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ambiguity here. All these gentlemen owe their social success and enhanced prestige to Israel's existence. It was Jewish statehood that toppled the barriers to Jewish integration in American life, which existed prior to 1948. And, it is only a strong and secure and impregnable Israel which has made it "cool to be Jewish" in America and throughout the world.
Their first priority must be support for Israel and its legitimate security concerns. Their second priority must be to ensure that Jewish national rights are never surrendered under any circumstance. They owe themselves a trip to Hebron, to see where we began, and how the so-called "peace process" has purloined our heritage. Only when they fully understand where we have come from, can they determine where we should be heading.
Those who write about Israel in the American media often refer to the nation's mid-life crisis. A mid life crisis usually evokes a reckoning of one's past and heritage and a concern with one's legacy and future. That is not at all what is happening in Israel. The present state could be more aptly described as a nervous breakdown. Breakdowns engender self-doubt, loss of footing, panic reaction, loss of confidence and belief in one's future and an inability to cope with the present.
Why else would a nation of such dazzling accomplishments wallow in self-abasement? Israel, a democracy which has brought unparalleled freedom to its inhabitants--Arab and Jewish alike--dwells instead on its perceived failures.
At a time of great economic and social and strategic strength, why did it embark on the path to self-destruction? While other ethnic groups have bolstered their national pride, why do Israelis cast doubts on their national rights and history? While all the world's leaders reassert their independence and right to make their own policy decisions, why has Israel's Prime Minister become hostage to the failed and bankrupt Oslo agreements?
Breakdowns are curable, with drugs and combined therapy--but the patient has to want to get better. Alas, too many Israelis and American Jews think that feeling better requires giving every asset away until there is nothing left.
In the many stories written about shtetls,
commissars and legislators who wanted to divert public
attention from their failures usually fomented a
pogrom. President Clinton brings this spectacle to mind with
his harsh pressures on Israel.
Our president is drowning in a sea of scandals and allegations, which threaten his presidency, his wife, and his role in American history. The Arab states rudely rebuked his efforts to confront Iraq, the Russian president is acting like an old KGB bully, the South American nations politely informed him that they want to do business with Cuba, the Chinese taunt him by releasing only a token dissident, and Congress, including the Speaker of the House, hammers away at his credibility and character. What to do in such a state of turmoil? You guessed it. Beat up on Bibi Netanyahu.
Madeleine Albright and her attack team of Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross issued a crude warning to Israel to accept American terms for a further pullout from Judea and Samaria or else face the consequences of American anger. No threat to Arafat, not even a request, to say nothing of a demand, that the murderous covenant be changed. And Dennis Ross, hard nosed and obvious in his disdain for Netanyahu, kissed Arafat on both cheeks as soon as he saw him at the airport.
No wonder Arafat's fulminations against Jews and Americans have grown shriller. There are no American reassessments, or warnings, no matter how flagrant the Arab violations of so-called agreements. And, now that they could be useful, where are the leaders of the American Jewish community? They are waking up, but they are still too busy squabbling about turf.
The following is a direct quote from the Forward (May 4) titled "Settler Movement of the Future": "A founder of Israel's settler movement, Yisrael Harel, is preparing for the day when Israel reaches a final status agreement with the Palestinians. Mr. Harel, the editor and chief of Nekuda, the journal of the settler movement, said that if Israel gives back all of the West Bank, he would be prepared to help cement Jewish identity in Israel. Mr. Harel's comments came at the launching of the New Israel Fund's events commemorating Israel's 50th anniversary. "If the peace camp treats the new facts honestly, maintains the Law of Return, and rejects Arab autonomy in the Negev and the Galilee, this will mollify the settler camp," Mr. Harel said. The article further states, "When a fire alarm went off at the National Press Club where the event was held, the New Israel Fund's director Norman Rosenberg, quipped, 'It's AFSI,' referring to Americans For a Safe Israel, a group which helped get the New Israel Fund's planned program with the
(Continued on p.11)
Outpost - 10 - June 1998