Where is Israel Headed?

 
Since the Oslo Accords and their long lasting effect that we are experiencing today as well as Baraks Lebanon retreat the question rises: Where is Israel heading? For nearly the last 20 years Israel has been conducting a guerilla war within its tiny borders. As a result of Oslo’s empowering of “Palestinian” nationalism, we have witnessed suicide bombings, roadside assassinations of civilians including mothers and children, as well as kidnappings and executions of both Jewish soldier and civilians. The effects of Oslo are now effectively irreversible since the idea of a solitary Palestinian State is now in the vision of Jews, and many other Arab nations. Even now as we are being bombarded daily with quassam and kytushia rockets, the abhorrent, naïve and illogical but “peaceful” solution of two states is being considered. The Palestinian population has now one goal that drives them, as well as the Hezbollah, and that is the murdering of Israeli civilians and destroying the sovereign state of Israel for the sake of Allah and Arab Nationalism.
 
The question Israel now faces is how to deal with such a population within its borders? The proposed state would exist fifteen minutes from its capital. Do we make peace treaties and cease-fires? Do we unilaterally withdraw from Judea, Samaria like we did in Gaza for the formation of an unchecked Palestinian state? Or do we continue as we do now, with the checkpoints, patrols, curfews, random check, and the strangulation of an already bitter and violent population who has been strangled by their “leadership” as well.
 
Is this fair to the Jews? Is this fair to the Christians? Is this fair to the Arabs? Are there any solutions?
 
In 1967 in the Six Day War, the West Bank, and Gaza were occupied by Israel as a practical buffer zone between Israel and the threats from their Arab neighbors. Israel had hoped to trade this land for peace and never had a desire to rule over the Arabs. Israel did not start this war nor was it seeking conquest. But these were the results and now these areas are the only buffer zone defending Israel’s major population centers from potential destruction. They were rightly and logically acquired and retained until peace and recognition of the state of Israel were realized. This would be like Buffalo New York, being under constant threat from Toronto. The United States would never accept a daily barrage of rockets being shot into Buffalo New York, with the potential of rockets that could reach Manhattan. This is a volatile region with a volatile history where in each of the first four decades of its existence, Israel has been attacked by neighboring Arab invaders. These “territories” are the key now to Israel’s security.
 
Acquiring the “territories” came with a more complex threat. The Arabs of Trans Jordan, which until then controlled up to East Jerusalem were now under foreign non-Arab rule. In fact, they considered it the rule of the enemy. That is how they looked at it then, and that is how thy look at it now, understandably. The Jordanian refugees and Egyptian refugees that now populate the West Bank and Gaza look at Israel as foreign infidel rulers. These refugees now have an identity of a nation, which they call Palestinian and their plan is to eventually control all the land “taken” away from them since 1948.
 
Why would the Palestinians be interested in making peace of living in peace within Israel’s borders? Can they relate to the national anthem of “Hatikva”? Can they relate to the dream of returning to Zion after 2000 years of exile? Does this resonate with the Palestinians? Is the flag of Israel a representation of his national identity? NO. It reminds him of a terrible military loss where his Arab brothers were collectively embarrassed in defeat against a fledgling Jewish Army who was victorious. The day his brethren and countries left them stranded under enemy rule was their Nakba.
 
So, if we cannot live with each other, we must live without each other. This is where the two state solutions come in.
 
Even though the Arabs lost the war, and their “territories” that were fairly acquired by Israel in a defensive war, maybe we should return them to these poor refugees who have refused to live under Israeli rule. In Talmudic terms, “Hadra Kashya l”dukhta”-“The problem comes back into our place.”  Israel will then have no buffer zone between our enemies and us. The Palestinian culture has been warped into a terrorist lead government, as witnessed by HAMAS and FATAH who are bent on destroying Israel. This is stated in the HAMAS charter, and has never been removed. By giving them a state, we would have in effect formed the most dangerous country ever to set it sites on the destruction of Israel. They would have the support of Iran, with its nuclear capacity, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia in their endeavor to wipe Israel and her citizens off the map and the face of the earth. This is not paranoia on Israel’s part this is logic. This is an estimation and understanding of the enemy. Would America allow the setting up an AL Queda run state in Toronto, or fifteen minutes outside of Washington D.C. as a result of a Peace treaty?
 
