A magician makes a living by drawing your attention to one hand while they do a trick with the other. One is so busy watching the wrong hand, it seems like magic when a rabbit appears in a pocket or a coin disappears into thin air. It is the art of "prestidigitation", defined on thefreedictionary.com as:
It is no accident that the man who has ignored the months-long rocket barrage of Sderot has suddenly woken up and seized upon the attack on Jewish soldiers at the very same moment that he is planning to flatten the homes of Jews in 13 communities in Judea and Samaria. Who in their right mind would pay attention to the plight of Jewish settlers in small outposts when a young solder has been kidnapped, two other soldiers killed and the border of Israel breached by gun-toting madmen? This is the perfect moment for the magician to work his magic.
So, while CNN, FOX and CBS are fighting for the best vantage point in Gaza for the touted ground assault, who will notice the secret movement of a few hundred IDF troops to some hilltop communities? Those reporters are too busy to see the bloodied faces of protesters who boldly stand arm-in-arm to protect and defend Jewish rights to Jewish land, the screaming mothers dragged from their homes, the small children hanging on desperately to the porch support of the only home they have ever known, and the fathers weeping the Amidah prayer with their feet stuck together as the soldiers move them from their living rooms.
Sad to say, but Ehud Olmert will probably wow his ministers with his clever deceit and sleight of hand. He will have succeeded where he previously failed. He will have destroyed Jewish lives without publicity or outcry.
But it isn't the ministers he should be worried about. It isn't the news media he should be worried about. You see, Olmert might be working with sleight of hand in a successful sideshow in Jerusalem, but our terrorist enemies are looking to be featured performers on the high points of Israel's most cherished stage: Judea and Samaria.
Until you have stood at the tops of the mountains where the "settlements" are located you cannot know how important a few trailers, dogs and guns can be. Without those small outcroppings of Jewish presence, the hills overlooking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are like an open invitation to the terrorists and their rockets. Olmert, in his greedy attempt to gain favor from Europe and the Left by disengaging Jews from their land, may sadly succeed in the greater shelling of Israel. He will have created a greater and more ominous problem than he can imagine.
So, while my friends and family, the news media and our politicians watch carefully as events unfold in Gaza, I will stand by my computer and carefully read the posts of those facing Olmert's tricks in Judea and Samaria. After Olmert clears the stage there and calls for intermission, I have no doubt the rest of the world will join me in watching Olmert's production of the second act.
G-d help us.
1. Performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands; sleight of hand.If you enjoy being amazed by these tricks, consider yourself lucky. We have a master magician working the public at this very moment. Step right up to see The Amazing Olmert -- performing with such subtly and guile that few of you have noticed as he has drawn your attention and nationalist emotions toward Gaza, while making IDF troops appear within a pocket of Jewish communities. Watch Jewish homes disappear into thin air!
2. A show of skill or deceitful cleverness.
It is no accident that the man who has ignored the months-long rocket barrage of Sderot has suddenly woken up and seized upon the attack on Jewish soldiers at the very same moment that he is planning to flatten the homes of Jews in 13 communities in Judea and Samaria. Who in their right mind would pay attention to the plight of Jewish settlers in small outposts when a young solder has been kidnapped, two other soldiers killed and the border of Israel breached by gun-toting madmen? This is the perfect moment for the magician to work his magic.
So, while CNN, FOX and CBS are fighting for the best vantage point in Gaza for the touted ground assault, who will notice the secret movement of a few hundred IDF troops to some hilltop communities? Those reporters are too busy to see the bloodied faces of protesters who boldly stand arm-in-arm to protect and defend Jewish rights to Jewish land, the screaming mothers dragged from their homes, the small children hanging on desperately to the porch support of the only home they have ever known, and the fathers weeping the Amidah prayer with their feet stuck together as the soldiers move them from their living rooms.
Sad to say, but Ehud Olmert will probably wow his ministers with his clever deceit and sleight of hand. He will have succeeded where he previously failed. He will have destroyed Jewish lives without publicity or outcry.
But it isn't the ministers he should be worried about. It isn't the news media he should be worried about. You see, Olmert might be working with sleight of hand in a successful sideshow in Jerusalem, but our terrorist enemies are looking to be featured performers on the high points of Israel's most cherished stage: Judea and Samaria.
Until you have stood at the tops of the mountains where the "settlements" are located you cannot know how important a few trailers, dogs and guns can be. Without those small outcroppings of Jewish presence, the hills overlooking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are like an open invitation to the terrorists and their rockets. Olmert, in his greedy attempt to gain favor from Europe and the Left by disengaging Jews from their land, may sadly succeed in the greater shelling of Israel. He will have created a greater and more ominous problem than he can imagine.
So, while my friends and family, the news media and our politicians watch carefully as events unfold in Gaza, I will stand by my computer and carefully read the posts of those facing Olmert's tricks in Judea and Samaria. After Olmert clears the stage there and calls for intermission, I have no doubt the rest of the world will join me in watching Olmert's production of the second act.
G-d help us.