Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel, visited my president, George W. Bush, at Bush's spread at Crawford, somewhat near Dallas.
Sharon and Bush spoke of many things, Gaza, of course, and Ma'aleh Adumim, to be sure, but Sharon came here with a special message that he expressed on our national TV. In particular, then, Sharon wanted Americans to know that Israel is on the edge of civil war, and if that does happen, the Jews are to blame.
Sharon - on whose watch more than a thousand Israelis have been slaughtered by Arab terrorists - made no big deal about Arab terrorism. The Arabs are not to blame.
The Jews.
For unrest in Israel and, by implication, other parts of the Middle East, do not blame Hizbullah or Hamas.
Blame the Jews.
He said: "All my life I was defending [the lives] of Jews."
This may come as a surprise to the thousands in Israel who were made widows, widowers and orphans as the result of Sharon's lapses in defending the lives of Jews.
"For the first time," he told America, "security steps are taken to protect me from Jews."
(Some might say -- if only he were so concerned for the safety of all Israelis in addition to me... me... me.)
France does not come here to blame the French. Germany does not come here to blame the Germans. But Israel comes here to blame Israelis.
Here in America, we would not be happy if an American president went overseas to fault Americans. Such a president would not receive a pleasant homecoming.
In Israel, however, among some Israelis (mainly in newsrooms and lecture halls) it is a good thing to tar the Jews inside Israel and outside Israel.
Sharon, then, did well.
America is the measure of all things. If America can be turned against the Jews, particularly at the urging of Israel's prime minister, then Sharon did very well.
Sharon's visit coincided with the anniversary of the Passover Massacre. While Sharon was prime minister (March 27, 2002), 30 Israelis, mostly elderly, celebrating Passover, were murdered by Arabs at the Park Hotel in Netanya; nearly 200 wounded and maimed. These, obviously, did not receive (adequate) security steps.
Sharon, as far as we know, did not mention the Passover Massacre to Bush or to the rest of us. That would have brought up Arab terrorism and no one wants to be a party pooper.
He mentioned the Jews.
Indeed, Bush proclaimed that Israelis are to share Israel and live in "peace and security" with the same people who produced the Passover Massacre.
Sharon agreed. That is why he is uprooting Jews from all parts of Israel, beginning with Gush Katif in Gaza. Sharon and Bush are very happy about this.
Obviously, there are not enough Arabs and too many Jews in Israel.
It is for all that uprooting, and the protests against it, that Sharon is fearful. His security detail, surrounding him by the strength of dozens, are not sufficient.
All Americans must rally toward Sharon, according to Sharon. He needs us to fend off those Jews.
Some Americans were embarrassed by Israel's prime minister. To speak publicly against your own people - some here called it treachery.
At the very least -- bad manners.
Sharon and Bush spoke of many things, Gaza, of course, and Ma'aleh Adumim, to be sure, but Sharon came here with a special message that he expressed on our national TV. In particular, then, Sharon wanted Americans to know that Israel is on the edge of civil war, and if that does happen, the Jews are to blame.
Sharon - on whose watch more than a thousand Israelis have been slaughtered by Arab terrorists - made no big deal about Arab terrorism. The Arabs are not to blame.
The Jews.
For unrest in Israel and, by implication, other parts of the Middle East, do not blame Hizbullah or Hamas.
Blame the Jews.
He said: "All my life I was defending [the lives] of Jews."
This may come as a surprise to the thousands in Israel who were made widows, widowers and orphans as the result of Sharon's lapses in defending the lives of Jews.
"For the first time," he told America, "security steps are taken to protect me from Jews."
(Some might say -- if only he were so concerned for the safety of all Israelis in addition to me... me... me.)
France does not come here to blame the French. Germany does not come here to blame the Germans. But Israel comes here to blame Israelis.
Here in America, we would not be happy if an American president went overseas to fault Americans. Such a president would not receive a pleasant homecoming.
In Israel, however, among some Israelis (mainly in newsrooms and lecture halls) it is a good thing to tar the Jews inside Israel and outside Israel.
Sharon, then, did well.
America is the measure of all things. If America can be turned against the Jews, particularly at the urging of Israel's prime minister, then Sharon did very well.
Sharon's visit coincided with the anniversary of the Passover Massacre. While Sharon was prime minister (March 27, 2002), 30 Israelis, mostly elderly, celebrating Passover, were murdered by Arabs at the Park Hotel in Netanya; nearly 200 wounded and maimed. These, obviously, did not receive (adequate) security steps.
Sharon, as far as we know, did not mention the Passover Massacre to Bush or to the rest of us. That would have brought up Arab terrorism and no one wants to be a party pooper.
He mentioned the Jews.
Indeed, Bush proclaimed that Israelis are to share Israel and live in "peace and security" with the same people who produced the Passover Massacre.
Sharon agreed. That is why he is uprooting Jews from all parts of Israel, beginning with Gush Katif in Gaza. Sharon and Bush are very happy about this.
Obviously, there are not enough Arabs and too many Jews in Israel.
It is for all that uprooting, and the protests against it, that Sharon is fearful. His security detail, surrounding him by the strength of dozens, are not sufficient.
All Americans must rally toward Sharon, according to Sharon. He needs us to fend off those Jews.
Some Americans were embarrassed by Israel's prime minister. To speak publicly against your own people - some here called it treachery.
At the very least -- bad manners.