Locked Down In erusalem
Jerusalem
very few of the townspeople, had
o, I'm a bit housebound at
ever encountered a Jew. That's what
the moment. After the night-
makes their achievement so much
mare the first night of
more meaningful. It was most
Passover turned into, police
uplifting to listen to those students
have suggested that we not leave our
briefing us about their worthwhile
homes this evening due to a rumor
project.
that there are about three terrorists in
The students and teachers assem-
Jerusalem waiting to attack.
bled in the auditorium and I talked
I didn't know 'about the request
to them about my Holocaust experi-
when
I got home from my vacation
ences. Questions and answers fol-
up
north.
I walked the completely
lowed, and I enjoyed their southern
desolate streets, past the closed mar-
accents. We then visited the school.
kets to a friend's house. She was
Outside, in front of the building, I
shocked to see me and told me the
saw the cattle car of the kind that
situation.
was used to transport Jews to death
When I walked home from her
or concentration camps. Inside the
apartment after dinner, I noticed
car, behind glass, there were more
some 'religious boys dressed in black
than 15 million paper clips.
hats and long black coats, with peyot
The students now want to collect
(side curls). Terrorists have dressed up
more clips for a total of 18 million
as religious men before. Are those
— to represent the letter chai, the
terrorists?
Hebrew symbol for life.
I passed a heavyset woman in a
Just before leaving, we inquired
winter coat and walked along the
about the origin of the cattle car. To
other side of the street. Terrorists
my shock, we found it came from
Krakow, Poland, my hometown. It's
Devra Wanetik made aliyah in
quite possible that members of my
October. She is a graduate of Ohio State
family, friends or even I was trans-
University in Columbus and the daugh-
ported in this very car! Needless to
ter
of Ann and Leonard Wanetik of West
say, our visit to Whitwell was a dra-
Bloomfield.
Her e-mail address is
matic and truly unforgettable experi-
dwanetik@netvision.net.il
ence. ❑
S
In such cases, Karsh explains, the
outcome is "decisively dependent on
the vicissitudes of national morale
with victory or defeat often deter-
mined less by battlefield strength than
by national cohesion and resilience."
The implication is clear: If Israel is to
protect itself, it must achieve a com-
prehensive military victory over the
Palestinians, so that the latter give up
their goal of obliterating it.
Ending the Palestinian assault will be
achieved not through some negotiated
breakthrough, but by Palestinians (and
Arabic-speakers more generally) con-
cluding that their effort to destroy the
Jewish state will fail, and so give up this
ambition. There is a war under way,
but nearly all observers prefer to ignore
this unpleasant reality, preferring
instead to suggest meaningless quick
fixes. The time has come for them to
face facts, which means finding ways to
put a stop to Palestinian aggression.
For the U.S. government, this
means halting counterproductive
efforts at brokering a ceasefire and
focusing on getting Israel's neighbors
finally to accept its existence. ❑
be able to live freely in their
own country.
I recently got an e-mail
message from someone I used
to be close with. He attacked
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
up?
Sharon. He attacked Israel,
Just boys, just a woman,
saying we are oppressors hold-
just a cat. Just the most petri-
ing down another people.
DE VRA
fying walk home I've taken
Who's
stuck in her house
WAN ETIK
since I made aliyah.
tonight?
I wonder how many
Spe cial
When I lived in Columbus,
state police told him
times
the
Comm
entary
I always walked with mace. I
he
had
to
stay
inside because
was wary of any man who
there were terrorists out to
crossed my path after dark.
kill anyone of his race they could get
Now, I find myself wary of cars
their hands on.
parked oddly and Israeli boys with
I don't think the people reading
more of a Sephardi (darker) complex-
this
would hold those opinions. I'm
ion.
sure
that you are all fully supportive
We have become prisoners in our
of
the
existence of a Jewish State of
own country. Jews say, 'How do the
Israel. I just hope that when some-
Arabs get off thinking they can run
our lives?' Well, it's probably because one you are close with tells you about
how terrible this country and this
they do. How many trips have been
government are, you ask them: (a) if
cancelled to Israel because of the cur-
they've ever been here, and (b) how
rent situation? How many people
many times they've had to think "I'd
have moved their families back to the
like to go to the grocery store today.
states? How many times have I been
Hey, did that get blown up last
told I'm doing something horrible to
week?"
my parents by choosing to live here?
So, it's Passover, I'm feeling a bit
I'm not doing something horrible,
claustrophobic, but I wouldn't want
I'm doing what they taught me. I'm
standing up for what I feel is right — to celebrate Jewish freedom anywhere
else. ❑
and that is for the Jewish people to
have dressed up as women. Is
that a terrorist?
I heard a weird sound from
a car. Terrorists booby-trap
cars. Is that car going to blow
Perspectives on Israel: a continuing series
IT'S NOT RETALIATION
Retal ia
4..
n is not Israel's policy. But news stories
H regularly refer to Israel as retaliating
for Palestinian terrorism.
Last June, Yassir Arafat reached a "moment of decision" when a
suicide bomber killed 22 young Israelis outside a Tel-Aviv disco. At
that time, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon surprised many by respond-
ing diplomatically rather than militarily. He relied on Arafat, and the
effect of American and international pressure on the Palestinian
Authority, to stop the terrorism. The result: Arafat continued
the terror.
Back on the White House lawn in 1993, Israel agreed to give Arafat
land, guns and stature for a commitment to end terrorism, violence
and incitement. But in October 2000, after Israel offered the
Palestinians a state with east Jerusalem as its capital, Arafat
stepped up the very activities he had sworn to end.
Now, even after 10 Arafat-broken ceasefires and almost daily sui-
cide bombings, many by Arafat's own forces, Israel still accepted
General Zinni's latest effort, while Arafat held out for more rewards
for violence.
So Israel will continue to take military measures to protect her
citizens. That is not retaliation; that is a nation's first responsibility.
For a fuller explanation of retaliation, visit:
www.israelorg
Looking for ways to support Israel?
The Jewish Community Council's Israel Advocacy Network (IAN)
delivers timely e-mail notices of important articles, analysis and
action. To subscribe, send an e-mail to IAN@jfmd.org with the
word SUBSCRIBE in the subject box.
Jewish
Community
Councilmwargotbe
.
To learn more about how you can become an effective Israel advocate, visit www.iewishcommunitvcouncilorq
4/5
2002
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