I never thought the day would come when I would have to say kudos to Time magazine. They chose as their persons of the year three women, ?whistle blowers? who stand for truth and justice. Imagine, two corporate executives of high profile corporations and an attorney for the FBI coming clean in the name of liberty. I really hope this heralds in the ?era of the whistle blower? for America and the age of the shofar blower for us in Israel.
I was whistlin? ?Dixie? the other night as my kids were watching Gone With the Wind. I decided to make it an educational experience and began to fill them in on the history and devastation of America?s Civil War, when Mr. Whistle-Blower himself, Barry Chamish, sends me an email...
It seems that he had read my last article, ?Conspiracy or Corruption?? (be careful what you name your articles) and wanted to know if I was implying that the Ginosar case smacked of conspiracy. I replied that I had written about abuses in the media, and the erosion and breakdown of democratic process and values that have contributed to the security crisis. I did
acknowledge, however, that the conditions that exist in Israel today are ripe for conspiracy, but that conspiracy implies treason and treason goes beyond the pale as far as the public is concerned. I write for public consumption and, although my articles are hard-hitting, they?re always digestible. I politely suggested that he consider toning down his approach.
The kids and I had just gotten to my favorite part in the movie when Butterfly McQueen, who plays Prissy the slave girl, whines: "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies, Miss Scarlet," when I received damning documentation from Barry. Most of it checks out (I confirmed his research). Some of it may be a bit over the top.
I don?t exactly know how to put this, but did you ever hear the joke about the Arab, the Jew and the Mormon who are all business partners, personal friends with Arafat, sit on the board of the Peres Center for Peace and were major supporters of Bill Clinton? They are also all closely connected with and allegedly had dealings with Yossi Ginosar and Arafat?s paymaster, Mohammed Rashid. Well, I can?t finish the joke, because the Mormon, a former congressman and founder of Washington?s Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, was found dead on a beach in Tel Aviv last week. If you didn?t hear about it, don?t worry, as few people did.
The media hardly mentioned that this prominent and influential figure in both America, Israel and the Arab world, bit the dust (not much news about his low key funeral that took place either, but it?s in the Salt Lake Tribune). And where are you, Shimon Peres? I mean, is this any way to say good-bye to your good friend and collegue, former Congressman Wayne Owens? He and his partners supported and bankrolled your peace process and he encouraged American private sector investment in the Palestinian Authority and in the Arab World, and yet you can?t come up with a proper public eulogy and send off? And another thing, Shimon, aren?t you in one of the top spots on the Labor list with elections just a few weeks away? Funny time to lay low.
As for the Arab/Palestinian connection, well... I don?t know nothin? ?bout money launderin?, Mr. Barry. The only experience I?ve had with it is when I?ve forgotten to empty the pockets of the kids? jeans before throwing them in the wash. But I have to admit that those 10 shekel coins look so nice when they come out of the machine - I guess the spin/dry cycle polishes them a bit.
The quest for Middle East peace is a genuine venture that got carried away. A lot of sincere (and not so sincere) and enthusiastic people jumped on a runaway Oslo train, and got involved in some very shady business dealings and investments with some even shadier characters. Many sincere individuals were misled by manipulative leaders, like Shimon Peres and Bill Clinton. Okay, It happens. But, it?s not too late to admit the mistake and change course. In Judaism, this concept is known as teshuva. So I ask that all of you prominent Jewish and pro-Oslo corporate executives, academics, politicians, journalists, and community leaders come clean. Sure, it will be embarrassing and there will be some scandalous headlines, and yeah, there are a lot of bucks at stake. But listen, people -your people - are in danger here in Israel.
When irresponsibility and recklessness reigns, Arab terrorists and Islamic fundamentalists, encouraged by despotic regimes, take their cue. Twin towers fall, stocks crash, a lot of good people get hurt and everything that you ever thought was important is gone with the wind. That?s the way of the world. Are we talking about a conspiracy or is it just a matter of people having made the wrong choices?
Let?s face the music. You choose your instrument and blow either the whistle or the shofar, but let?s blow the top off of Oslo already and expose those who are responsible (that means you, Mr. Peres -wherever you are). It was a bad investment for both Israelis and Americans - a deadly mix of power, politics, greed and distorted vision. Some will lose their fortunes and others their good name, but do it for the many who have lost their lives. You?ll feel better and the world will be a better place for it. And
then, maybe, Barry can get a real job.
