Whose land is it anyway?

In the last minute rush for Palestinian Statehood, there has been a flurry of attention on Israel. One comment in today's Guardian caught my eye.

"If the Palestinians want a state, they can go to Europe or the US – it's very nice there," said Michael Ben Ari, a member of the Israeli parliament. "This is the land of Israel and we are here forever."

Now, MK Michael ben Ari is as extreme as it gets, he is an open follower of the rascist Kach ideology, so I don't expect too much from him. But here, he expresses an idea that too many religious Jews hold, and that is patently wrong. Are we here forever? Just read the Parsha!

I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. (Devarim 30:16-19)

The land of Israel is not ours; it is God's, and he will allow us to live here if we follow the Torah, if we act morally. When Israel fall short of their religious and moral calling, then we lose the land. We should be paying as much attention to morals, as politics and the military.

The Silence of Israel's PM

I am jealous of the US. I am jealous of them because they have a leader who communicates. Obama's weekly YouTube video communications may be a gimmick, but nonetheless they express a deep respect for the electorate and a significant commitment to the spirit of democracy as he engages with the nation directly, explaining and inspiring, informing and sharing. These video communiques allow the general public to hear his messages and to understand his policy, to comprehend how their country is being run, on a regular basis.

And how about us here in Israel? Silence! - Bibi is supposed to be the great Communicator, the media genius, the TV wonder kid. And yet, we don't hear him. Except for a snippet or two at the start of a cabinet meeting, or a 5 second soundbite from a conference speech, I don't feel that my PM is communicating with me.

This is a problem at a number of levels. The first is that I don't know his plans: not on health, education, energy, let alone the Peace process and the problem of Hamas and what have you. Sometimes, one has the feeling that policies are invented at the last minute, that it is all very Israeli, patched together, off the cuff. Tell us the game plan, demonstrate that there is a plan, a strategy.

Second, there is the question of the national mood, the sense of leadership. Talking, imparting a message, communication is vital. It allows a leader to instill a sense of mission and common purpose in the nation. To share enthusiasm and passion, to have the nation embark on a journey together, to get everybody on board.

We need this desperately here in Israel. With so many challenges, some vision and hope are in short supply. If the PM were to address the nation regularly, we might be able to join together to address in unity certain key national objectives. The PM doesn't even need to reveal his Peace strategy (although it might be nice.) He could simply discuss topics less in conflict eg. Clean energy, Higher Education, the Zionist endeavour of settling the Negev and Galil, and outline thoughts on the more complicated and controversial policies too. we would like to hear his thoughts, his values, his ideas, hopes and fears. If ideas are shared, if thoughts are transmitted then we can truly work together.

And furthermore even when we disagree, if policies were expressed, presented and explained, it could foster a sophisticated discussion, rather than the awful political climate of shallow slogans and empty platitudes.

Why don't Israeli Prime Ministers talk to the people?

Sharon made silence and art form when he realised (or his spin doctors) that words just lose votes. He made silence a virtue when it came to electioneering, allowing images and a slogan or two to do the talking. Olmert followed in his footsteps talking little in election campaigns. and the result is that Israelis are not shocked when Prime Minister's make completely unpredictable policy shifts, light years from their election promises. Israelis are unfazed. as if to say... what do you expect?

But politicians are answerable to the nation. We simply know too little, we have not heard the leaders articulate their policy, we - the citizens - do not understand the views and proposed actions of our leaders , the directions in which they are leading us.

Go on Mr. Netanyahu. Talk to us! You are the Communicator. Tell us what is on your mind. Include us in the debate, in the conversation. Outline your plans, share your views, your policies and dreams. Let us share your vision. Let us begin a conversation. Let's get it out in the open. Enough feeling that all the decisions are made, ad hoc, behind closed doors, in dark shadowy rooms by faceless nameless advisers and aides! Enough of feeling that everything is a political compromise. We need more transparency. We need more inspiration, more vision. Talk to us! You will only win friends that way... and you may even convert some enemies.

Winds of Change

There are times when one feels rather small, watching on as huge currents swirl around us, feeling rather powerless as the contours of the world we have come to know, alter and shift before our very eyes. These are such times.

One example of this is the economic crisis which, as it unfolds, becomes more and more incredible. Huge companies collapsing, shares in freefall, people losing their jobs, a world economy that has lost its confidence. One wonders where this is going and whether anyone understands how and when we will see an upturn, and an end to the fear, the panic.

