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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nukeit who wrote (1944)	4/5/2002 6:22:57 AM
From: David Alon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32591

Just to clarify a few points... Itamar Levin Once again, everyone is talking about Israel’s PR effort. Everyone is concerned about our poor image as perceived by the outside world. Everyone is worried by our weak debating points. Maybe the time has come to change our approach. Let us stop being apologetic in an attempt to place the ball in the Palestinian’s court and instead launch a frontal assault against those who attack us, especially those in Europe. Without hemming and hawing, and with personal dignity and national respect, let us tell the nations of the world some hard and unpleasant truths, so that they might begin to feel some shame. Here are some suggestions: Who are you to preach morality to us? In February 1945, the US and Britain sent hundreds of bombers to lay waste the German city of Dresden. 60,000 civilians were killed that night; one could say murdered. The city had no military or strategic importance; the bombing was simply revenge for the bombing of Coventry in the Blitz four years earlier. It was a war crime for all intents and purposes, and only the fact that it was carried out by the “good guys” who won the war prevented its perpetrators from standing trial for an unjustified slaughter. Another point can be raised about the bombers and World War II: the same US and Britain refused to send even a single bomber against the railroads leading to Auschwitz, using all kinds of quibbling excuses. Those who refused at the time to rescue the Jews from the most brutal Holocaust in world history should hold their tongues when the descendants of the survivors defend themselves. And while on the subject of bombing, let us raise a more recent example. The US killed hundreds, and possibly thousands of civilians in Afghanistan in the War Against Terrorism of bin-Laden. The Americans says it was an error, and we are prepared to believe them. But then why is it legitimate (“The sword devours one as well as another,” in the words of King David, Samuel B 11:25) to hold Israel accountable for Palestinian civilian casualties when it goes after the terrorists who deliberately hide amongst them? A comment on the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center on September 11. Let us put aside the strange distinction that President George W. Bush made between the terrorist Osama bin-Laden and the terrorist Yasser Arafat, and conduct a simple statistical exercise of the type Americans like so much. Israel suffered 122 dead in March 2002 – the equivalent of 5,000 US dead – almost double the number murdered found in the wreckage of the Twin Towers to date. Israel suffered over 50 dead last week – the equivalent of 3,000 US dead. In one week! Is there any state in the world that would accept such casualties and keep silent? Of course not. This hypocrisy raises the stench of antisemitism. One final point. The State of Israel was founded precisely to prevent a situation in which Jewish blood would flow in the streets; in which Jewish elders have their throats cut while walking to synagogue; in which entire families are wiped out while seated for the Passover Seder; in which a Jew cannot enter a restaurant and leave it alive. We must tell the nations of the world that we founded this country in order to put an end to the acts of murderous aggression you carried out against us for 2000 years. So like it or not, the State of Israel will defend itself by whatever means necessary. And if you don't like it, you can go to hell. Published by Israel's Business Arena on 4 April 2002 globes.co.il