recent terror attacks [on Jews]."
When Aloni was Education Minister, she awarded the Israel Prize to Professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz, whose chief claim to fame was insulting the state, including describing Israel's soldiers as Judeo-Nazis. The Rabin-led cabinet voted overwhelmingly to censure her for the award and as a result of the clamor Leibowitz bowed out. The current Education Minister is Yossi Sarid, who edged out Aloni as leader of the far left Meretz. (As Honig points out, in her 1997 memoir I Couldn't Do It Differently, Aloni describes Sarid as a sinister snake "whose venom glands are full to overflowing, shooting out great jets of poison.") This may be his idea of compensation for taking the party away from her. But whatever the politics behind the choice of Aloni, it is yet another step in Israel's dishonor.
Readers of this column, where Shimon
Peres's imbecilic pronouncements are regularly reported,
may be reassured to learn that he has competition.
Recently a Jerusalem resident (who turned out to be the son
of the Grand Rabbi of the Avraham Yitzhak Hassidim) was
stabbed by an 18 year-old Arab terrorist who tried to
stab a second person but was captured and held for police.
It turned out that this same individual had stabbed an
IDF soldier four years ago but had been released from
custody after only three months. On hearing the news,
Public Security Minister Shlomo Ben Ami responded:
"The solution to Palestinian Arab violence lies in a
hastening of the negotiations with the Palestinians."
We have a suggestion for a "naming rectification" project: Mr. Ben Ami should become the Minister of Insecurity and Barak, now giving away the last of Israel's security assets, the Anti-Defense Minister.
Israel is running away from Southern Lebanon, the much-vaunted strongest military power in the Middle East beaten by the ragged terror bands of Hizbollah. The ordinarily divided cabinet is unanimous on retreat, not a single minister opposed. Never mind that Israel is thus betraying the Southern Lebanese Army, which has staunchly stood at its side these many years.
And what then? After all, the reason that Israel established its zone of control in southern Lebanon was that it could no longer endure the attacks on northern Galilee which made life impossible for Israeli citizens in the border towns. What happens when (as Hizbollah even now promises) those attacks resume? That appears to be too far down the road (a week? a month?) for cabinet ministers to imagine.
Americans For a Safe Israel
1623 Third Ave. (at 92nd St.) - Suite 205
New York, NY 10128
Outpost - 12 - March 2000