Hold your fire. Things need not spiral out of control. There is broad consensus that Oslo and everything it wrought was a disaster. There is a broad consensus also that the Jewish people do not want to entertain thoughts of, conceive, or engage in a civil war.
And there are many of us who think that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon needs to step down immediately.
Here is something else we should be able to agree upon. The prospect of civil strife is not something that any Jew should savor. Yet there are those among us who are champing at the bit. The purported messianism and zealotry of the settlers pales in comparison with the zealousness of the Shin Bet, the "peace" camp, and the media.
Rather than attempt to diffuse tensions, Sharon has embarked on a campaign to delegitimize citizens residing in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. This is irresponsible.
Sharon's strategy is a deliberate attempt to upset the equilibrium and push sensitive people to the brink. The government is playing with fire, because it's toying with the lives, homes, values, and essence of those citizens who have been the most dedicated and devoted to the state.
I believe this constitutes incitement on the part of the government. And yet no sane person among us wants to see a replay of Tiananmen Square, Rabin Square or the Altalena.
We've turned on ourselves, and fingers are pointing at the only segment of the population that consistently steered clear of Oslo and refused to engage in the philandering.
That a highly respected spiritual leader like Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl of the Old City in Jerusalem raised an explosive halachic concept like din rodef to the fore is distressing. But he may have done us all a favor.
Betrayal and treason are highly disturbing concepts, but they must be addressed.
Less than a month ago, we witnessed Justice Minister Yosef Lapid call Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom "an anti-Semite." Shalom responded, "An anti-Semite? You are a racist and a clown..."
Consider that a few weeks ago, the IDF chief accused the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of leaking secrets.
Ariel Sharon is the second prime minister in a decade who has brought the Jewish nation to the brink by employing questionable, undemocratic and callous means to push forth a contentious agenda. The opportunity for civil debate has been frustrated due to corruption, lies and betrayal within the system.
The prime minister has chosen to use the security apparatus and media to orchestrate a direct confrontation with those adhering to Zionist values.
So how do we ride this out?
The residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza need to temper their zealousness with wisdom. That revolutionary change is necessary is a given. But revolutions can be fought in the courtrooms, in the heavens and through legitimate protest.
We can use general strikes, boycotts and even non-violent civil disobedience. Every Israeli who cares about truth and justice should stop what they're doing and dedicate whatever talents and skills they have to stopping the Gaza disengagement plan.
Consider these Three Weeks before Tisha B'av as a countdown to diffuse the situation and avert disaster.
The spiritual viewpoint is not to give one inch of our precious Land. Not everyone is at a place where they can absorb that concept.
So let's put a more earthy and "logical" spin on this. We should confront these chaotic and leaderless times by doing everything we can to hold our ground, both mentally and physically. That means we should act wisely and responsibly without compromising our principles.
We should hang on to our kids, our spouses, our beliefs and our land. A very big storm is brewing; and as much as we hope that it blows over, if it does hit, those of us who are connected to our roots will remain in place, while the wind will drive the chaff away.
[This article was published in the Jerusalem Post on July 7, 2004.]
And there are many of us who think that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon needs to step down immediately.
Here is something else we should be able to agree upon. The prospect of civil strife is not something that any Jew should savor. Yet there are those among us who are champing at the bit. The purported messianism and zealotry of the settlers pales in comparison with the zealousness of the Shin Bet, the "peace" camp, and the media.
Rather than attempt to diffuse tensions, Sharon has embarked on a campaign to delegitimize citizens residing in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. This is irresponsible.
Sharon's strategy is a deliberate attempt to upset the equilibrium and push sensitive people to the brink. The government is playing with fire, because it's toying with the lives, homes, values, and essence of those citizens who have been the most dedicated and devoted to the state.
I believe this constitutes incitement on the part of the government. And yet no sane person among us wants to see a replay of Tiananmen Square, Rabin Square or the Altalena.
We've turned on ourselves, and fingers are pointing at the only segment of the population that consistently steered clear of Oslo and refused to engage in the philandering.
That a highly respected spiritual leader like Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl of the Old City in Jerusalem raised an explosive halachic concept like din rodef to the fore is distressing. But he may have done us all a favor.
Betrayal and treason are highly disturbing concepts, but they must be addressed.
Less than a month ago, we witnessed Justice Minister Yosef Lapid call Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom "an anti-Semite." Shalom responded, "An anti-Semite? You are a racist and a clown..."
Consider that a few weeks ago, the IDF chief accused the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of leaking secrets.
Ariel Sharon is the second prime minister in a decade who has brought the Jewish nation to the brink by employing questionable, undemocratic and callous means to push forth a contentious agenda. The opportunity for civil debate has been frustrated due to corruption, lies and betrayal within the system.
The prime minister has chosen to use the security apparatus and media to orchestrate a direct confrontation with those adhering to Zionist values.
So how do we ride this out?
The residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza need to temper their zealousness with wisdom. That revolutionary change is necessary is a given. But revolutions can be fought in the courtrooms, in the heavens and through legitimate protest.
We can use general strikes, boycotts and even non-violent civil disobedience. Every Israeli who cares about truth and justice should stop what they're doing and dedicate whatever talents and skills they have to stopping the Gaza disengagement plan.
Consider these Three Weeks before Tisha B'av as a countdown to diffuse the situation and avert disaster.
The spiritual viewpoint is not to give one inch of our precious Land. Not everyone is at a place where they can absorb that concept.
So let's put a more earthy and "logical" spin on this. We should confront these chaotic and leaderless times by doing everything we can to hold our ground, both mentally and physically. That means we should act wisely and responsibly without compromising our principles.
We should hang on to our kids, our spouses, our beliefs and our land. A very big storm is brewing; and as much as we hope that it blows over, if it does hit, those of us who are connected to our roots will remain in place, while the wind will drive the chaff away.
[This article was published in the Jerusalem Post on July 7, 2004.]