--------------------------------------------------------
Ellen Horowitz, a painter and writer, lives on the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She can be reached at ilan-acu@netvision.net.il.
I was whistlin? ?Dixie? the other night as my kids were watching Gone With the Wind. I decided to make it an educational experience and began to fill them in on the history and devastation of America?s Civil War, when Mr. Whistle-Blower himself, Barry Chamish, sends me an email...
It seems that he had read my last article, ?Conspiracy or Corruption?? (be careful what you name your articles) and wanted to know if I was implying that the Ginosar case smacked of conspiracy. I replied that I had written about abuses in the media, and the erosion and breakdown of democratic process and values that have contributed to the security crisis. I did
acknowledge, however, that the conditions that exist in Israel today are ripe for conspiracy, but that conspiracy implies treason and treason goes beyond the pale as far as the public is concerned. I write for public consumption and, although my articles are hard-hitting, they?re always digestible. I politely suggested that he consider toning down his approach.
The kids and I had just gotten to my favorite part in the movie when Butterfly McQueen, who plays Prissy the slave girl, whines: "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies, Miss Scarlet," when I received damning documentation from Barry. Most of it checks out (I confirmed his research). Some of it may be a bit over the top.
I don?t exactly know how to put this, but did you ever hear the joke about the Arab, the Jew and the Mormon who are all business partners, personal friends with Arafat, sit on the board of the Peres Center for Peace and were major supporters of Bill Clinton? They are also all closely connected with and allegedly had dealings with Yossi Ginosar and Arafat?s paymaster, Mohammed Rashid. Well, I can?t finish the joke, because the Mormon, a former congressman and founder of Washington?s Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, was found dead on a beach in Tel Aviv last week. If you didn?t hear about it, don?t worry, as few people did.
The media hardly mentioned that this prominent and influential figure in both America, Israel and the Arab world, bit the dust (not much news about his low key funeral that took place either, but it?s in the Salt Lake Tribune). And where are you, Shimon Peres? I mean, is this any way to say good-bye to your good friend and collegue, former Congressman Wayne Owens? He and his partners supported and bankrolled your peace process and he encouraged American private sector investment in the Palestinian Authority and in the Arab World, and yet you can?t come up with a proper public eulogy and send off? And another thing, Shimon, aren?t you in one of the top spots on the Labor list with elections just a few weeks away? Funny time to lay low.
As for the Arab/Palestinian connection, well... I don?t know nothin? ?bout money launderin?, Mr. Barry. The only experience I?ve had with it is when I?ve forgotten to empty the pockets of the kids? jeans before throwing them in the wash. But I have to admit that those 10 shekel coins look so nice when they come out of the machine - I guess the spin/dry cycle polishes them a bit.
The quest for Middle East peace is a genuine venture that got carried away. A lot of sincere (and not so sincere) and enthusiastic people jumped on a runaway Oslo train, and got involved in some very shady business dealings and investments with some even shadier characters. Many sincere individuals were misled by manipulative leaders, like Shimon Peres and Bill Clinton. Okay, It happens. But, it?s not too late to admit the mistake and change course. In Judaism, this concept is known as teshuva. So I ask that all of you prominent Jewish and pro-Oslo corporate executives, academics, politicians, journalists, and community leaders come clean. Sure, it will be embarrassing and there will be some scandalous headlines, and yeah, there are a lot of bucks at stake. But listen, people -your people - are in danger here in Israel.
When irresponsibility and recklessness reigns, Arab terrorists and Islamic fundamentalists, encouraged by despotic regimes, take their cue. Twin towers fall, stocks crash, a lot of good people get hurt and everything that you ever thought was important is gone with the wind. That?s the way of the world. Are we talking about a conspiracy or is it just a matter of people having made the wrong choices?
Let?s face the music. You choose your instrument and blow either the whistle or the shofar, but let?s blow the top off of Oslo already and expose those who are responsible (that means you, Mr. Peres -wherever you are). It was a bad investment for both Israelis and Americans - a deadly mix of power, politics, greed and distorted vision. Some will lose their fortunes and others their good name, but do it for the many who have lost their lives. You?ll feel better and the world will be a better place for it. And
then, maybe, Barry can get a real job.
--------------------------------------------------------
Ellen Horowitz, a painter and writer, lives on the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She can be reached at ilan-acu@netvision.net.il.