SO, What is Israel to do? The Arabs do not want to live peacefully within our borders. They will not live peacefully within a state of their own. The only way Israel can protect herself from Arab terrorism is to “occupy” where they live and operate. If they ever acquired real military capability Israel would be in desperate trouble. This is being witnessed now by the attacks on Israel by Hezbollah. However, the underlying problem is that living with the enemy, Israel has to protect her civilians and population. The Palestinians are gaining support within all “Palestinian” areas within Israel, and that cannot be left unchecked. So, Israel is forced to build checkpoints. She must send in forces to take out terrorists and their leaders. All of this is done at the expense of the innocent civilians. The Arabs have left Israel no choice! An Arab living in Judea cannot visit his parents living in Samaria, some thirty minutes away. Why? Because Israeli Military Intelligence has gotten word of a potential terrorist threat and a terrorist making his way with weapons from Judea to Samaria, which results in a shutdown of all thoroughfares in the area. This is not an uncommon occurrence. This happens all the time! I know, because I work at the checkpoints with my Nachal Haredi unit. We have to be the ones to tell them they cannot cross due to threats. This is not a job we enjoy; however, it is essential to the protection of our people. Imagine living like that! They call it “occupation” we call it protection. The situation from all sides is unfair to the Palestinian population of non-combatants. It is unfair for us young soldiers to have to be placed in a situation that we have to say no to families who want to get together, or to go to work. We have feelings, and we understand the ties to family, and not being able see them, however this was not created by Israel, this was created by a force that will never acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, and secure her borders. Terrorists created this situation and the civilian populations of these areas should be upset with HAMAS, not Israel.
 
There are nearly six million Jews living in Israel today. I find the number of Jews now living in our homeland compared to the number murdered by Hitler an interesting phenomenon. Here we are today, again under attack from our enemies, and the potential to destroy six million again is at hand. There are 1.3 million Israeli Arabs and Palestinians also living within Israel’s borders. There are 22 Arab and Muslim nations and just one Jewish State. The Jews have their homeland here, and have nowhere else to go. We have no other brethren who will accept our six million with open arms. This is the one and only Jewish state. WE cannot go anywhere else. Maybe, we could have in 1948, maybe, but not now.
It is now impossible. We cannot go to Poland or Germany or Yemen or Iran and reclaim our homes. Anyone who thinks this is true is very naïve. We Jews have nowhere to go and no partners to help us even if this is what we wanted to do. This is not true of the Palestinians. As we know there are Jordanian and Egyptian Arab refugees found within our borders. Many of them have families abroad, and many have families amongst the throng of Arab countries in the region. They like the Jews do not lack “open arms”, nor do they lack national sympathizers and endorsers. They are bound with a national and religious unity to nearly a billion other people spread out from Asia into Northern Africa. The “Palestinians” holy sites lie not in Israel but rather in Mecca and Median. Their hearts and minds are there, and as the Jew’s mind (l’havdil) has been in Jerusalem, Hebron, the Galilee and the Negev. He is not lacking open arm, we are and have nowhere else to go.
 
Israel has no choice by to remain in its complete borders containing both the West Bank and Gaza. The threatening and endangering Arab population can no longer stand Israel’s presence, and we cannot stand their persistent terrorism. I feel that it they were able to return with open arms to their Arab heritage and culture within the many army land, they would rid themselves of what they call “occupation” and rid us of their threat. I say, offer them generous compensation for their reuniting with their brethren and offer aid to help start up a new, free and prosperous live under non invasive rule. Or, e can just continue on with the endless battle that is speedily and globally escalating with an end that I do not want to predict. This is the only way we can reach for peace, world recognition of Israel as a sovereign state, and a place for Jews worldwide to always be welcome with “open arms”.
 
August 3, 2006 Jerusalem, Israel
Zacharia Ben Avraham is a Los Angeles twenty-year old - one of approximately two thousand American volunteers currently serving with the Israeli Army.