From the Editor

Donating the Rope

Speaking at New York City's Central Synagogue, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer recently praised President Bush for holding Yasser Arafat's "feet to the fire" by refusing to pursue negotiations until he halts terror. He contrasted Bush's behavior with that of the Clinton administration, which failed to respond "when Arafat failed to carry out his side of U.S.-brokered treaties." However, Schumer ruined what was otherwise admirable honesty from a spokesman for the opposing party by adding that if Clinton had done what Bush is doing, there would already be a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel.

Such a Palestinian state can only be a calamity for Israel and the United States. It will be a haven for the world's terrorists and a launching point for an Arab war to obliterate Israel once and for all. Indeed, even now, the German paper Die Welt reports that Saudi Arabia is financing the relocation of thousands of Al Qaeda terrorists to Lebanon and Palestinian Authority-controlled territories. That President Bush speaks of a future state of "Palestine" undercuts the many praiseworthy steps he has taken in respect to Israel; that Sharon speaks of such an outcome is unbelievable.

In his frustration, Jan Willem van der Hoeven, a Christian friend of Israel, has issued a broadside "How Stupid Can Israel Be?" Writes van der Hoeven: "On Arafat's official Fatah website we find this recent statement: 'A legitimate Palestinian entity forms the most important weapon that Arabs have against Israel.' Note that Arafat does not even bother to say that the creation of a Palestinian state will lead to peace or even justice for his Palestinian people. No, the creation of the State of Palestine will be the most important weapon the Arabs will have to use against Israel. And who is planning to place this 'most important weapon' into the hands of the Arabs to use against the Jewish people in Israel? Why, Israel itself! And what will Israel do, when the international pressure mounts for it to honor the commitment it will have repeatedly made, in its folly, to be willing to make painful concessions, to the point of even allowing a Muslim Palestinian state on its doorstep if only a new, more acceptable Palestinian leadership replaces Arafat? Such a state, even if led by a 'more moderate Palestinian leadership,' would still become a tool through which all the radicalized Muslim states surrounding Israel will try to dismantle the Jewish state. And this is the wisdom of much of Israel's present leadership?"

Daniel Pipes, A Caveat

Dan Pipes is on our most-admired list, and the report in the Jewish Week (Jan. 18) of what he said at a breakfast forum sponsored by that newspaper for the most part reinforced our admiration. Pipes warned of growing historical anti-Semitism as well as a virulent breed of Muslim anti-Semitism that will make life imposssible for Jews in places like South Africa and Ar-gentina. Long term, said Pipes, Jews have a future in only two countries: the United States and Israel. However, Pipes warned that in the United States, too, the "good time" is over, pointing to the growth for the first time in American history of a self-defined enemy of Jews in the form of a highly antagonistic Muslim population already engaging in rhetorical and physical acts of violence. He urged Jewish defense organizations to rethink their classic liberal positions on immigration and civil rights. The Jewish Week quotes Pipes as saying: "They [American Jewish institutions] must protect their own, worry less about Israel, worry less about other people, non-Jews in this country, and start worrying more about themselves."

And it is in one phrase here that we think Pipes is in error--in urging American Jewish organizations to "worry less about Israel." In our view he should be urging a two-fold priority upon American Jews: Israel and themselves. If ever there was shared fate, it is that of Israel and American Jews. Whether the issue is Jewish continuity or the welfare of the community, they are interdependent. The insane policies of Oslo, recklessly applauded by American Jewish organizations for so long, have put Israel in jeopardy of its existence. Should Israel go, American Jews will face the whirlwind.

Steven Emerson, on Terror

Asked recently whether the United States could learn from Israel's handling of terrorism, Steven Emerson replied that Israel could learn from the United States. Emerson is on target. The days of Entebbe daring are long gone. Indeed, Emerson could have said Israel now serves as a model for how not to end terror. The government's bumbling response (it destroys empty buildings in retaliation for murder of Israelis, leaves within hours of moving its tanks into terror strongholds) serves only to perpetuate and increase the terror against her citizens.

(Continued on p.10)

Outpost               - 2 -               February 2002