?Give peace a chance? - certainly a nice slogan, and something that here in Israel we are looking forward to experiencing for ourselves. We are just a week or two into the three-month ?hudna? (cease-fire, or in Arabic, reload-then-fire) between Israel and those who seek to destroy her, and I am personally looking forward to riding as many buses, eating in as many restaurants, and enjoying myself in as many crowded and open places as possible throughout its duration.
Of course, one could say that since the beginning of the cease-fire the shootings and bombings haven?t totally abated, and that the second-in-command of Hamas has vowed not to rest until every last Jew is removed from Israel, but let?s not be picky. He most likely didn?t really mean it, as after all, he did say it in English. Most likely, in Arabic he spoke of his goodwill towards the Jewish State and of his longing to live in peace side-by-side with her and the Jewish People.
I believe, as a result of a lot of deep thought and soul searching, that I have come up with a revolutionary way to bring about peace on a permanent basis. Yet, before I present my idea, let me share some recent observations that led to the idea?s fruition:
1. It is not in Israel?s best interest to go after terrorists (a.k.a freedom fighters) in targeted operations. It is most unfortunate that Israel hasn?t considered the consequences of such actions herself, and thankfully we have friends like the United States to remind us of them.
2. Israel should not continue to build a security fence that will serve to separate her from those areas where terrorists have been infiltrating into Israel to kill Jews. What Israel needs to be doing today, to combat this unfortunate occurrence, is to be tearing down the walls of separation that exist between themselves and the Palestinians in all facets of life, and not building new ones.
3. There is minimal point in Israel attempting to bring any Palestinian to justice for crimes against Israel, as inevitably they will be released sooner or later as a good-will gesture. Not to mention that these crimes are only committed out of an unbearable sense of anger and frustration, and thus the perpetrators shouldn?t be held responsible for their actions, in any case. Israel would be saving itself both time and money, which could then be put towards boosting her struggling economy.
4. As was recently announced, Israel has no intention of demanding that the terrorist organizations actually disarm, just that they cease from attacking Jews. What will these weapons be used for then, you ask? 1) Against Zionist collaborators, and 2) to be shot in the air on holidays such as Naqba (the day of ?Tragedy? - which, by sheer coincidence, coincides with the date of the establishment of Israel) and for festive occasions such as graduation from Fatah day camp (a.k.a Jihad for Kids).
5. Israel is fortunate that those who have Jewish blood on their hands head the leadership of the Palestinians with whom we are trying to make peace. Who better can appreciate what is involved in making peace with Israel than those who have been personally responsible for the loss of so many Jewish lives?
In response to these realizations, I have decided to launch my own peace movement, to be known as ?YAMAH? or ?To the Sea?. The aim of ?YAMAH? is the following:
1. ?YAMAH? believes that up until now, the basic premise guiding each of the failed peace processes has been the flawed assumption of the willingness of the Arab nations to accept a Jewish State in the Middle East. The very presence of a Jewish State in the Middle East serves as a provocation. The existence of Israel represents a badge of shame to the Arab nations and to the nation of Islam, as a whole.
2. ?YAMAH? believes that it is a natural response of the Arab nations, in trying to rectify such a gross injustice, to do so through any means possible. Whether through war, terror, boycotts, incitement, or the exploitation of natural resources to bring about world pressure on Israel - all means of fighting this grievance are to be expected.
3. ?YAMAH? believes that it is we, the Jews, who are really responsible for the Arab/Israeli conflict and all of the blood that has been shed throughout it, be it Jewish or Arab. Giving away significant amounts of territory to the Palestinians in an attempt to appease the Arab world will not work, as even a small Jewish State in the Middle East represents an injustice. For the Jewish People to think that they can buy off the Arab nations and make them forget their sense of dignity is shameful.
4. ?YAMAH? calls for the Jewish citizens of the State of Israel to mobilize and willingly march themselves into the sea. Only in this way can a peaceful resolution be brought to the Arab/Israeli conflict and for all of the bloodshed to be brought to an end. One of the names of G-d is Shalom, and we are taught to be like Aharon the Kohen - ?to be a lover of peace and to pursue it?. Based on this central tenet of Judaism does ?YAMAH? make its call. No doubt, this won?t be easy, but for true peace, one must be willing to make painful concessions.
5. ?YAMAH? calls on the Arab nations, in a gesture of goodwill, to support this initiative, to crack down on any extremists opposed to it, and to begin educating their people, in Arabic, towards the importance of such an action.
?YAMAH? - ?To the Sea? - For true peace - it?s our only hope!
