The New “Piece” Talks

The New “Piece” Talks

by Jerrold L. Sobel

September 10, 2010

In spite of his outward appearance of optimism, one could sense a certain amount of forlornness on the face of Benjamin Netanyahu at the conclusion of the first day of “Peace Talks” last week. Who could blame him? Can you imagine what it must be like entering a room flanked by the likes of an old terrorist, Abbas; the dictator, Mubarak; the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, and the King of Washington, Barak Hussein Obama? If it weren’t so potentially tragic, this peace talk nonsense would be laughable. Netanyahu is sitting down with an unrepentant thug, Mahmoud Abbas. A fake leader, propped up by the Obama Administration, he represents the weakest of all the terrorist organizations, which in turn are adamantly opposed to these talks. Having exceeded his time in office by a year, within the Palestinian Authority itself his support is dubious. This is the disingenuous, politically; except in the minds of the meshuganas in the White House, powerless man that Netanyahu is being prodded to bargain away Judea and Samaria with.

By the way, remember the world condemnation that went on for weeks over the Flotilla craziness when 9 obstreperous thugs were killed attacking Israeli soldiers? How could you not, since the investigations and condemnations against Israel are still kicking into gear. This past week, on successive days Hamas gleefully took credit for the murder of four settlers, including a pregnant woman and another attack against innocent Jews in Hebron the following day. You may also have noticed, other than initial news reports, it is a dead issue. The world immediately went onto new business. Why is this so? All things being equal, why would the international press be so fixated and ready to cast blame on Israel for what ostensibly turned into a military action but not the cold blooded mayhem of a de facto government, Hamas, sanctioning the murder of 5 innocent people? (See Attachment). To answer my own question, when it comes to Israel, things just are not equal. If these meaningless “Peace Talks” are allowed to continue, no doubt countless other Israelis will be murdered and maimed by killers from Hamas and other terror groups which enjoy overwhelming popular support from their citizens as well as the Ayatollahs in Iran. And why shouldn’t they, with no price to pay, Jewish blood is cheap. Whereas in the days of Menachem Begin and earlier governments, the Palestinians had fear of overwhelming retribution. Today they are no longer reticent. For fear of scuttling whatever talks are in vogue, Israel no longer responds with vigor to these aggressions.But still she gets no peace. (See Attachment)

It just makes you wonder, what more do the Palestinians and Islamists in general have to do to convince Israelis, Americans, and divided worldwide Jewry that they abhor living alongside Israel in peace? That secular issues such as: settlements, borders, rights of return, and Jerusalem itself are subterfuge to their main goal of eradicating the Jewish State altogether. During a “Jerusalem Day” commemoration speech last Friday, Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah is quoted saying: “the talks are stillborn” and that “Jerusalem, and not even one of its streets, can not be the capital of the state called Israel.” Well, I don’t know about you, but to me this guy seems very serious and he doesn’t seem too peaceful. Making matters worse, this miscreant has a lot of rockets to back up his words.

According to U.S. envoy Michael Oren, Hezbollah has 15,000 rockets on the border with Israel stored in hospitals, schools, and private residences. Unlike shorter range missiles which the terrorists used during previous encounters with Israel, these can reach any city within the country. Although he may not wish to admit it, possibly not even to himself, but Defense Minister Ehud Barak must rue the day when as Prime Minister in 2000, in a gesture of goodwill he abandoned Southern Lebanon. If he doesn’t, many Israelis certainly do. Just a year subsequent to the cessation of hostilities, the U.N. acknowledged Resolution 1559 which outlined the terms ending the second Southern Lebanon War was abrogated by Hezbollah. Likewise, during that short period of time, their Iranian masters had already re-armed them past pre-war stockpiles; all this under the watchful eyes of U.N. inspectors. So much for trading land for goodwill and being safeguarded by U.N. “peace keepers.”

Five years hence, history repeated itself. In the eternal quest to capture that elusive rainbow of peace, and as usual under intense American and worldwide pressure, Ariel Sharon, totally out of character, evicted 8000 Jewish settlers from Gaza as a magnanimous gesture to the Palestinians. An act that generations of Israelis to come will surely agonize over forevermore. As if stuck on a merry-go-round, successive Israeli governments have done the same. Led by Prime Ministers on the left, the right, and coalitions of every sort, Israel has bargained away land for peace. As a result, she now controls a lot less land but still has neither peace nor recognition from her Palestinian antagonists. If I can perceive this trend, surely Netanyahu, whom is assuredly brighter than me must recognize it as well. Hopefully, as a smarmy gesture, he is just throwing Obama a political bone and putting up with this charade. And a charade it is because as an historian, the Prime Minister must surely understand, the fundamental issue of this conflict; its least common denominator is not land but religion.

