In Israel, another tipping point has arrived, and the actions or inaction of relatively few of its citizens will be crucial to Israel's own well-being and to the worldwide struggle against Islamic fascism, as well.
But first things first. Israel's political process can not hold back Ariel Sharon from carrying out his betrayal of the Israeli people ? the dismantling of Jewish settlements, Israeli withdrawal from significant parts of Judea, Samaria and all of Gaza (Yesha), and the expulsion of Jews from their homes in the Land of Israel. The Hamas vultures are already circling Gaza and the rest of Yesha in gleeful anticipation of filling the void left by Jews evicted by a Jewish landlord. The upshot will be unprecedented freedom for the operations of the most hostile and capable terrorist groups that straddle the borders of Israel and Egypt.
But I repeat: Israel's political process has lost the essential integrity for it to prevent Ariel Sharon from executing his plan for "unilateral disengagement." He and his clique of crypto-leftists have outmaneuvered the few upright men in leadership positions and have suborned the rest. Short of exogenous factors such as ill health, an indictment for bribery, a heretofore unprecedented Arab terrorist incident (Heaven Forbid!), etc., there is nothing to stop him now except a spontaneous uprising of the Israeli people.
If Sharon Wins, Everyone Else Loses
Sharon's putsch and his self-destructive schemes at home also have the potential to weaken the American people's underlying support for Israel; a connection that is unique in the world and important to the welfare of both countries.
Sharon is coming to Washington seeking to reduce the President of the United States to a shill, a cheap promoter in the "disengagement" con game. Frankly, I'm surprised the White House is receiving the Prime Minister in the first place. It's all risk and no gain. This time it's Israel's plan on the table, not America's.
If Bush and his aides appear childish enough to be drawn into Mr. Sharon's screwy plot while fighting their own Islamic intifada in Iraq, both America and Israel will suffer, as simple common sense makes clear. For one thing, Bush will look like a foolish pawn in full view of America and the rest of the world. And that, in turn, could help dislodge the President in November, ushering in a new administration even less ideologically prepared to fight the war on terror than the present one. If Sharon succeeds in D.C. and Gaza, at the very least it would shake the continued solidarity of the American Evangelical community. Many would, with bitterness and some justification, hold Sharon (the Jews) responsible for undermining Bush. Here in America, Sharon will have done what ten Mel Gibsons and twenty Pat Buchanans couldn't.
The leading Evangelical here, Pat Robertson, who is a great friend of Israel, has plenty of Jews for Jesus material on his website, CBN.com. He is still first, last and always a true Christian. With enervated Jews compounding the categorical mistakes of Oslo, embarking on another fool's errand in Israel and trying to take America along for the ride, it's reasonable to assume Mr. Robertson and the rest of a bewildered Christian America will decide to face the Islamic enemy by doing what Jews in their own country wouldn't: save themselves first.
In the final analysis Israel, and Israelis, have little choice and no one else to blame. The ball is in your court. If tens of thousands of indignant Jews do not pour into the streets of the holy city of Jerusalem and disrupt everyday life and commerce to turn back the hijacking of their government, the surrender of Jewish land to the Arabs will soon be a fait accompli, and the stage will be set for a new, more intense phase of the current war and further deterioration of Israeli freedoms, safety and quality of life. The consequences of Sharon's harebrained plans will be exactly the opposite of their stated intention and the harm will spill beyond the confines of Israel and the Middle East.
Israel must shut down its runaway bulldozer now. Or get run over by it later.
But first things first. Israel's political process can not hold back Ariel Sharon from carrying out his betrayal of the Israeli people ? the dismantling of Jewish settlements, Israeli withdrawal from significant parts of Judea, Samaria and all of Gaza (Yesha), and the expulsion of Jews from their homes in the Land of Israel. The Hamas vultures are already circling Gaza and the rest of Yesha in gleeful anticipation of filling the void left by Jews evicted by a Jewish landlord. The upshot will be unprecedented freedom for the operations of the most hostile and capable terrorist groups that straddle the borders of Israel and Egypt.
But I repeat: Israel's political process has lost the essential integrity for it to prevent Ariel Sharon from executing his plan for "unilateral disengagement." He and his clique of crypto-leftists have outmaneuvered the few upright men in leadership positions and have suborned the rest. Short of exogenous factors such as ill health, an indictment for bribery, a heretofore unprecedented Arab terrorist incident (Heaven Forbid!), etc., there is nothing to stop him now except a spontaneous uprising of the Israeli people.
If Sharon Wins, Everyone Else Loses
Sharon's putsch and his self-destructive schemes at home also have the potential to weaken the American people's underlying support for Israel; a connection that is unique in the world and important to the welfare of both countries.
Sharon is coming to Washington seeking to reduce the President of the United States to a shill, a cheap promoter in the "disengagement" con game. Frankly, I'm surprised the White House is receiving the Prime Minister in the first place. It's all risk and no gain. This time it's Israel's plan on the table, not America's.
If Bush and his aides appear childish enough to be drawn into Mr. Sharon's screwy plot while fighting their own Islamic intifada in Iraq, both America and Israel will suffer, as simple common sense makes clear. For one thing, Bush will look like a foolish pawn in full view of America and the rest of the world. And that, in turn, could help dislodge the President in November, ushering in a new administration even less ideologically prepared to fight the war on terror than the present one. If Sharon succeeds in D.C. and Gaza, at the very least it would shake the continued solidarity of the American Evangelical community. Many would, with bitterness and some justification, hold Sharon (the Jews) responsible for undermining Bush. Here in America, Sharon will have done what ten Mel Gibsons and twenty Pat Buchanans couldn't.
The leading Evangelical here, Pat Robertson, who is a great friend of Israel, has plenty of Jews for Jesus material on his website, CBN.com. He is still first, last and always a true Christian. With enervated Jews compounding the categorical mistakes of Oslo, embarking on another fool's errand in Israel and trying to take America along for the ride, it's reasonable to assume Mr. Robertson and the rest of a bewildered Christian America will decide to face the Islamic enemy by doing what Jews in their own country wouldn't: save themselves first.
In the final analysis Israel, and Israelis, have little choice and no one else to blame. The ball is in your court. If tens of thousands of indignant Jews do not pour into the streets of the holy city of Jerusalem and disrupt everyday life and commerce to turn back the hijacking of their government, the surrender of Jewish land to the Arabs will soon be a fait accompli, and the stage will be set for a new, more intense phase of the current war and further deterioration of Israeli freedoms, safety and quality of life. The consequences of Sharon's harebrained plans will be exactly the opposite of their stated intention and the harm will spill beyond the confines of Israel and the Middle East.
Israel must shut down its runaway bulldozer now. Or get run over by it later.