Were it not so tragic, ...the scenario now taking place in Israel on the eve of the nation's 53rd Anniversery would provide comic material for any astute playwright wishing to utilize humour to hammer home blatant truths.
As preparations are being made to celebrate the Independence of the Jewish State with traditional pompous ceremonies at which the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and President of Israel will undoubtedly pontificate and reassure us that our country is "strong and secure; that the Israel Defense Forces are ready to defend Israel citizens against any threat by Arab enemies... simultaneously, the sound of gunfire in Hebron, Gush Katif, Gilo,mortar attacks on Israel's border communities...and the murder and maiming of Jews by Arab killers in the "Free and Independent Land Of Israel" continues with no end in sight!
To compound the irony, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel's alleged "hard line" leader, who briefly gave us renewed hope that, at long last, action would be taken against Chief PLO terrorist Yasser Arafat and his murderous gang in Gaza ...quickly retreated and withdrew the IDF at the first sign of displeasure by 'our great friend and ally', the United States, who called the justified Israeli response "excessive and dispproportionate."
Thus, an unmistakeable 'mida kneged mida" (measure for measure) has been Divinely decreed for the inane policies implemented by Israeli governments... both Right and Left....to involve, encourage, and indeed, plead with foreign leaders to help secure the "peace" of Oslo.-This has resulted in hundreds of murdered and thousands of injured Israelis...and brought unparallelled condemnation from nations around the world who unabashedly blame Israel for daring to defend itself!
Independence?....Indeed!
The wise old adage, "You can take the Jew out of the Galut [Exile]...but you cannot take the Galut out of the Jew" is nowhere more in evidence than in the Jewish State today!
What other nation on the face of the globe...which is constantly under deadly attack by implaccable enemies...feels compelled to "ask world permission" or to "explain its actions" in order to protect its people?
What other nation withholds its capable and motivated army from using full force to quash the enemy...for fear that its allies (or all lies) will disapprove?
And finally, what other nation, that has decreed a day of Independence to celebrate its rebirth with G-D'S help, after 2,000 years of persecution and statelessness; a day which has been designated to follow Holocaust Memorial Day and the Day of Remembrance for Fallen Israeli Soldiers, commemorating our six million Martyrs and thousands of fallen Israeli soldiers...so soon forgets its history, fulfilling the Biblical admonition.....
"Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors and our enemies laugh among themselves" (Psalms 80).
------------------------------------------------------------
Shifra Hoffman is the Founder and President of Victims of Arab Terror International (VAT)
As preparations are being made to celebrate the Independence of the Jewish State with traditional pompous ceremonies at which the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and President of Israel will undoubtedly pontificate and reassure us that our country is "strong and secure; that the Israel Defense Forces are ready to defend Israel citizens against any threat by Arab enemies... simultaneously, the sound of gunfire in Hebron, Gush Katif, Gilo,mortar attacks on Israel's border communities...and the murder and maiming of Jews by Arab killers in the "Free and Independent Land Of Israel" continues with no end in sight!
To compound the irony, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel's alleged "hard line" leader, who briefly gave us renewed hope that, at long last, action would be taken against Chief PLO terrorist Yasser Arafat and his murderous gang in Gaza ...quickly retreated and withdrew the IDF at the first sign of displeasure by 'our great friend and ally', the United States, who called the justified Israeli response "excessive and dispproportionate."
Thus, an unmistakeable 'mida kneged mida" (measure for measure) has been Divinely decreed for the inane policies implemented by Israeli governments... both Right and Left....to involve, encourage, and indeed, plead with foreign leaders to help secure the "peace" of Oslo.-This has resulted in hundreds of murdered and thousands of injured Israelis...and brought unparallelled condemnation from nations around the world who unabashedly blame Israel for daring to defend itself!
Independence?....Indeed!
The wise old adage, "You can take the Jew out of the Galut [Exile]...but you cannot take the Galut out of the Jew" is nowhere more in evidence than in the Jewish State today!
What other nation on the face of the globe...which is constantly under deadly attack by implaccable enemies...feels compelled to "ask world permission" or to "explain its actions" in order to protect its people?
What other nation withholds its capable and motivated army from using full force to quash the enemy...for fear that its allies (or all lies) will disapprove?
And finally, what other nation, that has decreed a day of Independence to celebrate its rebirth with G-D'S help, after 2,000 years of persecution and statelessness; a day which has been designated to follow Holocaust Memorial Day and the Day of Remembrance for Fallen Israeli Soldiers, commemorating our six million Martyrs and thousands of fallen Israeli soldiers...so soon forgets its history, fulfilling the Biblical admonition.....
"Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors and our enemies laugh among themselves" (Psalms 80).
------------------------------------------------------------
Shifra Hoffman is the Founder and President of Victims of Arab Terror International (VAT)