Two years ago, a mural depicting Jews as Satan and animals, randomly shooting innocent Palestinian Arabs, was painted on the side of an abandoned car wash in a section of Cleveland where few people who value their own lives travel. When the murals were discovered, everyone in Cleveland except the Arab community voiced their outrage at the painter, who just happened to be a Palestinian Arab.
The only people to take an active stance were members of Betar (the same people who do what no other organization does and travel twice a year from the USA to the Shomron, at their own personal expense, to build Israel in the town of Kedumim). One night, a few Betarim reportedly spray-painted over the giant murals to erase the filth and slander. To stop the murals from being displayed once and for all, a prominent Jewish philanthropist and leader in the Cleveland community donated money to purchase the dilapidated building from the Arab owner for more than ten times its actual value. The building was soon fenced off and whitewashed, but still generally remains unused.
Soon after, the same Arab found another building to post his libel on, a small store just a few blocks away. This building went largely ignored because of its location until, once again, Cleveland Betar broke the story in the media and began protests. The local ADL got involved and arranged for the billboard adjoining the building to read ?The Hate Stops Here?, but few people see it.
The reaction of the Jewish community was summed up in a letter in the local Jewish newspaper calling for a boycott of the little store with the murals. According to Boycott Watch, ?In order for a boycott to work, there must be significant economic impact from those who have, use or would purchase the boycott targets products or services.? Since the neighborhood store has a primarily captive clientele, I doubt a boycott call in the local Jewish newspaper will have any impact other than making Jews feel good.
The opposite message, however, was sent when the original building was sold for far more than the building was worth. The message sent was that anti-Semitism pays. This is why the mural painter just found another building down the street. I have no doubt that the people involved view this as a new way to make money in the real estate market, by selling the small store at an extravagant price, too. They are probably even contemplating their next real estate purchase, on which to paint their hate filled messages.
We must learn our lesson. It was a mistake to purchase the first building as a way of removing the murals, since it only encouraged murals on another building. We can not make hatred of Jews, or Israel for that matter, go away by paying off people who hate us, with hopes that they will be nice to us simply because we give them money.
The lesson should also be applied to Israel?s transferring of money to Yasser Arafat?s Palestinian Authority. Giving millions of dollars to those who want nothing more than the death of Jews is not going to make our enemies suddenly love us. To the contrary, if one gives money to one?s enemy, he can be assured the recipient of the money will just use it to further his cause, while attempting to tap more from the money well. Not surprisingly, that is exactly what is playing out in both Cleveland and Israel.
Cleveland and Israel must both heed the lesson. Appeasing those who hate and teach their own children to murder Jews, glorifying the suicide bombers, does not result in peace. Purchasing Palestinian goods or outright giving them money will not enhance peace prospects either - it just encourages more of the same.
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Fred Taub writes from Cleveland, Ohio.
The only people to take an active stance were members of Betar (the same people who do what no other organization does and travel twice a year from the USA to the Shomron, at their own personal expense, to build Israel in the town of Kedumim). One night, a few Betarim reportedly spray-painted over the giant murals to erase the filth and slander. To stop the murals from being displayed once and for all, a prominent Jewish philanthropist and leader in the Cleveland community donated money to purchase the dilapidated building from the Arab owner for more than ten times its actual value. The building was soon fenced off and whitewashed, but still generally remains unused.
Soon after, the same Arab found another building to post his libel on, a small store just a few blocks away. This building went largely ignored because of its location until, once again, Cleveland Betar broke the story in the media and began protests. The local ADL got involved and arranged for the billboard adjoining the building to read ?The Hate Stops Here?, but few people see it.
The reaction of the Jewish community was summed up in a letter in the local Jewish newspaper calling for a boycott of the little store with the murals. According to Boycott Watch, ?In order for a boycott to work, there must be significant economic impact from those who have, use or would purchase the boycott targets products or services.? Since the neighborhood store has a primarily captive clientele, I doubt a boycott call in the local Jewish newspaper will have any impact other than making Jews feel good.
The opposite message, however, was sent when the original building was sold for far more than the building was worth. The message sent was that anti-Semitism pays. This is why the mural painter just found another building down the street. I have no doubt that the people involved view this as a new way to make money in the real estate market, by selling the small store at an extravagant price, too. They are probably even contemplating their next real estate purchase, on which to paint their hate filled messages.
We must learn our lesson. It was a mistake to purchase the first building as a way of removing the murals, since it only encouraged murals on another building. We can not make hatred of Jews, or Israel for that matter, go away by paying off people who hate us, with hopes that they will be nice to us simply because we give them money.
The lesson should also be applied to Israel?s transferring of money to Yasser Arafat?s Palestinian Authority. Giving millions of dollars to those who want nothing more than the death of Jews is not going to make our enemies suddenly love us. To the contrary, if one gives money to one?s enemy, he can be assured the recipient of the money will just use it to further his cause, while attempting to tap more from the money well. Not surprisingly, that is exactly what is playing out in both Cleveland and Israel.
Cleveland and Israel must both heed the lesson. Appeasing those who hate and teach their own children to murder Jews, glorifying the suicide bombers, does not result in peace. Purchasing Palestinian goods or outright giving them money will not enhance peace prospects either - it just encourages more of the same.
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Fred Taub writes from Cleveland, Ohio.