It’s a matter of timing…writes Michael Kuttner
Life is full of surprises but some things are predictable and their timing can often determine whether the outcome is a success or a disaster.
Michael Kuttner
Take the two-week period for example from Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) through to Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day for Fallen soldiers and those murdered by terror) and then Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day). The somber atmosphere which permeates Israel as it remembers those murdered because they were Jews lingers through to the day we stand in silent tribute and commemorate the sacrifices of all those who have given their lives for the defense of this country and also all those innocent civilians who were murdered by terror acts. The common denominator is the fact that all those killed and murdered were targeted either because they were Jews or because they were Israelis, which of course includes other ethnic groups as well. The timing is not coincidental and gives us a week to reflect upon tragedies and acts of heroism, recent and past.
In the supermarket
Mourning for the victims of Jew and Israeli hatred is not confined to synagogues and war memorials. At places where terror attacks have occurred and in places where the public are to be found, such as malls and supermarkets, temporary memorials are erected with candles and prayers. In effect the whole country is turned into a place where the memory of those murdered and who fell in battle is remembered.
The sudden switch from mourning to celebration as Independence Day starts is also deliberate timing. It reflects the unique Jewish ability to focus on life and the future. Thus, despite the horrors of the Holocaust and the cutting short of young lives right up to our day, we look forward and are indeed strengthened by a determination to defeat despair and instead celebrate a future which in itself will confound those who seek our demise.
As an example of either coincidental or more often deliberate bad timing this week’s developments take the prize for insensitivity.
On the day we commemorated the victims of the Holocaust in Europe, some members of the European Union issued a demand to label products manufactured in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Once again Jews living in these parts of our homeland are threatened with being labeled. Not so long ago on the same continent of Europe we were labeled with yellow stars and our shops, factories and products were boycotted and then ultimately destroyed. Seventy years later Sweden, Malta, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia, Finland, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, Austria and Belgium issue a demand on Yom Hashoah for the same sort of action. Some of these countries of course have plenty of experience at labeling, rounding up, boycotting and burning Jews but one would have thought that in the year 2015 and after what has happened not so long ago a certain sense of sensitivity would prevail. Obviously this is not the case.
In the same vein and during the same period of mourning a new anti Jewish documentary is being repeatedly broadcast on Turkish TV. It is called “Mastermind” and presents Jewish domination of the world as going back 3,500 years, since the days of Moses. It is being spread by media close to the ruling Islamist Party. Ponder on this as Anzac Day is commemorated this year and politicians wax enthusiastically about marvelous Turkish allies and friends.
In the week we honor fallen Israeli men and women who gave their lives for the defense of their country, Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, visits Teheran and praises Iran for its fight against terror. A more blatant or gauche piece of deliberate bad timing one could hardly imagine. The sight of Australia’s top diplomat praising a country which is itself a leading terrorist State and which on repeated occasions threatens to eliminate a fellow UN member from the map and moreover threatens other neighboring countries, is enough to make any sane person wonder what sort of make-believe world those in Canberra inhabit.
Another example of amazingly bad timing issued forth from Washington this week. It was reported that Barak Obama is open to talks with Iran on creative ways to lift all sanctions. While Joe Biden was trundled out to deny this latest possible example of appeasement only fools and naïve individuals would swallow his denials.
To make matters worse and with exquisite timing the US State Department spokesperson this week would not rule out a $50 billion “signing bonus” for Iran if it agrees to and signs on to a piece of paper promising “peace in our time.” This would be in addition to the release of tens of billions of currently frozen Iranian funds. Even Neville Chamberlain never managed such amazing feats.
With impeccable timing Amnesty International at its international AGM rejected a motion to fight antisemitism. It apparently had no problem however in commissioning a 123-page report on Islamophobia. You do not need to be a genius to figure that one out.
As Israel turns from mourning to joyful celebration on Independence Day, there is indeed much to rejoice about. Our population is now over 8 million, the economy especially compared to the EU and other places is strong and robust, innovation and revolutionary advances in medicine, robotics and high-tech. are taking us in directions the founders of the State never imagined possible back in 1948.
While we build and strive to improve the lives of all citizens, our neighbors, especially those touted as peace partners, are engaged in an orgy of terror, murder, mayhem and madness. They are busy murdering their own people as well as fostering hate and fermenting chaos in other countries.
Despite these contradictions, the world community obsesses about Jews and Israel. As the poisonous virus of Jew hatred spreads, those who should be making serious steps to combat it, instead pontificate and promote labeling. With impeccable timing those who should be on the front lines of eliminating terror are instead placing those currently in mortal danger in even greater peril.
As we let off our fireworks and enjoy our barbecues this week we can rejoice at least in the fact that “Am Yisrael Chai” – the People of Israel live!
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.
The only thing that is wrong with our timing [in my opinion is] that there should be a one day break between Yom Le Chalalei Tzahal and Yom Ha-atzmaut. This, in order for those who have lost sons,brothers, sisters or fathers, to recover [if possible] from their sad memories. It would show more sensitivity to the mourners.
All good points Michael. What is missing is that the gas bag of Israel, Netanyahu, has failed to adopt the Levi Report, he has failed to announce that the USA’s President, Hussein I, is a duplicitous islamophile, he has failed to punish the local Arabs for their murderous, lying and thieving ways and he has failed to restore Israel’s arms industry to its former glory. He is too busy playing the ghetto diplomat, appeasing the implacably and irrationally hostiles, that he forgets that his first responsibility is to the majority group of the nation state of the Jewish people.