Arafat is dead in the land of quiche, mousse,
croissant, vichysoisse, and Jew-hatred, consulting with
Generalissimo Francisco Franco. And it is not a time
for Israel or her friends to celebrate.
Nothing will change in 'Palestine' during the
transition from kaffiyehs and holsters to suits and ties
By Dov Fischer
The irony for Israel and her supporters is that
Arafat always has provided a clarity that many others
around him obfuscate because the others wear business
suits and ties rather than kaffiyehs and gun-holsters.
They speak more cleverly, in the manner of Hanan
Ashrawi and Saeb Erekat, than Arafat ever has. In his
absence, extraordinary pressure will mount against
Israel, even from her friends, who will insist: "We
stood with you for all the Arafat Years and refused to
meet with Arafat and turned a blind eye to your
military actions in Jenin and throughout Gaza, even
your targeted elimination-hits aimed at removing the
schemers of terror and the "ticking bombs." We backed
you ― overtly or through our silence ― as you acted to
offset and counter Arafat's terror. Now, with him gone,
we expect you to reciprocate and 'make overtures' to
the Palestinian Authority and 'take risks for peace' so
that his successor(s) can bring 'hope' that a new day
is dawning."
Israel will be posed with The Global Test.
Thus, Arafat's departure to better French cuisine ―
well, they may not be serving mousse where he is going,
although he may recognize Napoleon ― is going to make
it much harder for Israel to explain her cognition
that, beneath their suits and ties, Arafat's successors
bring the same agenda to destroy Israel. The children's
textbooks of "Palestine" will continue to teach hate
against Jews. Look to see whether they are withdrawn.
The children's television programs of "Palestine" will
continue to encourage them to blow themselves up and
murder Jews. Look to see whether they are canceled from
the Fall TV line-up. The children's summer camps of
"Palestine" will continue training them to murder. Look
to see whether the camp offerings are changed to arts
and crafts. Well, maybe leave it at arts. The
newspapers of "Palestine" will continue running
crossword puzzles that define Israel out of existence.
Look to see whether they change the clues. Town Squares
of "Palestine" will retain their names in honor of
suicide bombers. Look to see whether they are re-named
for peace advocates.
Nothing will change in "Palestine" during the
transition from kaffiyehs and holsters to suits and
ties.
Even with British Prime Minister Tony Blair
congratulating President George W. Bush by welcoming
his reelection, pledging continued support for the War
in Iraq ― and then reminding President Bush that
Blair's agenda calls for moving full-speed on "Mideast
Peace" as soon as the War in Iraq resolves itself. So
Israel is in for some profoundly rough riding after the
calm. Presumably that is why Israeli prime Minister
Ariel Sharon wanted his questionable "Half-the-loaf
is-better-than-nothing" solution on the table ―
securing President Bush's full blessing for that plan
to retreat from Gaza but to hold high-density Jewish
communities in Judea and Samaria ― while Arafat still
is/was around. So Mr. Sharon got his plan on the table
to fill the vacuum opened when the Bush "Roadmap" got
blown up ― just as had the Zinni Plan before it, and
all the many, many plans that preceded that one dating
back forty years to the Rogers Plan.
Now Arafat is dead in the land of quiche, mousse,
croissant, vichysoisse, and Jew-hatred, consulting with
Generalissimo Francisco Franco. And it is not a time
for Israel or her friends to celebrate.
Those fine folks from Hamas, the Palestine Liberation
Organization, Islamic Jihad, Force 17, the Palestine
Authority, Tanzim, the Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine, the Al Aksa Martyrs' Brigades, and all
the other candidates are sharpening their knives and
donning their suicide belts ― while the Hanan Ashrawis
and Saeb Erekats prepare their endorsements ― for the
new season of primaries, "Palestine-style." The "Blow
Up the Vote" drives in Ramallah and Jenin are coming ―
not sure who will be doing the concerts, but Michael
Moore can't be far behind.
After they finish with each other, the survivors will
turn their attention on Israel. Israel will have to be
very, very strong. We know what the Global Test from
France, Germany, and Russia will try to impose, and we
know what Kofi Annan's United Nations will demand of
Israel. But what will Israel's friends in Washington
demand?
Israel will have to be very, very strong ―
because_help_is_not_on_the_way.
Rabbi Dov Fischer, an Adjunct Professor of Law and
Rabbi of Young Israel of Calabasas, practices complex
civil litigation defense and writes on political,
social, and theological issues.
© 2004, Dov Fischer
Posted by Permission
Great graphic @
http://jewishworldreview.com/1104/fischer_2004_11_10.php3
--
LP
"We are fighting today for security, for progress,
and for peace, not only for ourselves but for all
men, not only for one generation but for all
generations. We are fighting to cleanse the world
of ancient evils, ancient ills."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
State of the Union Address - 1942