Of Holidays and Heroes – Will the Red Sea Part Again?
by Jerry Waxman
Friday, 7:00 AM, Beit Haggai near Hevron: In the early morning hours, a young Arab man came into the town. Armed with a knife and firearm, the first persons he met were two residents on the First Response team. There was a struggle, one of the first response members was wounded slightly. The Arab infiltrator was eliminated.
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Recalling the incident of two weeks ago in Bat Ayin, when an Arab killed a 13 year old boy with an axe, a spokesperson for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) praised the actions of the first response team. Civilians, not the military, saved their town from tragedy.
Two days ago was a holiday in Israel, the last day of the Passover festival, the anniversary of the parting of the Red Sea.
If you recall, some 3300 years ago, the Israelites left Egypt. Pharoah called upon the whole Egyptian army to chase the Israelites. The Jews could not turn south for there were wild animals. They could not turn north for the Phillistines were ready to pounce on them. In back of them were the Egyptians with their chariots and horses. And in front of them was the water.
If there was ever a time when the nation of Israel could see the world closing in on them, it was then and there at the edge of the Red Sea. The world would close in on the nation of Israel many more times in the next 3300 years.
Somehow the Jewish people always survived. And first response teams have always helped.
America’s got a new hero! Captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama put his life on the line to save his crew. He deserves praise not only for his bravery, but also for setting an example for everyone – particularly leaders of companies, leaders of cities, and leaders of countries. Until now we have seen too much of so-called leaders sacrificing the people under them for their own gain. Captain Phillips has turned it around.
And we should thank President Obama for taking swift action in authorizing the Navy to intervene in order to protect American citizens. He has set a precedent for his administration.
Sometimes Israel uses its military to protect its citizens. When it does, Israel gets criticized all over the world. In Sderot, where we’ve seen the rockets’ red glare, and the news of the protests against us, we can feel the world closing in.
We’ve had our heroes, too. In the second Lebanon War, Major Roi Klein saved his soldiers by jumping on a grenade. (See video on this page.). Not long after, his bereaved family received an eviction notice. Their home is on land that the Arabs want.
We have another hero who was a commander of a bold rescue operation. 33 years ago, Yonatan Netanyahu, older brother of today’s prime minister, led Operation Thunderbolt. They stormed Entebbe airport in Uganda and brought more than 100 hostages to safety.
Yonatan was killed. A collection of his letters were put in a book (“Michtavei Yoni” The English version is here. ) The book gives us a glimpse into a hero’s mind. And it shows us that 33 years ago and more, there were real concerns about preserving a Jewish state in Israel. Then, as now, we needed first response teams to prevent the world from closing in too fast.
It’s been quiet in Sderot. And sunny. And the people seem to have confidence enough to let their kids play outside. We know the weapons have been flowing into Gaza since January. And we know that some people in Gaza are anxious to use them. But what the heck, it’s quiet now….
A couple kassams were launched into open fields, supposedly to welcome the arrival of U.S. envoy George Mitchell. Rather than respond to such activities, he spoke to Israel’s leaders about the creation of an Arab state in the West Bank, led by the Palestinian Authority, side by side with Israel living in peace.
Binyamin Netanyahu posed a correct question: He said that Israel would be willing to talk about a Palestinian state, so long as the P.A. recognizes Israel as a Jewish state.
Mahmoud Abbas went ballistic. A Jewish state?! Never!
Can we expect the U.S. and the European Union and the Quartet and the Arab League to put pressure on the Palestinian Authority to recognize the Jewish state? Or is it more likely that Israel will be criticized for making impossible demands?
Durban II gets underway next week. This is the U.N. sponsored conference on Human Rights and Anti-Racism to take place in Durban, South Africa.. At the head of the conference-Libya. Vice Chair-Iran. Rappoteur-Cuba.
The U.S. has yet to say whether or not it will be represented at the conference. Durban I, in 2001, turned into an Israel-bashing frenzy. Secretary of State Colin Powell walked out. This year some countries, including Canada, are boycotting the conference. Why is the U.S. vascillating on this?
Israel Defense forces have just determined that everybody in Israel is within missile range either from Gaza or from Lebanon. Everybody.
So, here we are again. The Arabs have Gaza, we’re supposed to give them the West Bank. So where are we supposed to go when the missiles start flying. Can’t go north. The missiles are there. Can’t go west; Gaza’s got that covered. Can’t go east, the P.A. will make sure of that. Our best bet – south, to Eilat, back to the Red Sea.
We can’t expect the sea to part again. What we need are first responders to prevent tragedy and injustice.. You see, today we don’t have heroes like Richard Phillips, or Roi Klein, or Yonatan Netanyahu in leadership positions. We really cannot expect much from today’s heads of state without proper advice from us.
Here is what our first responders should do: They should talk with Obama and Clinton and George Mitchell. And show them a map of the Jewish homeland as described by the Balfour Declaration. And show them that most of that land has already been partitioned and given to Arab leaders. And show them how the Arabs have used Gaza since Israel evacuated 10,000 Jews. And ask what are we to expect if we evacuate 100,000 Jews from Judea and Samaria.
First responders need to ask some very pointed quesions.
1. If we are talking about human rights, why haven’t the Arabs sent Gilad Shallit home?
2. If we are talking aboutg human rightrs and civil rights, why doesn’t the U.S., release Johnathan Pollard.?
3. And finally, as you look over all the land we’re supposed to give to the Arabs: IF we’re talking of peace, Why Can’t Jews Live There?