Here at home, I feel that things are similarly out if kilter, with the unsuspected taking us by surprise.

We had to vote for Bibi or Tzippi. OK fine. But we got Leiberman! Currently it seems that we face the prospect of Leiberman as Foreign Minister. See this Haaretz article (link). Even if it is exaggerated... after all, it IS Haaretz, nonetheless, Leiberman as certainly the "anti-diplomat" espousing belligerent attitudes and an "anti", provocative political culture. I certainly have no desire to see Leiberman as the face of Israel around the world. But whether "Bibi" or "Tzippi" became PM, it seems that Leiberman would be the key politician.

And then there is the question of the world changing its attitudes towards Israel. Britain recognised Hezbollah this week, and they are establishing diplomatic ties. Britain see no problem with one of our most formidable of enemies. Heart-warming!

America with Obama is certainly striking a very different path than Bush. Whether they are sending diplomats and invitations to Syria, or expressing a willingness to talk to Iran, the mood has certainly shifted. Moreover, it isn't just the mood but the substance too. See this VERY important and excellent article (link) that shows that America is in the process of a significant move AWAY from Israel. Whereas Bush and Condoleeza backed Israel whatever they did, Obama and Clinton intend to tread a very different path. Clinton's criticism of Israel this week (link) is just the beginning. The US government is going to be calling for settlement construction to be halted. There will be condemnations of Human Rights abuses and what have you. The wind is blowing in a different direction. We better get used to it.

Add to that, the increased anti-Israel mood worldwide, post-Gaza. Campuses have become battlegrounds. So have sports fields, whether in Sweden with the Davis Cup, or Shahar Peer being banned from Dubai, these are not good days for Israel internationally. The pressure is on Israel, and increasing. We are being delegitimised with increasing frequency and intensity.

So what does this mean? How are we to respond to this world shift? Should we capitulate to the world view? - after all, we cannot stand totally alone. Or should we stoically hold our ground?

(Last year, in a Knesset debate, Leiberman publically denounced Mubarrak for not visiting Israel, ever. This blatant critique sent Peres and Olmert groveling to Mubarak with apologies. But on the radio many talk-show hosts were praising Leiberman's courage to say the truth, which is that if Egypt are truly a friend then why can Mubarak not visit.

On second thought, if the world is turning increasingly towards the arabs and calling on Israel to alter its course and political views, maybe it will take a Leiberman to represent us!

But maybe not. The guy still scares me.)

New realities abound as we sit still. The world is changing, and it is a huge challenge to know how to respond.

Hidden Miracles, Arks and Israel

According to Sefer Bereshit, Noah's Ark was a vessel that managed to hold all the animal kingdom for virtually a year! The logistics are mind-boggling. Never mind the fact that animals need room to move, that rabbits breed like ... rabbits (maybe male and female animals were seperated?) and the food that would be needed to feed them (and how about the carnivores... what did they eat?)... never mind all that (!) ... How did they all fit into a box that was:

300 cubits x 50 cubits (3 floors!) in other words 150 metre (450ft.) by 25 metre (75ft) on THREE floors.

Not very big. (Just visit your local zoo!)

Ramban asks the question (6:19) and he has this to say:

"It was a miracle that a small space contained a large volume. And if you will then say, well he could have constructed a smaller one and relied upon this miracle! (i.e. if the Ark can contain everything by basis of miracles, then just make a smaller Ark and by miracle, it will all fit in.)
God saw fit to make it large so that the people of that era would see it and be amazed by its size and it would be a conversation point... maybe they would repent.
Moreover, they made it large in order to minimise the miracle for that is the manner of all miracles in the Torah and Neviim that man does what he can..."

In other words, the 2nd explanation says that EVEN when God makes a miracle, he tries to make it look natural. Moreover, man has to do his part and God will make the miraculous appear natural.

This of course has many applications, but recently we were talking about Medinat Yisrael and mashiach and the fact that the RAmbam sees Mashiach politically and that for Rambam (Hil. Melachim ch.12) the Messianic Era is defined by Jewish Independence. Have we experienced miracle in our generations, miracles in the guise of natural, military, political events? Have we failed to understand that man HAs to do his part and then even God's miracle will not slap us in the face, but will be clothed in the natural human order?

