Editor's Letter

Breaking The Enemy

T

he more Israel concedes, and the more it bends
As we talked, it struck me that the Israeli government
to show how accommodating it can be, the more
always seems willing to plead with the enemy in search of a
emboldened its enemies become.
peace package. Time has proven that Israel doesn't have to
"When Israel thinks it's projecting a message of peaceful-
bargain away its values to flourish.
ness, what's being perceived on the other side is a message
Jacoby termed the notion of pleading with the enemy
of weakness," says Jeff Jacoby, one of America's pre-eminent
"double think;' borrowing a phrase popularized by Russian
conservative voices on national and
dissident Natan Sharansky to describe what it's like to live in a
international affairs. "That message
totalitarian society. In the world of double think, Israelis and
of weakness just
their supporters, the West included, yearn for
increases the appetite
Israeli-Palestinian peace but recognize the
of Israel's enemies!'
Time has proven
nature of Israel's terror-minded neighbors.
The Boston Globe
The desire for peace trumps reality.
that Israel doesn't
syndicated columnist,
Jacoby brilliantly dissected this notion:
a Cleveland native, cov-
"It's obviously psychological. I think there's a
have to bargain
ered a range of issues
certain level where people steeped in Western
in an exclusive 30-min-
maybe in Jewish culture, just find
away its values to it culture,
ute interview with the
unbearable to believe that there are some
Detroit Jewish News on
people who, no matter how deep you dig, you
flourish.
June 22.We met shortly
are not going to get a reasonable counterpart.
before he keynoted the annual dinner of the
I think there's this yearning to believe there's
Michigan chapter of StandWithUs at Adat Shalom Synagogue in a reasonable solution to be negotiated across the bargaining
Farmington Hills. StandWithUs, a Los Angeles-based pro-Israel
table if only they keep at it long enough."
lobby, founded a Michigan chapter 21/2 years ago.
Jacoby is clearly a voice rich in thought. As an example of
Beat Of War
weakness, he cited Israel's 2005 military pullout from the Gaza
Whatever viewfinder you peer into, Israel is at war. Wishing it
Strip. He branded it "a terrible mistake?'
away won't work. Victory will require some sort of diplomatic
"Look at what Israel got — 8,500 Jews were dispossessed
and military success. Lasting peace will come only if the
from their homes and 25 flourishing communities were
Palestinians give up their war goal, acknowledge Jewish sov-
destroyed;' he said.
ereignty in the Middle East and accept
Israel relinquished control of the Gaza Strip to the
Israel's right to exist with secure, rec-
Palestinian Authority's Fatah government and ultimately
ognized borders.
the elected Hamas terrorist organization. What Israel got in
Palestinian society, as mangled as
return was not a peaceful Palestinian proto-state on its bor-
it is, can be rebuilt into something
der, but 5,000 rockets that left a trail of death, trauma and
democratic and pro-West. Japan is the
destruction in southern Israel. So much for any sort of truce
perfect model. Its kamikaze/fear-the-
with Gaza City.
emperor mentality was transformed
"That's a good example of how Israel thought it was engag-
after World War II and nobody was a
ing in an act of strength and overt-looking peacefulness, and
bigger winner from that process than
what it got instead was more war," Jacoby said. "And I think,
the Japanese people.
in general, that has been the trend. The call to a peace process
"If Japanese society can be trans-
has generally been a war process!'
formed, Palestinian society can be,
I supported the pullout in theory, but I was skeptical that
too," Jacoby said. "But step one has to be deciding if trans-
Israel had a long-term plan to safeguard its borders from ter-
formation is the goal among not only the Palestinians, but
rorist attack. The rocket buildup in Gaza, with some missiles
also the Israelis, who must start caring how the Palestinians
capable of traveling eight miles or more, wasn't a secret.
govern themselves."
Jacoby equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, as do I.
The Statehood Myth
That isn't to say every person who criticizes Israel is anti-
Jacoby makes a strong case for stifling discussion of a
Semitic. But let there be no doubt: Anti-Zionism is grounded
Palestinian state until the Palestinians, both Hamas and
fundamentally in some kind of prejudice against Jews.
Fatah, end their determination to destroy Israel ... period. Of
"The reason that Israel is attacked the way it is by its
course, the chance of such a change of heart is slim at best.
enemies," Jacoby said, "is because it's a Jewish state, and if it
I concur with Jacoby's grim assessment that it'll take at
weren't a Jewish state, it wouldn't trouble the Palestinians."
least a generation to reverse Palestinian indoctrination, mak-
Bluntly put, the reason the Palestinians refuse to acknowl-
ing President Bush's hope for the beginnings of a Palestinian
edge the Jewish state, and are unlikely to ever do so, goes to the
state over the next year a pipe dream.
core of the myth of the peace process.
"Palestinian society needs to be detoxified," Jacoby said.
Says Jacoby: "What they are looking for is not statehood living
"And Hamas and other terrorists need to be destroyed!"
in peace with Israel, but statehood living in place of Israel. They
Jacoby added, "It's wrong for Israel to sit down with people
have made it clear for decades what their ultimate goal is: every-
who are essentially sworn enemies and start talking about
thing from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. All the rest is just
what kind of sacrifices Israelis are willing to make for peace.
tactics."
It would be good to first hear the Palestinians talk about the
sacrifices they are willing to make

Editor Letter on page A6

Julie Hertzberg

was matched with JARC

resident Mary Roy five

years ago, she hoped she

would find a meaningful

volunteer commitment.

She never dreamed she

would find a life-long

friend. And now, the

addition of Julie's new baby

brings a special shine to

"Aunt Mary's" eyes.

I

JARC volunteers

do more than
give time and talent.
They form
relationships
that can change the
lives of everyone
involved in
remarkable ways.

jarc

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July 3 • 2008

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