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Is It My Turn To Capitulate Yet?

Published: July 14th, 2004
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I live in a settlement. I wonder when my turn to be expelled will come. The Israeli government encouraged me to move here. Today, I am being cast aside; I am no longer wanted. I was part of a plan by almost every previous Israeli government to prevent exactly what PM Sharon is trying put in place today. I feel that my own leader has betrayed me. Israel did not want a sworn terrorist enemy on its doorstep. Why has Sharon decided to place all of Israel in
danger of annihilation?

There is no peace, there is no negotiating partner, and there is no neighbor willing to share. Yet, Israel is voluntarily abandoning parts of its land. Jews will be required to resettle elsewhere. We are not wanted in any corner of Arafat’s domain. Arabs may live in the
Jewish domain; Jews may not live in the Arab domain.

What have we been promised in return for this capitulation? We have been promised that terrorists will be much closer to our population centers. We have been promised that many more Jews will be murdered. We have been promised that more land will be demanded in the next phase. We have been promised that someone may pay us off when we pack our bags and return to the Diaspora. We have been promised that the terror and the murders will not stop until the fictional land of Palestine has vomited every Jew up.

Ariel Sharon and the world leaders are promising us a bright future. The sky will be bright with the Kassam rockets moved several miles closer to our cities. Our dear friends, the Egyptians,
have promised to “make sure” that the Arab Palestinians stop smuggling into Gaza the explosives and weapons that Egypt supplies to the Palestinian Arabs today via their tunnels. I am sure that this “plan” sounds reasonable to world leaders, but what made Sharon buy this ridiculous idea?

The area that Israel is turning over to the terrorist leaders in Gaza is well within rocket range of the civilian population of Ashkelon and Ashdod. Have the terrorists promised to behave and
stop shelling innocent civilians? Has Arafat and the Hamas agreed to anything, or have they just smiled their slimy smiles and rubbed their hands together in anticipation of an Israeli retreat? Does Sharon believe as Rabin believed that once we leave, we will be able to re-conquer the area if the Arabs misbehave? How many “innocent” Arab civilians will the world allow us to kill each time a Jew is murdered by a terror attack from Gaza? Will the world leaders not continue to demand Israeli reticence and patience? Other than himself, who exactly is Sharon trying to fool with his retreat from Gaza and Northern Samaria?

Everyone admits that the Arab leadership actively supports terror activities. Even the most rabid leftist fanatic is aware of our neighbor’s desire to force us into the sea. Everyone admits that the murder of innocent Jewish children is seen as a mitzvah by Arab terrorists. I firmly believe that old age is the culprit that is seriously affecting Sharon and Peres. They have come to fear shadows and the empty threats of world leaders. They have stopped thinking. They
have stopped planning. They have stopped dreaming of a better future. No more reasonable goals. No more ideology. No more Zionism. No more bravery. They have lost their love for Israel and for Jews. They have lost their hope for peace. Cash will replace ideals and the settlers will be paid off to quietly abandon their homes. “Get out quickly” is the new slogan.

I vividly recall a tour we took of the Elkana settlement. We were escorted to a hill in the center of the community and shown that we can see Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba and Netanya from the hill. On a clear day, much of Israel will be in the sights of our sworn enemies, the fanatical terrorists. This is the color of the Sharon Peace Plan. This is the new Likud Zionist dream. Let’s not talk to the Palestinian terrorists. Let’s retreat and see what they do. Who needs a reasonable partner in peace? We will make peace by capitulating. Somehow this new logic escapes me.

(Comments may be sent to dov@gilor.com)

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