In Hopes Of Better Days
Tel Aviv
of Israel: The eight-fold
n the Jewish tradition,
increase of the Jewish popu-
the High Holidays are
lation in Israel from 600,000
also a time for nation-
to 5 million, including the
al soul-searching. The
immigration and absorption
past year was a year of chal-
of the Holocaust survivors
lenge to the Jewish people.
from Europe, the Jews from
It was a year in which we
Islamic countries, from the
hourly had to prove our
former Soviet Union and
national strength, our unity
MOSHE KATSAV Ethiopia; the revival of the
and our bond to our country
Hebrew language; technolog-
President
— our homeland. Terrorism
ical
achievements; a modern
of Israel
afflicted us indiscriminately
democratic country; building
and aimed at defeating Israel
an Israeli society and culture
for political benefits. The terrorism
common to Jews who have come here
experienced during the past year has
from 102 countries and speak 82 lan-
guages.
been the most difficult and cruel ever
encountered, and it brought back for-
Especially at this time, we are duty-
gotten images.
bound to increase the attachment to
Despite the difficulties, Israel has not
the State of Israel and to deepen the
ceased aiming for peace and fulfilling
Jewish education and Zionist heritage
its obligation to defend its citizens.
amongst us. I call on the Jewish corn-
The people of Israel derive encour-
munities in the world to visit Israel
agement from the solidarity missions
and to place the issue of aliyah on their
arriving from the diaspora. The soli-
agenda. We are one people; we have
darity rallies with Israel taking place
one heritage and one destiny.
throughout the world symbolize the
On the eve of the new year, I con-
vey to you and to your families my
special attachment of the Jewish people
with our homeland. Your continued
best wishes for a happy new year, a
efforts are important and unify us.
year of ingathering of the exiles, a
Dear friends, despite the difficulties
year of peace and security. We all
and concerns, we must remember the
hope and pray for better days for the
Jewish people. ❑
historical achievements of the people
I
Protecting Civil Liberties
If the perpetrators of this tragedy think
it will cause Washington to rethink its
support for Israel, they are likely to be
very disappointed. It didn't work with
the Arab oil embargo nearly 30 years
ago, and the Arab image in America has
never fully recovered.
The Saudis and the other oil sheiks
are not viewed-as reliable allies, while
over the same period U.S.-Israeli ties
steadily grew closer.
Israel's quick action sending rescue
crews to help find survivors and expres-
sions of support such as declaring a day
of mourning will help strengthen those
bonds.
In recent weeks, State Department
spokesmen have been preaching to
Israel that it should show restraint in
the face of suicide bombers and end the
"cycle of violence." If President Bush
follows that advice after this week's
bombings in American cities, he'll guar-
antee his early retirement.
Hopefully, U.S. policy makers and
others at the UN and elsewhere so free
with their advice to Israel to turn the
other cheek will learn something.
The greatest threat, notwithstanding
the enormous loss of life, could be to
our own civil liberties if we overreact.
Thirty years ago this spring, a small
bomb went off in the U.S. Capitol. It
did negligible physical damage but the
collateral damage has been immense.
No longer were democracy's greatest
shrines openly-accessible to all citizens
at all times. Over the years, restrictions
have grown to the point where most of
the building is off-limits and the rest is
open only for short periods of rime.
We can no longer drive past the
White House. Most other public build-
ings are generally off-limits and we pass
through magnometers at museums,
schools, banquets, and virtually every
other mass gathering. And especially at
airports, though it apparently didn't
work very well this week.
The sad conclusion is that terrorism
works. It spreads fear, limits people's
rights, restricts our movement, creates a
fortress society and costs us precious
freedoms.
We must be very careful to take the
appropriate measures to protect our per-
sonal safety, but not go to extremes that
will cost us our civil liberties and free-
dom of movement. If that happens, the
"bin Ladens" of the world are the big
winners and we are their prisoners.
❑
9/14
2001
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