OTHER VIEWS
An Uncomfortable Feeling
Philadelphia
ow would American Jews
react if Israel killed Yasser
Arafat?
The notion that Israeli
might put an end to the Palestinian
leader was given credence by a state-
ment from Israeli Cabinet member
Ehud Olmert. But the groundswell for
holding the old criminal personally
accountable for the latest surge in ter-
rorism, which has demolished the
Bush administration's road map
scheme, seems to be ebbing in the
face of international pressure and dis-
approval from the United States.
Given the fact that it is unlikely
that Israel's government would ever
carry out such a plan, I doubt we'll
really get an answer to the question of
how the Jews might react.
As to the pros and cons of possible
Israeli action, Arafat was and is a ter-
rorist. He launched a war in 2000
when he could have had peace, and is
personally responsible for the thou-
sands of deaths — both Jewish and
Arab — that followed.
Arafat is also a clear obstacle to
progress in negotiations, as was
recently seen when short-lived
Palestinian premier Mahmoud Abbas
fled the post in exasperation. Peace is
not in Arafat's interests, nor would it
achieve his goal of obliterating Israel.
After a lifetime of murder, Arafat's
Fatah Party commissioned a new ter-
rorist group — the Al Aksa Martyrs
Brigades — in order to compete with
Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor o
the Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia.
His e-mail address is
jtobin@jewishexponent.com
IMPOSIBLE QUESTION from page 44
ter. The situation here obviously is
not good and not everyone can deal
with such tensions and risks, espe-
cially if they're traveling with chil-
dren."
I explained to Norma why her
question, though perfectly under-
standable, was impossible to answer.
"Imagine I should convince you and
your family to come and something
terrible happens," I said. "I'd never
forgive myself for the rest of my
life."
Forever Branded
It's strange to think I live in a place
9/26
2003
46
his Islamic fundamentalist rivals-cum-
allies, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
But whether Arafat continues to sit
in his ruined Ramallah compound,
joins his wife in luxurious exile in
Paris, goes on a hate-Israel tour of
international capitals or is given the
bullet in his head that he so richly
deserves, Israel will still be faced with
the question of what to do next.
Arafat is personally an obstacle to
peace, but those who blindly assume
that he is the only such obstacle are
overly optimistic.
Yet let us assume for a minute that
Israeli troops actually did kill Arafat.
What would we do, and how would
we respond to the storm of interna-
tional criticism that would rain down
on the Jewish state?
Many would applaud it as an act of
justice and rally to Israel's defense. But
many other American Jews would be
pained by such a bold stroke, and
decry Israel's move while simultane-
ously opposing the hypocritical criti-
cisms put forward in Europe and else-
where.
Image To Protect
Let's face it, many American Jews
want Israel to exist — but on our own
terms. We want it to behave nicely
and, like a good child, be a credit to
us. We want an ideal country, a liberal
country that fights fair and is always
in the right. And whether in the right
or not, we don't want it to do any-
thing that might embarrass us.
Some 55 years after its birth, Israel
remains integral to the self-image of
the Diaspora. Just as the creation of
the state in 1948 allowed Jews
that most people abroad are afraid
to visit. Even more unsettling is
how many Israelis won't come to
Jerusalem for fear of terrorist
attacks.
Norma said that she and Michael
were seriously considering calling
the trip off. I told her I would per-
fectly understand and respect their
decision either way. The conversa-
tion ended with her trip still very
much up in the air.
The next time we spoke,
Norma, Michael and their children
were in Tel Aviv. They were as
happy as could be. A few days
later, we welcomed them to our
die, but I don't know whether killing
throughout the world to hold their
or exiling him will advance Israel's
heads higher, so, too, do its reverses
chances for peace. Neither do most
send many of us into a funk.
Israelis. But it is possible that, despite
And, when it is unfairly assailed for
the opposition of its American ally,
its willingness to strike back against its
Israel's leaders may understandably
enemies, too many of us internalize
come to the conclusion that
the criticism.
terminating the head of the
That's why a lot of Ameri-
corrupt terrorist regime
can Jews prefer to lash out at
known as the Palestinian
Israel, its settlers, its security
Authority will save lives.
fence and its military counter-
Let us also hear no more
strikes against terrorists, rather
about the need to listen to
than at those Arabs who are
world opinion on this subject.
still trying to destroy it.
Though opposed to killing or
The mere discussion of
killing Arafat is just the sort
JONAT HAN exiling Arafat, the United
States has no qualms about
of thing that makes a lot of us
S. TO BIN
trying to kill its enemies, rules
queasy. Such an action, like
Spec ial
the Israeli bombing of Iraq's
Comm entary or no rules. An international
community that would cele-
nuclear reactor in 1981, is the
brate a terrorist like Arafat and
work of atough Jewish state
that
is
indifferent
to the Jewish blood
that isn't always prepared to play by
he's shed has no right to say anything
the rules. And that's especially true
about Israeli self-defense.
when the rules — and the interna-
The point is, those Jews who are
tional court of public opinion — are
quick to attack the idea of knocking
stacked against its survival.
off a murderer should look in the mir-
As has become increasingly clear, no
ror and ask if they oppose decisive
one in Israel seems to have a clue as to
action because they think it will hurt
what they might do to advance peace.
Israel or because it will make them
The solutions of the left and the right
have both failed. Building a fence — a feel uncomfortable.
It would be nice for Israel to be the
measure that is of questionable mili-
popular kid on the block, but a desire
tary value but which provides great
to be loved by the world isn't nearly as
psychological comfort — seems to be
important as the Israeli lives taken by
the only thing most Israelis support.
Palestinian terror in the past three
But that equivocal stance is pro-
years, while Arafat shamefully played
foundly unsatisfying to Diaspora Jews
games with "peace." Whether or not
who don't want to accept that some
Israel kills Arafat, American Jews need
problems — like the Arab-Israeli con-
to get over their desire for the Jewish
flict — have no clear solution.
state to refrain from defending itself
merely in order to bolster our sense of
To Kill Or Not
self-esteem.
Personally, I think Arafat deserves to
❑
home for dinner during which
they waxed near euphoric about
their time in Israel.
Norma and Michael explained
how their respective parents, espe-
cially on his side, had strongly
urged them not to come to Israel.
They spoke of how almost no one
in Detroit said to them before they
left, "Have a nice time," but rather,
"Come back safely."
They spoke of how so many
Israelis had thanked them for com-
ing at such a difficult time. They
lamented that the tourist sites they
visited were so deserted. They told
us of their Israeli friends in Tel
Aviv who refused to join them at
our home for dinner because they
were afraid to come to Jerusalem.
As I write this, Norma and her
family are at Ben-Gurion Airport
preparing to fly home. Earlier this
evening, when we called to say
goodbye, Norma was extremely
emotional.
She said this had been the best,
most rewarding trip that she and
Michael had ever taken, and that
they can't wait to come back again.
I wondered what would have
happened had I advised her not to
come when she called us from
Detroit two weeks earlier. ❑