IT IS DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN
I LIVED THROUGHT THE 1995 NY PRESIDENTS CONFERENCE RALLY THAT WAS BILLED AS A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE THEN STRICKEN PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL YITZCHOK RABIN ,AH
.THE ISSUE S WERE A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THOSE WHO WANTED A RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE” PEACE PROCESS” AND THOSE WHO WANTED TO SUPPORT THE STATE AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND THE “PURSUIT OF PEACE” (NOT THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS PURSUIT OF PEACE) (I HAVE A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THAT BATTLE IN MY BOOK)
THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENTS CONFERENCE THAT THEY WILL SPONSOR A NY RALLY ON MAY 22 IS VERY REMINISCENT OF THE ABOVE BATTLE..
IS THE RALLY T TO SUPPORT THE GAZA PULLOUT AND THE PRIME MINISTERS PLANS OR IS IT TO SIMPLY EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE AS THE PRIME MINISTER, MR SHARON WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE AIPAC CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON ?
IN EITHER CASE I BELIEVE THAT THE CHANCES OF THIS RALLY TAKING PLACE ARE PROBLEMATIC
· WHILE IT WILL NOT BE DIFFICULT TO GET 1500 INVITED LEADERS TO NY TO SUPPORT DISENGAGEMENT, NEW YORK COULD EASILY PRODUCE 20-50,000 PROTESTERS AGAINST DISENGAGEMENT ON SHORT NOTICE..
· IF ZOA, YOUNG ISRAEL, OTHER RIGHT WING GROUPS, PLUS THE LONE RANGERS OF JEWISH ACTIVISM BRING OUT THE TROOPS THEY WILL BE JOINED BY THOUSANDS OF YESHIVA STUDENTS. EVEN THE ORTHODOX UNION WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER ABANDONING ITS “POLICY” OF “NO POLICY” IF THE ANTI-RALLY WERE DONE RESPECTFULLY.
· SHOULD THESE OPPONENTS MAKE PUBLIC CALLS FOR A DEMONSTRATION THE LEFT WING MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE WHO BELIEVE THAT AMERICAN JEWRY SUPPORTS DISENGAGEMENT ARE IN FOR A BIG SURPRISE THEIR SUPPORTERS DO NOT HAVE THE FIRE IN THE BELLY THAT THE ORTHODOX AND NEO-CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITIES HAVE.
· NO WAY IN MY OPINION COULD THE LEFTIES BRING OUT THE MASSES ON SHORT NOTICE TO COUNTER THR RIGHT. BUT WITH OR WITHOUT A COUNTER/COUNTER DEMONSTRATION IT WILL BE A MESS.
· SHOULD SUCH AN ANTI DISENGAGEMENT RALLY START TO PERCOLATE IT IS PROBABLE THAT ISRAELI SECURITY WILL NOT ALLOW SHARON TO COME-IF THAT WAS THE INTENTION, AND EVENTUALLY THE RALLY WILL BE CALLED OFF OR MOVED TO WASHINGTON ETC
SHOULD SUCH A RALLY FLOP IT WOULD BE A MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT TO SHARON AND THE LEFT WING
LET US REMEMBER IF THE RALLY IS SIMPLY TO SUPPORT ISRAEL, NEW YORK HAS A MAJOR ISRAEL DAY PARADE COMING UP AND DOESN’T NEED ANOTHER SUCH RALLY
RIGHT WING OR MODERATE GROUPS WHO SUPPORT THE RALLY SHOULD NOT FOOL THEMSELVES AS TO ITS PURPOSE.
IT IS ALL EXCITING AND HIGH POLITICAL DRAMA AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD THE END OF IT YET
