Good news, bad news
Yesterday we were assured by PM Olmert that there will be no war with Syria this summer. Hooray! The expectation has been that Iran will allow Hizbollah to rest and recoup its losses from last year's war and instead pressure its other proxy, Syria, into fulfilling the role of the initiator of hostilities with Israel, just as Hizbollah did in 2006. But, of course this is no guarantee.
But, at the same time the IDF yesterday expelled several families from a market in Hebron. What is most unsettling about this action is that the market was and is definitely Jewish-owned, until the Arabs massacred the Jews in Hebron in 1929, expelled those who managed to survive and took over the market and all other Jewish property. Also, the Kadima Government handled this like another "disengagement" (read expulsion of Jews), using the IDF for what is not a military situation instead of the civil police for a political action. As a result of the use of the Army several soldiers (ca. 22) refused to participate, regarding the orders as illegal, since the IDF is supposed to be defending the State and its citizens.
While I agree that soldiers in the IDF should obey orders without consideration of political opinions, it is stupid to order them to do this unpalatable exercise when they should be guarding our borders and stopping terrorism. The scenes of Jewish soldiers manhandling Jews and expelling them has nasty overtones of WWII. It is certainly not good for either the soldier's or the country's morale. It is also another killer for Olmert's political popularity and ensures once again that he is unelectable. There have been suggestions that Kadima will be decimated in future elections especially if Olmert remains its Head, although if FM Livni becomes the Head of Kadima they may have a better chance. A Prof. Weiss of Bar-Ilan University was photographed arguing with a high ranking Army officer in Hebron and calling him names. The Officer has now brought a civil law suit against this Professor. So the whole situation has become very bitter, and it could all have been avoided if Olmert was clever enough to include the question of the Jews in Hebron as part of the agreement that he is supposed to be making with Pres. Abbas.
Yesterday's Jerusalem Post had the headline "Fatah, Hamas said to be taking steps towards reconciliation." If this is true then it negates all the concessions that Olmert has made to Abbas. Of course, Abbas's office denied the report, but Kaled Mashall, the leader of Hamas in Syria, while visiting Yemen asked the leader of Yemen to be an intermediary, and several other Arab States are engaged in this role including Egypt and Qatar. PM Haniyeh in Gaza has also announced that he is prepared to step down if that would bring about a reconciliation. So Abbas may get as many concessions from Olmert that he can and then break his word and form a new Unity Government with Hamas. You cannot trust the Arabs, they break all their agreements.
But, at the same time the IDF yesterday expelled several families from a market in Hebron. What is most unsettling about this action is that the market was and is definitely Jewish-owned, until the Arabs massacred the Jews in Hebron in 1929, expelled those who managed to survive and took over the market and all other Jewish property. Also, the Kadima Government handled this like another "disengagement" (read expulsion of Jews), using the IDF for what is not a military situation instead of the civil police for a political action. As a result of the use of the Army several soldiers (ca. 22) refused to participate, regarding the orders as illegal, since the IDF is supposed to be defending the State and its citizens.
While I agree that soldiers in the IDF should obey orders without consideration of political opinions, it is stupid to order them to do this unpalatable exercise when they should be guarding our borders and stopping terrorism. The scenes of Jewish soldiers manhandling Jews and expelling them has nasty overtones of WWII. It is certainly not good for either the soldier's or the country's morale. It is also another killer for Olmert's political popularity and ensures once again that he is unelectable. There have been suggestions that Kadima will be decimated in future elections especially if Olmert remains its Head, although if FM Livni becomes the Head of Kadima they may have a better chance. A Prof. Weiss of Bar-Ilan University was photographed arguing with a high ranking Army officer in Hebron and calling him names. The Officer has now brought a civil law suit against this Professor. So the whole situation has become very bitter, and it could all have been avoided if Olmert was clever enough to include the question of the Jews in Hebron as part of the agreement that he is supposed to be making with Pres. Abbas.
Yesterday's Jerusalem Post had the headline "Fatah, Hamas said to be taking steps towards reconciliation." If this is true then it negates all the concessions that Olmert has made to Abbas. Of course, Abbas's office denied the report, but Kaled Mashall, the leader of Hamas in Syria, while visiting Yemen asked the leader of Yemen to be an intermediary, and several other Arab States are engaged in this role including Egypt and Qatar. PM Haniyeh in Gaza has also announced that he is prepared to step down if that would bring about a reconciliation. So Abbas may get as many concessions from Olmert that he can and then break his word and form a new Unity Government with Hamas. You cannot trust the Arabs, they break all their agreements.
posted by Jack Cohen at 11:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home