?Three hundred members of the former Palestinian security forces will undergo a 45 day training and refresher course ?to deter terrorism? Palestinian media reported on Saturday.
?According to the Palestinian Information Center website affiliated with the Hamas, equipment has already been sent to the Palestinian security forces in the Gaza Strip and includes devices to jam mobile telephones to be used when arresting suspects, small ball-like objects that when fired spread anesthetic fumes, batons, armor, gas canisters and rubber bullets.
?In addition, the Palestinian Police force in the Gaza Strip received five armored vehicles, the report said.? - The Jerusalem Post, May 31, 2003
Every ten years or so, Israel provides the Arabs with top-notch weapons and training, which are then turned against the Israelis, who are then obliged to blow the weapons and the "trainees" to Kingdom Come. At which point, the Arabs say, "Enough, we can't take any more punishment." And the Israelis say, "We'll stop, but only if you stop first." And the Arabs reply, "How can you expect us to stop it now? You've destroyed all our weapons and only the crazy 'extremists' have any left." And the Israelis say, "OK, if you promise to be good from now on, we'll resupply you with arms and train you in the latest techniques to root out those wacko terrorists. And we?ll throw in an independent state as a sweetener." And the Arabs say, "We promise." It?s sort of like the phases of the moon. The cycle repeats itself ad infinitum and we have reached another rosh chodesh.
This sounds like a racket run by the Israeli defense industry and the undertakers, right?
Well, not according to the Israelis I read. They say the problem (if there is one) begins and ends in Washington, either because of too much American ?pressure,? or not enough. Of course, we expect Jews to put their faith in a Higher Power, but in this case I think it?s more than a bit misplaced. Israelis should look a little closer to home; like in their bathroom mirrors. Recent polls indicate a large percentage of Israel?s population favors the direction of the ?road map.? And while many are undoubtedly opposed, I have yet to see them motivated enough to turn out in numbers to protest the latest American initiatives in public.
Still, the last time I looked, the country was a middle-aged 55 year-old, and from birth to the present had survived untold numbers of life-threatening incidents and near-death experiences. In fact, in its formative years, she relied more on French good will, and arms, than American. Yet, too many Israeli citizens insist on acting like children who won?t give up their formula, or their infantile excuses.
In any event, the Israelis keep drawing the wrong lessons from America. We?re a country that did what ever it took to expand our borders to their natural frontiers - wheeling, dealing or wiping out whole nations without mercy or apologies. Once our native ?terrorists?, the fearsome Apaches, Mohawks and Sioux, realized the land was lost to them forever, they quickly turned into docile tribes living here without incident under special conditions. No expulsion or transfer was necessary. Today, not one brave on the reservation would even think about raiding an American ?settlement?. The only scalping done in America now is at basketball games and rock concerts. Yet, for some reason, this is one highly successful American tactic Israel refuses to emulate. That couldn?t be due to ?American pressure? too, could it?
This is not to say Israel doesn?t have a great many influential friends in the USA, both Jews and gentiles. Even George W. Bush probably means well in a ?gee-gosh-let-me-put-my-arms-around-your-shoulders-pal-can?t-we-settle-this-like-gentlemen? goyishe sort of way. But Israelis need to realize their problems are cumulative and homegrown. And that?s where they?ll have to be solved.
To illustrate this point, a final word has to be said about the Christian Right in this country. Many American Jews and Israelis are counting on them to temper America?s Mideast policies, especially the ?road map.? And without question, they are determined allies of Israel and an important part of the President?s political constituency at the same time. But you want to know a dirty little secret? The Arabs could be tearing down the walls of the Knesset next year, but when Evangelicals get in the voting booth on election day and face a choice between George W. Bush and John Kerry, Dick Gephardt or Joe Lieberman, they?re going to vote for Bush.
And so will I.
--------------------------------------------------------
Dovid Ben Chaim writes (safely) from New York. He can be reached at dovibenchaim@myway.com.
?According to the Palestinian Information Center website affiliated with the Hamas, equipment has already been sent to the Palestinian security forces in the Gaza Strip and includes devices to jam mobile telephones to be used when arresting suspects, small ball-like objects that when fired spread anesthetic fumes, batons, armor, gas canisters and rubber bullets.
?In addition, the Palestinian Police force in the Gaza Strip received five armored vehicles, the report said.? - The Jerusalem Post, May 31, 2003
Every ten years or so, Israel provides the Arabs with top-notch weapons and training, which are then turned against the Israelis, who are then obliged to blow the weapons and the "trainees" to Kingdom Come. At which point, the Arabs say, "Enough, we can't take any more punishment." And the Israelis say, "We'll stop, but only if you stop first." And the Arabs reply, "How can you expect us to stop it now? You've destroyed all our weapons and only the crazy 'extremists' have any left." And the Israelis say, "OK, if you promise to be good from now on, we'll resupply you with arms and train you in the latest techniques to root out those wacko terrorists. And we?ll throw in an independent state as a sweetener." And the Arabs say, "We promise." It?s sort of like the phases of the moon. The cycle repeats itself ad infinitum and we have reached another rosh chodesh.
This sounds like a racket run by the Israeli defense industry and the undertakers, right?
Well, not according to the Israelis I read. They say the problem (if there is one) begins and ends in Washington, either because of too much American ?pressure,? or not enough. Of course, we expect Jews to put their faith in a Higher Power, but in this case I think it?s more than a bit misplaced. Israelis should look a little closer to home; like in their bathroom mirrors. Recent polls indicate a large percentage of Israel?s population favors the direction of the ?road map.? And while many are undoubtedly opposed, I have yet to see them motivated enough to turn out in numbers to protest the latest American initiatives in public.
Still, the last time I looked, the country was a middle-aged 55 year-old, and from birth to the present had survived untold numbers of life-threatening incidents and near-death experiences. In fact, in its formative years, she relied more on French good will, and arms, than American. Yet, too many Israeli citizens insist on acting like children who won?t give up their formula, or their infantile excuses.
In any event, the Israelis keep drawing the wrong lessons from America. We?re a country that did what ever it took to expand our borders to their natural frontiers - wheeling, dealing or wiping out whole nations without mercy or apologies. Once our native ?terrorists?, the fearsome Apaches, Mohawks and Sioux, realized the land was lost to them forever, they quickly turned into docile tribes living here without incident under special conditions. No expulsion or transfer was necessary. Today, not one brave on the reservation would even think about raiding an American ?settlement?. The only scalping done in America now is at basketball games and rock concerts. Yet, for some reason, this is one highly successful American tactic Israel refuses to emulate. That couldn?t be due to ?American pressure? too, could it?
This is not to say Israel doesn?t have a great many influential friends in the USA, both Jews and gentiles. Even George W. Bush probably means well in a ?gee-gosh-let-me-put-my-arms-around-your-shoulders-pal-can?t-we-settle-this-like-gentlemen? goyishe sort of way. But Israelis need to realize their problems are cumulative and homegrown. And that?s where they?ll have to be solved.
To illustrate this point, a final word has to be said about the Christian Right in this country. Many American Jews and Israelis are counting on them to temper America?s Mideast policies, especially the ?road map.? And without question, they are determined allies of Israel and an important part of the President?s political constituency at the same time. But you want to know a dirty little secret? The Arabs could be tearing down the walls of the Knesset next year, but when Evangelicals get in the voting booth on election day and face a choice between George W. Bush and John Kerry, Dick Gephardt or Joe Lieberman, they?re going to vote for Bush.
And so will I.
--------------------------------------------------------
Dovid Ben Chaim writes (safely) from New York. He can be reached at dovibenchaim@myway.com.