I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THERE SHOULD BE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN OUR PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE DISENGAGEMENT PLAN VERSUS THE 350 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE PRESIDENT WISHES US TO GIVE TO THE PA.
I DO NOT WISH TO SUGGEST THAT I SUPPORT MAKING THE GAZA JUDENREIN, NOR AM I CONVINCED THAT SHARON HAS TRULY THOUGHT OUT THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING NEW AND MORE DEADLY ROCKET ATTACKS WITHIN THE ISRAELI HEARTLAND. WE STILL OBSERVE VIOLENCE AND PREPARATION FOR TERRORISM. INCITEMENT IN ARABIC IS STLL EVIDENT, AND ARAFAT’S RHETORIC IS STILL THE NORM .I SEE WAR, NOT PEACE AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
HOWEVER, EVEN IF YOU TAKE EVERY ARGUMENT MOST OF WHICH WE AND MANY COMMENTATORS HAVE ENUMERATED OVER THESE PAST FEW MONTHS,AT THE END OF THE DAY THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL,WITH ITS CABINET , KNESSET ,COURT SYSTEM,MILITARY AND SUPREME COURT AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL MUST REMAIN THE FINAL AND ONLY ARBITERS AND JUDGES IN THIS REGARD.
OTHER THAN THE UNIQUE STATUS OF JERUSALEM WHICH NO POLITICAL POWER ON EARTH CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THE JEWISH PEOPLE,WE EACH CAN HAVE OUR OWN IDEAS AND THOUGHTS.WE DARE NOT INTERFERE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WITHIN ISRAEL.
AS LONG AS WE LIVE IN THE U.S.., PAY TAXES HERE AND HAVE OUR CHILDREN IN COLLEGE WHILE ISRAELI YOUTH SERVE IN THE ARMY.,THE BALL IS NOT IN OUR COURT( UNLESS WE WISH TO MAKE ALIYA.)
IT MAKES WONDERFUL HEADLINES TO SIT IN THE U.S. AND ATTACK DISENGAGEMENT.IT TAKES FORTITUDE AND MATURITY WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SELF CONTROL TO QUIETLY MAKE OUR VIEWS KNOWN TO THE ISRAELI LEADERSHIP WHILE DIPLOMATICALLY POINTING OUT TO AMERICAN LEADERS THE PITFALLS,WITHOUT ATTACKING THE LEADERSHIP OF ISRAEL
OF COURSE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO CANNOT SUPPORT DISENGAGEMENT HAVE A RIGHT TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTES IN THE CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS AND TO ISSUE A STATEMENT OF EXPLANATION.WITHOUT LOBBYING FURTHER ON THE ISSUE. WE PAY A PRICE FOR AT LEAST THE APPEARANCE OF UNITY BY THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY
OF COURSE IT IS SAD TO SEE ISRAELI DIPLOMATS MOBILIZING SUPPORT ON THE FAR LEFT IN THIS COUNTRY FOR DISENGAGEMENT.THIS IS A HAND THAT WILL TURN AROUND AND BITE ISRAEL AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY.THEY WOULD THINK NO MORE THAN TWO SECOND BEFORE URGING THE PRESIDENT TO PRESSURE ISRAEL THE MOMENT THEY FEEL ISRAEL IS NOT GIVING EVERYTHING BACK TO ABBAS..BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GET INTO BED WITH.
NOT SO IN THE CASE FOR LOBBYING AGAINST AND FIGHTING THE EMERGENCY AND REGULAR APPROPRIATION OF 350 MILLION DOLLARS IN PA AID.THIS IS AMERICAN MONEY, AND WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE OBLIGATION TO MONITOR SUCH FOREIGN POLICY EXPENDITURES .IF ISRAEL WANTS TO GIVE THE PA AN ADDITIONAL 350 MILLION DOLLARS,THAT IS THEIR RIGHT,ALTHOUGH WE WOULD HAVE TO SHAKE OUR HEADS IN DISBELIEF NEVERTHELESS THAT WOULD BE THEIR DECISION.
AS LONG AS WE SEE NO END OF CORRUPTION AND INCITEMENT AND NO DISARMING OF HAMAS AND ISLAMIC JIHAD THEN IT IS ALL AS THE TALMUD CALLS IT AN ASMACTAH MERE TALK TO SMOOTH OUR SUSPICIONS OR IN OTHER WORDS PA PUFFERY. I COMMEND THE ZOA FOR A TERRIFIC SET OF ADS ON THIS ISUE.
I ONLY RAISE ONE TACTICAL ISSUE, NAMELY WOULD IT NOT BE EASIER FOR CONGRESS TO PASS THE BILL,BUT PLACE THE FUNDING INTO ESCROW PENDING CERTIFICATION THAT THE PA HAS MET STRICT CRITERIA, INSTEAD OF HAVING CONGRESS VOTING AGAINST THE PRESIDENT WHICH THEY HATE TO DO . IT IS THE SAME DISAGREEMENT I HAD WITH ZOA DURING THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE FACILITATION ACT AFTER OSLO.