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Jason Orenstein is a graduate of Yeshiva University who spent the last year and a half working for the Jewish Agency for Israel in New York as the North American Director of Student Affairs. He made aliya with his wife this year.
Of course, one could say that since the beginning of the cease-fire the shootings and bombings haven?t totally abated, and that the second-in-command of Hamas has vowed not to rest until every last Jew is removed from Israel, but let?s not be picky. He most likely didn?t really mean it, as after all, he did say it in English. Most likely, in Arabic he spoke of his goodwill towards the Jewish State and of his longing to live in peace side-by-side with her and the Jewish People.
I believe, as a result of a lot of deep thought and soul searching, that I have come up with a revolutionary way to bring about peace on a permanent basis. Yet, before I present my idea, let me share some recent observations that led to the idea?s fruition:
1. It is not in Israel?s best interest to go after terrorists (a.k.a freedom fighters) in targeted operations. It is most unfortunate that Israel hasn?t considered the consequences of such actions herself, and thankfully we have friends like the United States to remind us of them.
2. Israel should not continue to build a security fence that will serve to separate her from those areas where terrorists have been infiltrating into Israel to kill Jews. What Israel needs to be doing today, to combat this unfortunate occurrence, is to be tearing down the walls of separation that exist between themselves and the Palestinians in all facets of life, and not building new ones.
3. There is minimal point in Israel attempting to bring any Palestinian to justice for crimes against Israel, as inevitably they will be released sooner or later as a good-will gesture. Not to mention that these crimes are only committed out of an unbearable sense of anger and frustration, and thus the perpetrators shouldn?t be held responsible for their actions, in any case. Israel would be saving itself both time and money, which could then be put towards boosting her struggling economy.
4. As was recently announced, Israel has no intention of demanding that the terrorist organizations actually disarm, just that they cease from attacking Jews. What will these weapons be used for then, you ask? 1) Against Zionist collaborators, and 2) to be shot in the air on holidays such as Naqba (the day of ?Tragedy? - which, by sheer coincidence, coincides with the date of the establishment of Israel) and for festive occasions such as graduation from Fatah day camp (a.k.a Jihad for Kids).
5. Israel is fortunate that those who have Jewish blood on their hands head the leadership of the Palestinians with whom we are trying to make peace. Who better can appreciate what is involved in making peace with Israel than those who have been personally responsible for the loss of so many Jewish lives?
In response to these realizations, I have decided to launch my own peace movement, to be known as ?YAMAH? or ?To the Sea?. The aim of ?YAMAH? is the following:
1. ?YAMAH? believes that up until now, the basic premise guiding each of the failed peace processes has been the flawed assumption of the willingness of the Arab nations to accept a Jewish State in the Middle East. The very presence of a Jewish State in the Middle East serves as a provocation. The existence of Israel represents a badge of shame to the Arab nations and to the nation of Islam, as a whole.
2. ?YAMAH? believes that it is a natural response of the Arab nations, in trying to rectify such a gross injustice, to do so through any means possible. Whether through war, terror, boycotts, incitement, or the exploitation of natural resources to bring about world pressure on Israel - all means of fighting this grievance are to be expected.
3. ?YAMAH? believes that it is we, the Jews, who are really responsible for the Arab/Israeli conflict and all of the blood that has been shed throughout it, be it Jewish or Arab. Giving away significant amounts of territory to the Palestinians in an attempt to appease the Arab world will not work, as even a small Jewish State in the Middle East represents an injustice. For the Jewish People to think that they can buy off the Arab nations and make them forget their sense of dignity is shameful.
4. ?YAMAH? calls for the Jewish citizens of the State of Israel to mobilize and willingly march themselves into the sea. Only in this way can a peaceful resolution be brought to the Arab/Israeli conflict and for all of the bloodshed to be brought to an end. One of the names of G-d is Shalom, and we are taught to be like Aharon the Kohen - ?to be a lover of peace and to pursue it?. Based on this central tenet of Judaism does ?YAMAH? make its call. No doubt, this won?t be easy, but for true peace, one must be willing to make painful concessions.
5. ?YAMAH? calls on the Arab nations, in a gesture of goodwill, to support this initiative, to crack down on any extremists opposed to it, and to begin educating their people, in Arabic, towards the importance of such an action.
?YAMAH? - ?To the Sea? - For true peace - it?s our only hope!
--------------------------------------------------------
Jason Orenstein is a graduate of Yeshiva University who spent the last year and a half working for the Jewish Agency for Israel in New York as the North American Director of Student Affairs. He made aliya with his wife this year.