Wednesday, June 21, 2006

If You will it . . .,and if not . . .

Prime Minister Olmert today at the World Zionist Congress while claiming sympathy for the rain of rockets landing in Sedrot and other border areas created by the departure from Gaza in 2005. The Prime Minister asserted there was no solution available in the blink of an eye.

Mr. Prime Minister ,when I spent the 1977-1978 academic year as a Yeshiva student in Jerusalem. On a Sunday night right after Passover terrorist launched a katusha near the yeshiva, which at that time was towards the boundaries of the city. The rocket was thankfully a dud but the noise was so loud I still hear it. That was a single launch imagine a the effect on those who hear Kassamim on a daily basis.

What seems most bewildering is the Israeli government's apparent lack of will to solve the problem. After all these are not a few extremists but part and parcel of the PA governmental/organizational infrastructure. The nature of these attacks and their frequency belie a graduation from terror to war. How absurd is it to demand recognition of Israel's right to exist and ignore the obligation a government has to defend its population from aggressor forces. Throwing up one's hands and tossing in the towel is not an answer. Concentrating, converging, congregating the population will not solve the problem. Kassam launches and other attacks must be made costly to the enemy, so costly that message is clear further actions will bring disaster. The fact that this enemy force may not wear uniforms or chooses to base itself within civilian population centers cannot diminish the Israeli government's resolve. It should offend every notion of civilization to use decency as an offensive weapon. No one wants innocents in harm's way, but it is beyond reason for the government of the State of Israel to put the welfare of Arab civilians in yesha over Jewish life and lives of all living under the government of the State of Israel. This is not a call for wanton violence but for the government of Israel to take the normal, natural steps necessary, short of prayer to for the state to protect its people .

Mr. Olmert , if you are a leader then lead, show your resolve to defend your people. The kassamim need to be quieted and seder restored to Sedrot.

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