After September 11, 2001, it was widely believed that everything in the political landscape was forever altered. President Bush declared war on international terrorism: "You are either with us or you are with the terrorists."
But now, suddenly, "us" includes Saudi Arabia in spite of the fact that Arab terror is taught, inspired, abetted, hailed and funded by the oil-soaked kingdom. We are back to the standard obsequiousness that has defined our State Department's policies in the Middle East -- namely scolding Israel to appease the House of Saud. We are weakening Israel, a member of the "us" coalition, while promoting terrorists.
When American civilians are killed, our forces take to sea and sky to pound and destroy the perpetrators and the regimes that sponsor them. When Israel does exactly the same thing, we demand a cease-fire and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the areas that spawn the attacks. Colin Powell is second only to Kofi Annan in hectoring Israel, and our president defines Israel's counter terrorism as "not helpful." Dare we ask, "not helpful to whom?"
The media and most talking heads are also back on the usual tack, repeating the nostrum that our war on terror cannot be conducted unless there is a "peace agreement" between Israel and the terrorists. They simply dismiss the hard fact that the USS Cole, the American embassies in Africa, and the World Trade Center (the first time round) were bombed while Israel was offering the most reckless concessions to the PLO. The U.S. government must surely be aware of this, yet the failed "peace process" is once again the centerpiece of American diplomacy in the Middle East.
Israel's response has been far too muted and sensitive to international condemnation, but as usual, when Israel appears to be gaining some control over the terrorists, the howls for cease-fire begin. This happened in 1982 in Lebanon; in 1973 when Israel rebounded after earlier devastating losses in the sneak attack by Egypt and Syria; it happened in 1967, in 1956, and in 1949, and it is happening now. A decisive Israeli victory has always been considered "not helpful," but it is the only way to protect the state.
The Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza are cursed by a murderous leadership and the cynical neglect of all Arab states. The Jews of the Land of Israel are equally cursed by the lack of resolve and coherent strategy of their leaders, and the leftist pacifism of their ostensible supporters in the Diaspora.
N.B. There are many commentators and journalists who oppose current American policy. Among them (we only list a small fraction) are the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, the columnists and editors of the New York Post, George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Joe Farah, General Wesley Clarke, Former CIA Director James Woolsey, William Kristol, and Tony Blankley. It is also noteworthy that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld declared that the Israel-Arab conflict had persisted for most of his adult life and has nothing to do with any of America's conflicts, including the present one.
One of the most colossal blunders of Israel's leaders has been their neglect in making the case for Israel's legitimate rights. There is no tenet of international law that can overturn Israel's historical, strategic and legal rights to all the land between the Jordan River and the sea.
Israel is historically and legally entitled to the entire landmass of Palestine. In the case of present day Jordan, the Jews waived their legal rights for the creation of the Hashemite kingdom. In the ill-conceived surrender at Oslo, Israel again "waived" its legitimate rights to Judea, Samaria and Gaza. A waiver implies the right of return if the other party does not adhere to the stipulations involved in the agreement. The PLO has violated each and every paragraph of the agreements and Israel is within legal rights to cancel all previous agreements and demand a return of the territory.
Furthermore, Judea, Samaria, and Gaza are not being "occupied" by Israel. Iraq occupied Kuwait illegally. Israel won back its legitimate and historical patrimony after a war launched by the Arab states. Israel entered those territories which the Arabs won by force of arms in 1949.
There was no international hysteria while the Arabs controlled all these territories and desecrated Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem. There was no mention of a "Palestinian" state, no mention of the "sacredness" of Jerusalem, and no abatement in terror and hatred.
Even Israel's efforts to negotiate after 1967 were continually rebuffed by local Arabs as well as neighboring states. Nor have agreements, withdrawals and reckless concessions produced peace or genuine normalization of relations with neighbors.
Another issue Israel's leaders skirt is the necessity and legality of the so-called "settlements." One has only to examine the Palestinian Arab maps of the area to
[(Continued on p.12)]
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April 2002 - 11 - Outpost