What Olmert Didn't Say

In one of his first major policy addresses since becoming Acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert delivered a wide-ranging speech at the Herzliya Conference yesterday covering topics such as economic policy and the future of Israel’s relations with the Palestinians.

But the really interesting part of his remarks was not so much what he said – but what he didn’t say.

Toward the end of his speech, Olmert declared: “I believe in the people of Israel and in the State of Israel. I believe in the genuine will of the citizens of Israel to live in peace, security and tranquillity, and I believe in our ability to achieve this goal when we are united.”

When I heard this, I thought to myself: nice rhetoric. Uplifting, hopeful and even somewhat inspiring.

But then it immediately occurred to me - the leader of the Jewish state failed to mention the most important thing of all: what about the G-d of Israel? What about the Land of Israel? What about the Torah of Israel and the faith of Israel?

Does Olmert not believe in any of those too?

And that, my friends, is precisely the problem in Israel today. Most of our leaders are not men anchored in faith or guided by eternal principles of right and wrong. Instead, they put their trust in man and turn their backs on all that is sacred and revered by our people and our tradition.

As long as that is the case, I’m afraid, this country will only continue to stumble along. After all, we are here by Divine right, and we must not shy away from acknowledging this fact openly and proudly. We need to return to ourselves and to G-d, for unlike our politicians, He will surely not disappoint.

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Who Cares About Fighting Terror?

Palestinian rockets may still be landing near Israel’s cities, but that hasn’t stopped the Government from remaining focused on – what else? – destroying more Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria.

Speaking before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today, IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said that over 1,300 soldiers and policemen will be deployed next week to uproot the Jewish community of Amona, near Ofra, which numbers some 40 families.

Just hours prior to Halutz’ appearance, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired three Kassam rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot, underscoring the Government’s continuing failure to stop such attacks.

Nonetheless, Halutz was apparently more interested in discussing the “threat” posed by Jewish families living on Jewish-owned land, rather than ongoing Palestinian attempts to target Israelis.

It is simply mind-boggling that just days after Islamic Jihad carried out a suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv, the Government and army would be expending time, resources and energy to throw more Jews off their land.

Wouldn’t be it more useful to be hunting down terrorists instead?

This is little more than a transparent political ploy, aimed at attracting left-wing voters back to the Kadima party now that it is being headed by Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

With elections just two months away, Olmert apparently has no qualms about (mis-)using the tools of the state to advance his own political ambitions.

And so, once again, it is the valiant and brave pioneers settling the Land of Israel who might just have to pay the price.

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Israel Needs A Ronald Reagan

This past Friday, the Wall Street Journal provided a timely reminder of just how much a great leader can impact the future of a nation.

Noting that it was 25 years ago this weekend that Ronald Reagan was inaugurated President of the United States, the paper stressed how much Reagan’s economic policies contributed to the country’s growth and development in the intervening years.

Even more important, however, was the fact that Reagan set the stage for America’s return to itself and to its values, after the dour and depressing tenure of Jimmy Carter. He inherited the mantle of leadership over a country whose spirit was shattered, an America that had lost its sense of purpose and mission.

Reagan realized that the first and most urgent of tasks was to restore the American people’s confidence in themselves and their cause, and he set about doing so with great result.

Harking back to this period of recent history, it becomes all the more apparent just how much Israel so desperately needs its own version of Ronald Reagan - someone who will stand up to the international community, and especially to our enemies, with pride in his heart, power in his voice and principles in his view.

Someone who will remind the world that the Jewish people are unlike any other, that we are here by right, by Divine mandate, and that we shall never, ever yield this Land of ours. 

Israel needs a leader to put things back into perspective, to remind us that if we return to ourselves, and to our G-d, we can and will find the inner strength to stave off our foes and fulfill our mission as a nation and as a people.

Faith, optimism, pride and hope. As Ronald Reagan showed America, that is truly what a great leader has to offer.

Israelis deserves no less.

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