Worrying Polls and the Suicidal Left

The NYTimes posted a piece yesterday (link) showing that according to a recent Palestinian opinion poll, 84% of Palestinians supported the Mercaz Harav attack, 64% support the ongoing bombing of sderot, and 75% believe that the Peace Talks are a waste of time. In the words of NYTimes:

A new poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Paelstinians support the attack this month on a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem that killed eight young men, most of them teenagers, an indication of the alarming level of Israeli-Palestinian tension in recent weeks.

The survey also shows unprecedented support for the shooting of rockets on Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip and for the end of the peace negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.

The pollster, Khalil Shikaki, said he was shocked because the survey, taken last week, showed greater support for violence than any other he had conducted over the past 15 years in the Palestinian areas. Never before, he said, had a majority favored an end to negotiations or the shooting of rockets at Israel.

Now, this poll is worrying in the extreme. Why? Because we are negotiating with the Palestinians. But they have no intention of making Peace with us! What is the point? It feels like a simple delusion. See this video (link) by the Hamas MP (We seek Death like They Seek Life!) or the fact that last week Abbas admitted that if the political Process failed, they would be happy to return to armed struggle!!

But there is another aspect of this poll which makes me want to point this poll out in particular. It is because Haaretz today just ignored it. Instead it published a different poll (link):

Study: Israeli Jews becoming increasingly racist toward Arabs

We are rascist? How about them wanting to kill us! Why is HaAretz consistently so down on ourselves, on Israel? We are always awful; the Palestinians, helpless victims. I like reading HaAretz. It is intelligent ... and has a great arts and culture section. But it is frequently so self-hating and so post-Zionist.

This left-wing post-Zionism and always seeing ourselves as wrong, evil, rascist etc. is worrying. It is worrying because many of the so proclaimed "intellectual elite" and media leaders in Israel are precisely these Left Wingers and they routinely delegitimise anyone who holds different political views as if they were barbarian.

Please see this excellent op-ed by Amnon Rubinstein (link), and this (link) depressing article by Daniel Gordis.

They relate to the emptiness of the Left wing secular as well. Just today on the radio I heard a presenter talking about how most secular Israelis only know that Purim is a day one gets dressed up. They don't even know the Purim story! They have never heard the Megilla!

What's to be done?

'67 Borders?

Here is an interesting post (link) from Treppenwitz. I don't agree with it all. However, here is the bit I liked:

When most people today say "the '67 borders" in relation to territorial compromise, they are talking about the borders that existed on June 5th, 1967... which were, in fact, the 1949 Armistice lines.... Israel's de facto borders at the end of the War of Independence.

But since a return to the 1949 borders - even a modified version - would be tantamount to admitting that every war fought since (and every Israeli killed in 60 years of Arab aggression) was for naught, you will almost never hear that phrase used in the news.

...It's really no surprise that the left-leaning media and the Olmert government are very careful to only talk about returning to "the '67 borders". How else can one consider giving a do-over on not one, but three major wars (and six decades of Arab intransigence)... in return for nothing more than vague promises to recognize our right to exist. Sort of.

Funny how just changing the terms with which a topic is discussed can change one's entire perception. Basically, when the product you are selling stinks, the best strategy is to make sure it is packaged nicely. And let's face it... calling for a return to relatively modern borders sounds a heck of a lot nicer than a retreat to indefensible borders that existed at the end of our War of Independence! Yet, without saying as much, it is the latter that everyone seems to be talking about today.

Prisoner or Politician?

Periodically I read and hear about how Marwan Barghouti is calling the shots in Palestinian politics. Read this for instance:

"the most famous Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barghouti, who from his prison cell last week sent his associate, the former minister Qadura Fares, and his lawyer, Khader Shkirat, to Damascus for talks with Khaled Meshal and the Hamas leadership. "

Now can someone please explain why a convicted terrorist who is serving five life sentences in jail has access to legal advisors and can run Palestinian politics from his jail cell? Is Israel allowing him a cellphone (excuse the pun!)? And how does he manage to have such powerful control of Palestinian affairs?

If Israel wants to treat him as a politician, then I don't understand why he is still in jail and how Israel can ignore its own court's rulings. And if he is an arch terrorist, then deny him any visitation rights by dignitaries and lawyers other than family members!

And yet, time and time again, we read that important diplomatic documents are being drafted by Barghouti. Something fishy is goin' on here! ...And how is it that I have never heard any journalist raise this question?