Unless hell bent upon suicide, what will it take for the Jewish community both here and in Israel to come to grips with this basic premise? From its inception, Islam has been a religion of conquest. This is a non-conjectural statement. Historically, no other religion can reign as an independent entity on “dar al Islam,” land once set on by Islam. The terrorist groups, with the support of a terrorist state, Iran, are resurgent in violent jihad. They are the business end of an Islamic political movement of which the destruction of Israel is just the initial act. Today, the affiliated terrorist groups and their state sponsors are equal in strength to the monarchies and dictatorships in the region. In Lebanon, Hezbollah is arguably stronger. Even the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia are threatened by Iran and the 800 pound Gorilla known as Islamic-fascism

Something most of us take for granted is the peace brokered by Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Although quite cold it is undeniably a true peace. However, It should also be noted these treaties were forged between Israel and secular governments, not the theocratical maniacs she’s being pushed to deal with today. Make no mistake about it, the continued adherence to these covenants is hinged upon the longevity of both Mubarak and Abdullah II respectively. Do not think for one moment, the granddaddy of all terrorist groups, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood isn’t closely keeping tabs on Mubarak’s health. Once the old boy kicks off, it’s more than likely so will Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt. Likewise, with a population comprising of more than 70% Palestinians, Israel’s treaty with Jordan may also be as fragile if the Hashemites fall from power.

Resulting from centuries of ecclesiastical inculcation against the Jews, Israel today, as in the past, faces an enemy whose populace; not just its leadership, scream for the destruction of the Jewish State. In Palestinian schools, textbooks, and cultural events Jews are consistently vilified. On Radio and T.V., in movies, song, art exhibits, stage, and printed media, the theme remains the same. But nowhere is the malevolence and ignominy greater than in the Mosques and Madrases where the young are indoctrinated that scripturally, Israel must not be allowed to exist on what the Mullahs deem holy Islamic ground. If history, current events, and the professions of the various terrorist groups aren’t enough, it is doubtful anything will convince Jews on all levels of the political spectrum both here and in Israel that in lieu of eradicating Islamic hatred, there is not a scintilla of a chance for peace. There can be acquiescence; surrender is always an option, but not the real peace Israel seeks. If and when Jews of all stripes come to grip with this, Israel will finally reap the political benefits of a united people.

Israel, and by extension the West is today facing a very dangerous and determined foe, driven by an ideology whose mandate they believe is given to them by God. The same religious zealots which conquered more land in a hundred years than the Roman Empire accrued throughout its existence are today once again pursuing worldwide jihad. Their faces may have changed, their names hardly, but. their intentions remain the same. This is the context to which this ancient conflict must be viewed as opposed to the pollyanna approach taken by this Administration and its narcissistic President. Both they and he believe personal karma and American pressure can cast off hundreds of years of Islamic detestation and expect “two nations to be living side by side in peace: at the end of one year no less.

Despite all just mentioned, someone out there is certain to be asking: “Well what’s the harm in talking peace?” To that person I ask: Is Israel, having abandoned Southern Lebanon and Gaza without any quid pro quo militarily stronger today than she was before? Having signed the Oslo Accords and allowing the status of Jerusalem to be a topic for discussion: Is the Jewish State diplomatically stronger? For those that answered no twice; that’s the harm these talks can have going forward.

Few can deny, diplomatic blunders by successive Prime Ministers, Rabin, Peres, Barak, Sharon, and Olmert have each diminished Israel’s security by trading valuable, strategic land with nothing to show for it but continued demands, broken agreements, and increased Palestinian enmity. With the blessing and overwhelming support of its electorate, Hamas, sworn to the utter destruction of Israel is by far more popular in Judea and Samaria (the west bank) than Abbas and Fatah are. If elections were held tomorrow most pundits agree Hamas would win handedly. So if Netanyahu is serious; and the jury is out on that one, all he could hope to accomplish by these talks is a further bequeathal of land along with additional concessions to a Palestinian leader who has no power to provide Israel her share of the equation, a true peace. From the Palestinian standpoint, they thrive upon such talks, it’s right up their alley. A religious contrivance called “taqiyah” allows a Muslim to quash agreements and treaties with all non-Muslims when it becomes politically advantageous to do so. The Palestinians have been using this ploy successfully for many years and if Netanyahu’s allows them to, will continue to do so in the future.

The scenario, as always, remains the same. Israel at the prodding of an American Administration lays all her cards on the table. The Palestinians, for one excuse or another walk away, only to return at another time and use the latest offered concessions as the new starting point. Netanyahu is sure to see this but the question remains: Is he playing out the clock on the biased Obama Administration, or is he truly going to succumb to the pressures they have placed upon him?