I?d like to take a look at three recent statements.
The first one was made by the Left?s candidate for Prime Minister, Amram Mitzna. Mitzna claims that the security of Tel Aviv, and all other communities within the ?Green Line? - that is pre-Six-Day-War Israel - has been forsaken due to the fact that the IDF must protect Yesha (Judea, Samaria & Gaza) residents. He then presented, as an example, Hebron. In other words, we are responsible for that fact that Jews are being murdered in Netanya, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and everywhere else.
This is, of course, preparation for an abandonment, G-d forbid, of Hebron and an uprooting of its Jewish community, should Mitzna be victorious in the January 28th elections. He has already promised that within a year of his election, he will ?cleanup? Gaza by evicting all Jews from Gush Katif. He guaranteed tough negotiations with the Arabs, but clarified: should no agreement be reached within one year, Israel will unilaterally withdraw from Yesha, including eviction from and destruction of Jewish communities.
In the midst of the 1982 war in Lebanon, Mitzna nearly quit his command in protest over the Israeli presence there. As commander of the Central Region during the ?first Intifada,? Mitzna did virtually nothing to stop or prevent Arab violence against Jews on the roads, especially between Hebron and Jerusalem. Rocks and firebombs collided with Israeli vehicles numerous times, daily. Following one particularly vicious attack initiated from the infamous Deheisha refugee camp, just outside Bethlehem, Israelis from Kiryat Arba decided to respond. When they threw rocks back at the Arab attackers, Mitzna showed up and labeled the Israeli reaction, ?the most contemptible act I?ve ever witnessed.?
This is the person that the Labor party, representing the Israeli Left, is trying to elect Prime Minister of Israel.
Last week, the American Ambassador to Israel, an Orthodox Jew named Dan Kurtzer, publicly stated, ?Settlers represent a particular point of view in Israel about the future of the occupied territories; they do not represent the national consensus. The settlements movement today is not about the future existence of the state. Israel needs to make choices and define priorities.? He added, ?Israeli settlement activity has severely undermined Palestinian trust and hope. It preempts and prejudges the outcome of negotiations and in doing so cripples chances for real peace and security,? and concluded, ?settlement activity must stop.?
This coming from a religious Jew. Shame on him. As if Arabs never killed Jews prior to the 1967 Six Day war. As if Arafat and his terrorist cronies in the PA had fulfilled any of their obligations, obligations they accepted when signing the 1993 Oslo Accords. As if an Israeli withdrawal from all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza would quench the Arab thirst for more: more blood, and more land.
Kurtzer?s remarks are reminiscent of words spoken by former US president Bill Clinton on the eve of the 1996 Peres-Netanyahu election, when Clinton almost scolded the Israeli public, as a school teacher waving his finger at a class of adolescents, saying, ?Israel must make a choice between peace or the other alternative.? ? in other words, Shimon or Bibi. This was, perhaps, the most blatant American involvement in internal Israeli politics ever. Fortunately, it did not work. As bad as Bibi was, his actions were nothing compared to what Peres would have done. And let?s not forget who was Prime Minister when the Oslo War began: the person who defeated Bill?s least favorite leader, Ehud Barak. So, who is responsible for war?
One of my jobs in Hebron is to act as a liaison with the American consulate in Jerusalem. Occasionally, I meet with a representative from the consulate to discuss current events and issues. Last week, that representative called me to schedule a meeting. When he called to confirm the meeting, I notified him that I would not meet him, that it was cancelled. I explained to him that American interference in the Israeli elections was reprehensible, and that such statements, made by the American ambassador, inexcusable. Why should a Hebron resident meet with American representatives when ?the settlements movement today is not about the future existence of the state??
There is one other statement I?d like to relate to. Mort Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America recently said, ?It is a huge mistake to accept a Palestinian state as inevitable. It?s not inevitable. Our plan is to make it clear that by establishing a state under the Palestinian Authority, we are creating a new terrorist state.? These statements kicked off a new ZOA campaign asserting that the creation of a Palestinian state would reward terrorism. Of course, other American Jewish organizations were quick to condemn the ZOA campaign. An AIPAC spokesperson said that ?AIPAC does not oppose a Palestinian State.? An American Jewish Committee representative said that ?this kind of campaign is inappropriate and misguided.? Even the Orthodox Union jumped on the boat, with the director of international and communal affairs saying that this is not the time to dwell on the issue of a Palestinian state. The OU director then contradicted herself by adding, ?What we have to focus on right now is that Israeli buses have to stop being blown up and Israeli children have to stop being killed on their way to school.? For whatever reason, she doesn?t seem to understand that the two issues are undeniably linked.
Mort Klein is one of the few American Jewish leaders who has consistently ?seen the light.? His courageous leadership, in the face of massive opposition by other Jewish groups in the United States, is unparalleled. He opposed Oslo, he opposed Israeli concessions to Arafat, and he opposes a Palestinian state. He is one of the only American Jewish leaders who is not blind. I would call on friends and supporters to contact Mort Klein at the ZOA, (Telephone 212-481-1500 - FAX 212-481-1515 - info@zoa.org) commending him and promising him support for the anti-Palestinian State campaign. At the same time, contact other groups, such as the OU, AIPAC and the AJC, expressing disgust at their positions.
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David Wilder is a spokesman for the Jewish community of Hevron. A recorded version of his regular radio commentary on Arutz Sheva Israel National Radio can be heard on IsraelNationalNews.com.
