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tanyahu fulfilled his campaign iprocity and greater Israeli secu-
promise to redeploy from Hebron, rity, Mr. Netanyahu has become
During those dark days follow- the target of hate-filled rhetoric
ing Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, reminiscent of that which plagued
we believed that the murder had Rabin.
Back home in Teaneck,
rocked the Jewish people,
N.J.,
my former rabbi is at
forever altering the land-
The grave of it again; this time his tar-
scape of Israeli society and Yitzhak
Rabin
Jewish communal relations. at Har Herzl. get is the Likud leader. Fol-
lowing the conclusion of the
We were encouraged by
Hebron agreement, the
efforts toward mutual tol-
erance and respect under way in rabbi reportedly told an Ameri-
left-wing and right-wing political can journalist: "All future Jewish
camps and in the secular and re- blood will be on his hands."
The more dovish community
ligious communities. We hoped
that lessons had indeed been also is culpable in fostering an ex-
learned; primary among them plosive environment. Many con-
was that words do have conse- tinue to brand the more hawkish
quences. And we prayed that and religious communities as sup-
rhetoric similar to that of my for- porters of Amir. In the wake of
mer spiritual leader, and of many Mr. Netanyahu's election, a senior
others, was banished to the dust- Labor Party official shockingly de-
scribed the outcome as Israel hav-
bin of history.
Fifteen months later, there has ing "elected the side of the
been progress. Many people rec- murderer and not the side of the
ognize the dangers of unbridled victim." Death threats have been
extreme rhetoric and conduct directed against Mr. Amir's fam-
themselves accordingly. A num- ily and several months ago, a fire
ber of individuals and organiza- bomb was thrown into their yard.
More disturbing than these in-
tions are doing critical work to
cidents
themselves, though, is the
combat extremism and intoler-
ance within the Jewish commu- deafening silence that has ensued.
nity in the United States and Israel is a democracy. Mr. Ne-
Israel. Yet, despite these impor- tanyahu pledged during his cam-
tant developments, there are paign that he would uphold the
those who continue to publicly and Oslo agreements; he was elected
proudly spew many of the same on this mandate and he has now
incendiary phrases to express po- fulfilled his commitment.
Why is there no outrage at his
litical dissension.
Among some of the more dis- being called a traitor and respon-
turbing incidents were those sur- sible for the shedding of Jewish
rounding the anniversary of blood?
The sad truth is that the as-
Rabin's death. Several religious
teen-agers from the Israeli town sassination °flamers head of state
of Kiryat Gat formed the Yigal by a fellow Jew was not enough of
Amir fan club; a few religious high a jolt to spur us into action. We
schools refused to commemorate have become desensitized to hate
Rabin's death; Rabin memorial and vitriol; we have lost our abil-
posters were defaced with stick- ity to be shocked.
Thankfully, the current level
ers from the banned Kach move-
of
rhetoric has not reached the
ment; a Jerusalem man scalded
Knesset member Yael Dayan dangerous heights that it did pri-
with hot tea in Hebron and then or to Mr. Rabin's assassination.
declared that he was "proud" of Should the current level remain
his having murdered an Arab sev- unchecked, we cannot discount
eral years ago; Mr. Dayan re- the potential for violence.
For my part, I cannot leave a
ceived hate calls, including death
synagogue that I have already left.
threats.
Most recently, after campaign- What I can do is continue to speak
ing on a platform of continuing out against inflammatory and in-
with the Oslo agreements on the citeful rhetoric — no matter its
basis of achieving Palestinian rec- origin. ❑

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