We ceased, they fired…writes Michael Kuttner
As soon as the so called ceasefire was announced anyone with even a smattering of common sense could have and indeed did predict that this farce would not last longer than a snowball in hell.
Michael Kuttner
Moreover the moment I read that the American State Department & White House had been beavering away in the background I instinctively knew that this latest effort was doomed to failure. Everything they have been associated with as far as the Middle East and terrorism is concerned has turned to dust and left former allies and friends bruised, battered and at the mercy of Islamic fanatics.
The current manifestation of this assault on a democratic country is a valuable lesson for the rest of the hypocritical international community and provides clues as to what can be expected in the near future. Although there are some who discern a dawning realization on the part of the democratic world as to what the real agenda of these terrorists consists of, it appears that still too many are in denial and prefer to sweep the hard truths under the carpet.
Despite an unrelenting barrage of rockets aimed at Israeli civilians and incidentally religious sites of various religions, the UN only woke up when Israel responded to take out the source of this terror. The only statement which was in any way accurate and made without trying to straddle the fence and have a bet each way, came from the Canadian Prime Minister who in no uncertain language placed the blame exactly where it should have been and stated that Hamas and its sidekicks must be dealt with in such a way that they could not again in the future threaten Israelis and Jews. In other words peace was unattainable with people whose entire agenda consisted of hate and a plan to murder Jews.
Contrast this with the wishy washy expressions of concern forthcoming from most other politicians who trotted out the same well worn mantras which mean nothing and merely signify failed past policies. Take the statement made today by the New Zealand Foreign Minister. You will note that it does not even mention the terror group, Hamas, and completely ignores the unceasing barrage of rockets against Israeli communities and cities.
“We urge both sides to show restraint and immediately de-escalate the situation. Civilian deaths are unacceptable and further civilian casualties must be prevented.
“These latest incidents reinforce the urgent need for a two state solution to be reached as part of a permanent and sustainable peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians,” Mr. McCully says.
It strives to create a moral equivalency between terrorists terrorizing and Israel which is trying to protect its citizens. He then goes on to trot out the inane claim that only another terror State in our midst, this time on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, the international airport and strategic mountain ranges of Judea and Samaria can bring everlasting peace and tranquility. Absent from this barren piece of advice is any recognition of the chaos and mayhem now sweeping Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan, places which have nothing to do with the Palestinian Arabs and where Hamas type groups are on the rampage.
Those who champion Abbas as the harbinger of a democratic, tolerant and liberal country are so delusional and out of touch with reality that it is painful to listen to them. One can forgive McCully and the rest of the UN for trotting out this nonsense because they do not live here and either do not know or do not want to know what the Palestinian leadership says on a daily basis. However when our retiring President and his fellow cheer leaders make the same nonsensical remarks one has to wonder whether sanity and common sense has taken a vacation.
Those advocating the wholesale surrender of territory which legally was allocated to the Jewish State as far back as 1923 have short memories. When the calamitous Oslo agreement was signed critics predicted that bringing Arafat and cronies back from Tunis was a recipe for disaster. When we withdrew from Gaza critics pointed out that it would not be long before rockets would be flying in our direction. The late Yitzhak Rabin said that the Palestinian Arabs would never dare to do so and when others maintained that Ashkelon would be bombarded, Shimon Peres derided them as deluded and obstacles to peace which he predicted was about to break out in his vision of the new Middle East. When we withdrew from South Lebanon and left our security in the hands of the UN, Hezbollah amassed over 100,000 rockets all aimed at Israel. How often and how many times must we repeat the same fatal folly and like battered spouses keep going back for more punishment?
The only way to defeat terrorists and terrorist states is to cripple them so that they can never ever threaten their nighbours. The Allies brought Nazi Germany and Japan to their knees knowing full well that to declare a ceasefire before the scourge had been eliminated was a fatal mistake. The Vietcong did the same only in reverse when they utterly routed the French and Americans. As for Afghanistan, just look at the fiasco after the Americans botched the war against the Taliban and efforts to placate them became policy.
A ceasefire in Islamic parlance is a Hudna which in effect means a time to regroup, rearm and then in due course resume hostilities, this time from a position of greater strength. Meantime you demolish the morale of your opponents and wear them down with endless talks of meaningless peace. The majority of Israelis are wise to this ruse but unfortunately some of our politicians and so called enlightened liberals will never learn the lessons of history. That is why the usual suspects throughout Europe, USA, UK and elsewhere (including Israel) have taken to the streets waving olive branches as though that is going to bring peace. Look closely however at the real agenda behind these demonstrators especially in Europe and you will see and hear the same old Jew hatred now masquerading as hatred of the Jewish State. No wonder French Jews among others are packing their bags. Even in Sydney the demonstrators could not resist the temptation to show their true colours. These are warning signs we ignore at our peril.
The bottom line is simple. Terror and those who promote it must be fought without hesitation. Only the total elimination of this virulent disease can guarantee genuine peace and mutual tolerance. Only the recognition that Jews have a right to live in peace and tranquility in the ancestral homeland can guarantee a secure future for our children.
We must focus on this goal and pursue it relentlessly regardless of the prevalent hypocrisy and double standards so evident today.
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.
