An Opportunity to Redeem Jewish Self Respect

Gary Cooperberg
November 10, 2004

Ariel Sharon, who has probably patted himself on the back for his ingenious maneuvering of George Bush to ostracize Yasser Arafat, will soon taste the bitter reward of his misplaced creativity. Sharon convinced Bush that since Arafat was really in charge, there was no one with whom we could negotiate. With his demise this premise is no longer available. By placing all the responsibility for Arab terror on one person, with Arafat's death that responsibility will be buried with him. This will now open the way for Bush to accept legitimacy for some other Arab terrorist leader, with Sharon's blessing! The problem with our leaders has always been a zealousness to find immediate solutions which only postpone and worsen our problems, leaving the next generation to figure out how to solve them.

Who would have dreamed, even just a few years ago, that an Ariel Sharon would willingly permit this terrorist chieftain to be buried anywhere in Israel? Now he is participating in creating his martyrdom. . . a process begun by Shimon Peres.

How is it possible to imagine that any Jew would allow such a situation to arise where not only do we fail to eliminate our enemies, but we actually help them to attain respect, honor and legitimacy in our own homeland?! Not only that, it would seem that Israel is permitting free passage to world terrorist leaders to attend the funeral in Israel! Would that they would use this priceless opportunity to blow them all to smithereens. Instead they are promoting our own humiliation.

For decades our leaders have refused to execute Arafat for fear of reprisals and condemnation by "friends" and enemies alike. Now, our reward for abstaining from doing what was right will be the very same reprisals and condemnation we thought we could avoid. His death is already being blamed on Israel. Israeli security forces are already on high alert for expected reprisals by our enemies for a deed we didn't even have the courage to do!

All of this should serve to show our leaders that, no matter how hard you try, you cannot escape your responsibilities. In the long run, the wisest policy is always to do what is right, no matter how difficult it may be. For in the end, you will be forced to do it anyway.

It is not too late to wake up. Right now, when our enemies are in disarray and not afraid of us, we should do a complete about face and totally wipe them out; preferably at the funeral when most of them will be gathered together in one place under our control. If we had a real Jewish leader we could redeem the Jewish Pride which most of the others allowed to be trampled.