[(Continued from p.10)]
and pilgrims. Jerusalem, redeemed from the wasteland described by Mark Twain, became an international tourist beacon and a city admired throughout the world. Prayers were answered, and destiny seemed to be fulfilled. Until Oslo, where the giveaway began.Now, in a perverse and tragic unfolding of events, even Jerusalem is to be surrendered. Barak's offer is what would be regarded in the United States as an impeachable offense. What remains inexplicable is the passivity of Israel's population and her supporters abroad. At the time of the Six Day War, the song that swept Israel was Naomi Shemer's "Jerusalem of Gold." A mere three decades later, Israel's theme is "Jerusalem, Forgotten."
There is an ongoing debate among Jews about Israel's role as a bulwark against anti-Semitism. We are among those who believe that only a strong Israel deters anti-Semites all over the world. For while Jews may bask in praise for their good deeds and their disproportionate contributions to social, cultural, and scientific institutions, they remain objects of scorn, envy and outright hatred for anti-Semites. In prewar Germany, Jews were much admired for winning over half of Germany's Nobel prizes in science, for their talent in the fields of theater, music, art, for their administrative business skills, and for their participation and excellence in the universities. Nonetheless, as a weak and trapped people, they became victims of genocide.
In Russia, Jews were active and enthusiastic contributors to the Bolshevik Revolution, as well as accomplished scientists, academics, scholars, and physicians. The brutal anti-Semitism of the Marxists is second only to the Nazis, culminating in the infamous doctors' trials of Josef Stalin.
In France, we have the curious history of Leon Blum, the French poet and socialist politician. A Jew, Blum caused quite the stir among European Jewry when he was elected France's Premier in 1936, the first Jew elected to the highest office in the Western democracies. He headed the first "Popular Front" government in France, a broad coalition of Radical Socialists, garden variety Socialists, and Communists. His administration, which lasted about one year, passed significant labor reforms. Only four years later, Blum was arrested by the Vichy government for "war crimes" and carted away to a concentration camp as his former constituents indifferently watched. He remained imprisoned until the Allied Army liberated him in 1945.
After World War II, Jews in Eastern Europe, especially in places such as Hungary, Ukraine, and Rumania, remained convenient targets for anti-Semitic thugs. Traumatized by the unspeakable events of the Shoah, they were dispirited and vulnerable.
The image of a weak and docile people was forever altered by the rebirth of Israel. Against all odds, they won. After the war of 1967, the landscape was again altered. Israel emerged strong and powerful. This event gave pause to the anti-Semites and emboldened Jews throughout the world. Natan Sharansky, in one of his first visits to America after his liberation from a Soviet jail, credits the lightning victory of 1967 with inspiring the Jewish "refuseniks" in Russia, after decades of subjugation. The people of the book became the people of the citizen army, the air force, and the gun. They demonstrated their determination to defend themselves. Menachem Begin, in one of his lengthy and emotional speeches, once stated that whoever harms a Jew in any corner of the world would face Israel's wrath. This is a far cry from Israel's recent prime ministers, who do not even avenge the murder of innocent civilians within their own borders.
Only the perception of power inhibits enemies. Israel's defense institutions constituted the single greatest contribution to the welfare of Jews throughout the world. By the same token, one of the terrible effects of Israel's self-destruction will undoubtedly be to unleash the world's anti-Semites, who, like all bullies, attack only the weak and vulnerable.
AFSI avoided endorsing candidates. In fact, the issue of the Middle East was definitely on the campaign's back burner, and neither candidate inspired too much confidence, particularly since all the candidates in Israel inspire no confidence. The weeks after the election brought the loathsome James Baker out of mothballs, and on the other side we were confronted by the nasty Warren Christopher.
President Bush, however, has gratified and surprised us by really being "his own man" and pursuing the agenda on which he ran. We can't quibble with his appointments so far because they represent his vision for the departments they will head.
Our best hope for the incoming
administration is that they will restructure the State Department
and throw out the garbage of previous administrations.
The refuse to which we refer includes Dennis Ross,
Aaron Miller, Martin Indyk, Daniel Kurtzer and company.
This shameless band has formulated mischievous policies
[(Continued on p.12)]
January 2001 - 11 - Outpost