IN I Opinion

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The Zionism of Disengagement

W

Nether you agree with the wisdom of the
Israeli government plan for a unilateral
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and set-
tlements in the northern West Bank (Samaria), the
decision should be seen not as a defeat, but as a tri-
umph. A triumph of Zionism.
You'd be hard pressed to know it, though, since
most of the people who include a mention of
Zionism to buttress their position are decked out in
the orange of disengagement opponents. But
Zionism has always been about Jewish self-determi-
nation and the ability of Jews as Jews, as a nation
among nations, to be an actor in our own history,
rather than simply to be acted upon.
And that is exactly what the disengage-
ment is all about.
Astute observers explained former
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's unwillingness to stop
terror and make peace as part of a strategy that looks
to destroy Israel in the long term. The clear message of
Arafat's favorite "million martyrs marching towards
Jerusalem" mantra was that Palestinians will embrace
death until they achieve their goals.
In other words, goes that mantra: You might kill
us today, but we'll grow stronger until we kill you
tomorrow. Just stay put. Stay overextended. Don't
do anything until we have an Islamic bomb. Don't
do anything until we demographically overwhelm
you. Don't do anything until the United States, and
an aging and declining American Jewry, is not such

a strong ally. Don't do anything until terror-
ism, economic decline, emigration and
social divisions weaken Israel.
But if the Palestinians and other of Israel's
neighbors aren't ready or able, for whatever
reason, to make peace with Israel, how long
must Israel wait to take action to move
ahead with the Zionist vision of a Jewish,
democratic, progressive Israel? This is a con-
tinuation of the practical Zionism of creating
"facts on the ground" and chalutzim (pio-
neers). The settlement and development of
the Galilee and especially the Negev, both to
be re-emphasized following the disengage-
ment, will send the message of a strong,
proud and permanent Israel in a
way that continuing to protect iso-
lated communities in the Gaza
Strip and West Bank never would.
Risk always accompanies decision-making,
and only time will tell how well Israel's
actions will work out. But while we fear for
Israel's vulnerabilities, Israel is a strong
nation, and there is a good likelihood that
disengagement will make it even stronger.
Practical Zionism never ignored reality; it
has sought to shape it. There are agreements
to negotiate and sign, but Israel can't wait
until someone steps up as a partner. Israel
needs leadership, decisiveness, vision and
action for the betterment of the Jewish peo-
ple and the Jewish state.
And that is what Zionism is all about. ❑

EDITO RIAL

E-mail your opinion in a letter to the editor of no
more than 150 words to: letters@thejewishnews.com.

Dry

Bones KING SOLOMON

N OUR TIMES

ISRAEL IS
GETTING SAFER
AND SAFER.

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OF COURSE
THAT'S ONLY
RELATIVE TO THE
REST OF THE
WORLD!

www.drybonesprojectcom

Wheel Of Fortune

I

learned in the last few days that two people
who had done me nasty got it right in the
choppers. One is out of a job and the other
may face a prison sentence.
I nursed these resentments for years. I would tell my
wife when I went to Shabbat services that I would say
a reverse Mi Shebeirach for one of them — praying
that he would get sick. And I was only half joking.
Oddly enough, however, when I heard the news, I
felt no satisfaction whatsoever. That puzzled me a
little. I carried the grudges for so long that it should
have felt b great to see them brought
0 low.
But it turned out that revenge eaten cold is a
highly over-rated dish.
Don't get me wrong. I didn't feel any
great compassion for them, either. But
their downfall meant little to me. It didn't
make my life any better. I simply digested the news,
smiled wanly and moved on.
The morning after hearing about all that, Sherry and
I decided to drive to Northville. It's one of our favorite
places to walk and grab breakfast on the weekend, and

I hadn't seen it in years and in a moment we both
this was an especially lovely summer morning.
were laughing helplessly, along with our astonished
We were making our way down Main Street when
spouses.
what to my wondering eyes should appear but John
Only later did I recall that there had been another
Genitti, genial proprietor of the popular Genitti's
Genitti
on that team. John's brother was one of our
Hole-in-the-Wall restaurant.
better athletes. He wore a batting glove, which I
We've known each other for almost 40 years, when I
thought was way cool, and when he left for
was a young reporter at the Free Press and John
the service he gave it to me for safekeeping.
was an even younger copy boy. I learned he is
He was killed in Vietnam, the only person
now a grandfather, which shook me a little..
I knew who lost his life there. I held on to
He insisted that we come into his restau-
his glove for years, until it disappeared dur-
rant for a pop and a chat. We talked about
ing one of my moves. I wish I had taken
the old days, a time when the daily papers
better care of it.
were pleased to harbor an amazing number
Still, I left the restaurant feeling terrific. The
of renegades, eccentrics and flawed
last two times John and I had run into each
geniuses.
GEO RGE
other was at funerals. This was much more fun.
We both played on the paper's
CAN
TOR
It was also far better to look back in laughter
softball team, a crew for which the
Colu minst
rather than in regret and anger. Being impris-
word "ragtag" was invented. John pulled out a
oned by the imperfect past is ridiculous. But
photograph of this roster, taken in around
for far too long I allowed old grievances to get in the
1970. It showed an incredible assortment of the
way of savoring life.
most unathletic looking specimens of all sizes and
The wheel does come around. It grinds slowly,
shapes that you will ever see.
but it grinds exceeding fine. I should have known
A friend once described this picture as resembling
better than to sulk just because it didn't spin at the
one of the charts you see in biology textbooks,
speed I desired. [11
depicting the evolution of man from the great apes.

REAL ITT
CBE CE

George Cantor's e-mail address is
orantor614@aolcom.
6

8/11

2005

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