The first one was made by the Left?s candidate for Prime Minister, Amram Mitzna. Mitzna claims that the security of Tel Aviv, and all other communities within the ?Green Line? - that is pre-Six-Day-War Israel - has been forsaken due to the fact that the IDF must protect Yesha (Judea, Samaria & Gaza) residents. He then presented, as an example, Hebron. In other words, we are responsible for that fact that Jews are being murdered in Netanya, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and everywhere else.
This is, of course, preparation for an abandonment, G-d forbid, of Hebron and an uprooting of its Jewish community, should Mitzna be victorious in the January 28th elections. He has already promised that within a year of his election, he will ?cleanup? Gaza by evicting all Jews from Gush Katif. He guaranteed tough negotiations with the Arabs, but clarified: should no agreement be reached within one year, Israel will unilaterally withdraw from Yesha, including eviction from and destruction of Jewish communities.
In the midst of the 1982 war in Lebanon, Mitzna nearly quit his command in protest over the Israeli presence there. As commander of the Central Region during the ?first Intifada,? Mitzna did virtually nothing to stop or prevent Arab violence against Jews on the roads, especially between Hebron and Jerusalem. Rocks and firebombs collided with Israeli vehicles numerous times, daily. Following one particularly vicious attack initiated from the infamous Deheisha refugee camp, just outside Bethlehem, Israelis from Kiryat Arba decided to respond. When they threw rocks back at the Arab attackers, Mitzna showed up and labeled the Israeli reaction, ?the most contemptible act I?ve ever witnessed.?
This is the person that the Labor party, representing the Israeli Left, is trying to elect Prime Minister of Israel.
Last week, the American Ambassador to Israel, an Orthodox Jew named Dan Kurtzer, publicly stated, ?Settlers represent a particular point of view in Israel about the future of the occupied territories; they do not represent the national consensus. The settlements movement today is not about the future existence of the state. Israel needs to make choices and define priorities.? He added, ?Israeli settlement activity has severely undermined Palestinian trust and hope. It preempts and prejudges the outcome of negotiations and in doing so cripples chances for real peace and security,? and concluded, ?settlement activity must stop.?
This coming from a religious Jew. Shame on him. As if Arabs never killed Jews prior to the 1967 Six Day war. As if Arafat and his terrorist cronies in the PA had fulfilled any of their obligations, obligations they accepted when signing the 1993 Oslo Accords. As if an Israeli withdrawal from all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza would quench the Arab thirst for more: more blood, and more land.
Kurtzer?s remarks are reminiscent of words spoken by former US president Bill Clinton on the eve of the 1996 Peres-Netanyahu election, when Clinton almost scolded the Israeli public, as a school teacher waving his finger at a class of adolescents, saying, ?Israel must make a choice between peace or the other alternative.? ? in other words, Shimon or Bibi. This was, perhaps, the most blatant American involvement in internal Israeli politics ever. Fortunately, it did not work. As bad as Bibi was, his actions were nothing compared to what Peres would have done. And let?s not forget who was Prime Minister when the Oslo War began: the person who defeated Bill?s least favorite leader, Ehud Barak. So, who is responsible for war?
One of my jobs in Hebron is to act as a liaison with the American consulate in Jerusalem. Occasionally, I meet with a representative from the consulate to discuss current events and issues. Last week, that representative called me to schedule a meeting. When he called to confirm the meeting, I notified him that I would not meet him, that it was cancelled. I explained to him that American interference in the Israeli elections was reprehensible, and that such statements, made by the American ambassador, inexcusable. Why should a Hebron resident meet with American representatives when ?the settlements movement today is not about the future existence of the state??
There is one other statement I?d like to relate to. Mort Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America recently said, ?It is a huge mistake to accept a Palestinian state as inevitable. It?s not inevitable. Our plan is to make it clear that by establishing a state under the Palestinian Authority, we are creating a new terrorist state.? These statements kicked off a new ZOA campaign asserting that the creation of a Palestinian state would reward terrorism. Of course, other American Jewish organizations were quick to condemn the ZOA campaign. An AIPAC spokesperson said that ?AIPAC does not oppose a Palestinian State.? An American Jewish Committee representative said that ?this kind of campaign is inappropriate and misguided.? Even the Orthodox Union jumped on the boat, with the director of international and communal affairs saying that this is not the time to dwell on the issue of a Palestinian state. The OU director then contradicted herself by adding, ?What we have to focus on right now is that Israeli buses have to stop being blown up and Israeli children have to stop being killed on their way to school.? For whatever reason, she doesn?t seem to understand that the two issues are undeniably linked.
Mort Klein is one of the few American Jewish leaders who has consistently ?seen the light.? His courageous leadership, in the face of massive opposition by other Jewish groups in the United States, is unparalleled. He opposed Oslo, he opposed Israeli concessions to Arafat, and he opposes a Palestinian state. He is one of the only American Jewish leaders who is not blind. I would call on friends and supporters to contact Mort Klein at the ZOA, (Telephone 212-481-1500 - FAX 212-481-1515 - info@zoa.org) commending him and promising him support for the anti-Palestinian State campaign. At the same time, contact other groups, such as the OU, AIPAC and the AJC, expressing disgust at their positions.
--------------------------------------------
David Wilder is a spokesman for the Jewish community of Hevron. A recorded version of his regular radio commentary on Arutz Sheva Israel National Radio can be heard on IsraelNationalNews.com.