Israel Unfairly Treated

Six Days Of War

Philadelphia
he bombs have begun to
signs. They have never said anything,
helpful information for answering
explode again, but fear is not
and I have never asked them for
he most overwhelming vic-
them. Here are three key ones.
the emotion the visitor to
thanks. In my mind, it's not expected."
tory in the annals of war-
• Why did the war take place?
Israel encounters most often;
fare took place in June 35
The question arises because, like
rather, it is the angry bewilderment of
years ago, when Israeli
World War I, no one planned for or
Motivating Factors
one accused of crimes he didn't commit.
forces defeated the Egyptian,
wanted this war. Oren's research offers
In the media and statements of for-
Dr. Koppelman's impassive counte-
Jordanian and Syrian armies in a mere
insights into its thoroughly accidental
eign ministers, Israel often stands false-
nance suggests a weary resignation to
six days.
quality. In November 1966, for exam-
ly accused of massacring hun-
a world convulsing around
And this June is marked by
ple, after the killing of three
dreds of civilians, of spreading
him; as we spoke, I won-
the publication of Six Days of
Israeli policemen at the hands
propaganda to mischaracterize
dered, what allows him to
War: June 1967 and the
of Jordan-based terrorists, the
its peace proposals, of occupy-
spend grueling hours operat-
Making of the Modern Middle
usually efficient U.S. ambassa-
ing the moral low ground in its
ing on those who murdered
East (Oxford University Press;
dor to Israel waited a few days
ongoing conflict with the
his countrymen and may do
$30) by Michael Oren, the
to transmit a message of con-
Palestinians. As a result, in
so again?
finest book ever on this topic.
0 •
dolence from Jordan's King
European capitals, boycotting
Dr. Koppelman could
Oren, an Israeli scholar of
Hussein to the Israeli prime
Israeli exports is de rigueur
-
rightfully refuse to heal the
American origins, tells his story
minister. His delay prompted
DAN IEL
(required by current fashion).
ANDREW S. enemy. Not only has he wit-
in a spare, direct and gripping
the Israelis to retaliate; that
`PIP ES
So many people who I met
DOCTOROFF nessed the ravages of terror-
way, replete with punchy quo-
retaliation, in turn, became a
Community
in Israel recently asked plain-
Spe cial
ism (since October 2000,
tations. Six Days of War bene-
major episode in the escala-
Views
tively, why doesn't the world
Comm
entary tion to war.
doctors at HaEmek have
fits from sources in six lan-
understand? Why doesn't it
treated 480 people injured
guages and is the first account
The role of accidents needs
appreciate that we crave peace,
by suicide bombers); he has
to rely on recently opened state
to be kept in mind these days,
but our efforts to obtain it were aborted literally felt its explosive impact. Twice archives, which provide his account
as the winds of war again blow in the
by a corrupt dictator who walked away
within the last two months, Dr.
with the previously unknown inside
Middle East; even the slightest mis-
from the negotiating table at Camp
Koppelman was driving his car when
story, including a number of scoops
step could cause a blow-up.
David, who funds terrorist attacks, who
it was rocked by the force of bombs
(such as the Arab plans for conquering
• How did the Israel Defense Forces
publishes anti-Semitic screeds?
detonated by those called "martyrs."
Israel; or how Defense Minister Moshe
win so overwhelmingly?
The legitimacy of the sentiment
But Dr. Koppelman endures, saying
Dayan's orders to seize the Golan
By meticulous practice and absolute
that Israel has been unfairly aban-
that he treats terrorists wheeled into
Heights violated his terms of office).
realism, in contrast to the Arab mili-
doned comes into sharp focus at
HaEmek's emergency room because
No wonder it is a U.S. bestseller even
taries, which lived in a fantasy world. If
HaEmek Medical Center, which is
"it's my obligation as a doctor, as a
before its formal release.
the Israelis were all nerves on the
perched on a hill overlooking the
Jew, as a human being."
Several questions still endure about
approaching war — Chief of Staff
Jezreel Valley, an area in the Central
Before rendering judgments against
the 1967 war, and Oren provides
Yitzhak Rabin suffered a breakdown —
Galilee whose residents are within eye- Israel, the international community
the Arab leaders were supremely over-
shot of Jenin, the West Bank city said
should assess whether, in advancing
Daniel Pipes is director of the Middle
confident. A Syrian general predicted a
to be teeming with terrorists.
East Forum. His e-mail address is
It is there where Dr. Doron
DOCTOROFF on page 36
PIPES on page 36
Pip es @MEfo rum. org
Koppelman, an Israeli surgeon, plies
his trade. He and his colleagues do so
indiscriminately: they suture the
Perspectives on Israel: a continuing series
wounds of both Jews and Arabs —
Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gun-
men, the victims and the perpetrators
of terrorism, respectively.
It was Dr. Koppelman's surgical skills
that last month saved a 19-year-old
be effective advocates for Israel.
ritories. The offer was backed by billions of dollars of promised
would-be suicide bomber who intend-
Here
are
some
potent
responses
aid.
ArafatJejected it, and turned his strategy away from nego-
ed to kill scores of Israelis; instead, the
you
can
use
when
challenged
in
casual
conversations
about
tiation
and toward violence and terror. The violence is not from
explosives attached to his body ignited
Israel:
desperation;
it is calculated and cruel.
prematurely, injuring his lungs and
abdomen. The young Palestinian lay in
On fighting terror: Israel is exercising its right to self-
No equivalency: It is important to distinguish between one
a hospital bed, eating a hot meal and
defense
in
combating
the
terror,
which
has
been
directed
who
initiates violence, and one who responds to it. There is no
protected by Israeli policemen.
against innocent civilians - men, women and children. This
'At first, I was looking for some
"cycle of violence" between Palestinians and Israelis. There is
falls in line with the Bush Doctrine, " There is no such thing as
signs of appreciation from them," Dr.
only Palestinian terror, and Israel's efforts to combat it.
a good terrorist", and "Those that knowingly harbor terrorists
Koppelman says of his patients, who
generally remain stone-faced in his
are the same as terrorists." America and Israel are leading the
For more information check out the Current Controversies page
presence. "But I have never seen those
fight against a terrorism which, if not defeated, puts the entire
of Myths and Facts at www.jewishvirtuallibrary.com .
free world at risk.
Andrew S. Doctoroff of Huntington

T

T

SPEAKING OUT FOR ISRAEL

We can all

Woods is an attorney in Detroit. He a
vice-president of the American Jewish
Committee Metropolitan Detroit
Chapter board of directors. He took part
in the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's May solidarity mission to Israel.

On suicide/homicide bombers, roadside attack-
ers and snipers: The Palestinians' so-called "war to end

the occupation" was launched after Yassir Arafat walked away
from the September 2000 Camp David negotiations, which con-
tained an Israeli offer to end Israel's military presence in the ter-

• •
Jewish
Commynity
Councilageigmgallucifire

To learn more about how you can become an effective Israel advocate, visit vvww.iewishcommunitvcouncil.orq

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2002

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