WHICH WAS THE REAL DEAL?

Prime Minister Natanyahu met again with President Obama this time with all the bell snd wistles. So of course which reception truly reflects the Presidents' views this time or last time when PM Netanyahu was left alone while the President went to have diner with his daugthers?

However it is telling that there is an on going effort by the President to make nice after the earlier gaff. However this may be more in response to buyer's remorse on the part of American Jews who voted for the President but would reluctant to do so again as well as a nod to the Democratic Congress that has overwhelmingly pro-Israel.

Improoving relations with the Islamic world is a good thing and in American's interest. However the way to made new friends is not by abandoning the old ones nor by losing one's own identity and values to satisfy the other. Without saying more it is possible that the President's international background and out-of -the-mainstream mentors may have brought him to a place where he does not have an American identity or at least not one as strong as his predecessors in office.

Alack of national self esteem can be made for Mr, Netanyahu as well however before condeming totally one must account for whatever strongarm tactics were used on him, even so he too must step up to assert Jewish National interests against Mr. Obama and his minions. One must be who they are destined to be a Jew must be a Jew no matter how badly he may want otherwise. Faith and strength are what matter once one knows who one is then a worldview and desicions can be competently made.

LEFT OUT ??!?!?

It has been awahile,nothing much has taken place that raises my ire recently except for a recent Israel National News story that the Tomb of the Patriarchs as well as Rachel's Grave were included on a list of National Heritage Site the Prime Minister's office would promote . While today's 7 Adar 5770, 21 February 2010Israel National News reports the Prime Minister's office intends to correct the ommissions soon. Persoanlly the translation means wow we did not think anyone would notice!!Bust since you caught us we will correct the problem while never acknowledgeing there was an issue in the first place.

Subtle messages abound, from the new Israeli mind set that present day Jewish-Israelis have little connection to thier progenitors. The nostalgia of Hebron being one of the Four Lands of Life during the diaspora. Indeed the return of Jews to hevron after the six day was treated life McArthur upon his return to the Phillipines.

When Kiryat Arba celebrated its Tenth anniversaryamong the notable attendig was them Prime Minister Begin. As the Prime Minister is no stranger to the legacy of Tanach it is remote to think he does not appreciate the significance of these iconic site to the Jewish People. To speculate what the Prime Minister's inital thinking was would be exactly that speculation and without some facts to serve as a foundation suggesting a motive would be less than guessing.

Of Course there is a 'however' Reported 8 Adar 5770, 2/20/10 on Israel National Radio the PA responded that the Prime Minister's action would complicate the situation. It sounds absurd that in the county founded in part as haven, as a return to the ancestoral homeland the rights of Jews to go where and when they please could be challenged. Decency and good manners cannot be the basis for weakening or retreating from any place in Eretz Yisrael that is partJewish people's heritage and legacy.Failing to assert a strident unmovable Jewish claim that Rachel's Tomb and the Machpela belong to the Jewish People represents a fundamental suspension of self respect that all human beings enjoy. If one denies oneself identity what remains of the individual? What remains of the nation?

Possibly this fear of losing himself is what motivated Mordechai refused to acknowledge Haman. Bowing to Haman would mean retreat from the fullness of Jewish consciousness and sensibility.

Mr. Prime Minister may be these Holy Sites were simply left off your list as an oversight as the alternative is too painful to consider.

LESSONS CAST IN LEAD

It would be so easy to write a post decrying how the Israeli leadership snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by aborting Operation Cast Lead before finishing off Hamas. If even after unleashing the full power of the IDF against Gaza for 3 weeks Hamas remained able to fire ordinance at Israel. This would imply that after making Gaza Jew free and a prolonged truce period Hamas had so militarized the region that Hamas’ military capacity remains a threat. So by failing to eliminate Hamas the threat to Israel not only remains but is increased.

However, to go off on how surreal the antics of Olmert, Livni and Barak et al are misses the reality of the situation. Unlike the Summer 2006 war the unity between Jews is very high. The Soldiers’ morale was strong there was a sense that they understood their mission and that effort was made to integrate events in the South with the whole of the nation so it was our fight and not just the South’s problem. The Israeli government and IDF speaking with a single voice waged the war of public opinion. Even new technology like You Tube was employed to make the case for Israel.

Together soldiers were joined on the battlefield with more that 100,000 others who volunteered to backup soldiers in the field and civilians in harm’s way with Torah and Prayer. All the positive factors for victory seemed to be in place.

Yet after all the effort both this and otherworldly, Hamas can still set off rockets and missiles and Gilad has not come home. The fact that the first articulation of a willingness by Israel to let up it’s attack should have seen Hamas offer the location and time a healthy, well fed Mr. Shalit would be delivered to the Israeli border and turned over, but that well as many common sense actions evaded the great minds of Israel’s leadership. Why?

To simply condemn the naïve or self serving liberal suicidal appeasement orientation of Mr. Olmert, Ms. Livni and the rest would mean the spiritual efforts of nation are not a powerful as the elected officials. Truly there were more than a few miraculous incidents during Cast Lead from the low casualty numbers to Mama Rachel personally going to Gaza to protect soldiers. So analysis of Cast Lead in geopolitical terms would clearly be misplaced.

The sudden start and stop of the campaign belies that the purpose, the goals to be achieved were not to be found in the Kiriya or any Earthly war room. The lessons learnt are the connection between national unity, exercising faith and success. Cast Lead succeeded not because of better training or supply lines. Clearly the lessons learnt are to communicate the value of faith to the whole of Israel wherever they are located, wherever they are situated.

It should be prayed for that the lessons of Cast Lead not be lost.

IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE

A few days’ distance gives perspective. President Bush’s recent visit to Jerusalem deserves comment. The streets were empty, certainly in a post 9/11 world security demands departures from what was the norm on 9/10. Yet was security the only concern in emptying Jerusalem’s streets?

After all the government could have assigned civil servants, soldiers in civilian clothes to line the streets waving Israeli and American flags, that did not happen. Maybe Mr. Bush was being insulated from what people really think and little support Olmert really has.

The control of information went further when persons were situated near the foreign press’ lodgings to distribute Fatah as “Moderate”, A Hard Look Post-Annapolis by Arlene Kushner published by THE CENTER FOR NEAR EAST POLICY RESEARCH were taken in custody for a couple of hours and their copies of the report were seized as seditious.

As disturbing as this sounds Olmert’s apparent need to suppress alternative points of view or the depth of popular dissent against the ruling regime’s actions is amazingly positive. If Olmert fears the nationalist voice that means he knows its depth within the collective national consciousness. Olmert realizes the nation knows that any agreement will be solely between himself and Abu Mazen, each leader being detached from the citizenry they officially lead. Olmert realizes the nation knows land concessions means Gush Katif 2, 3, 4 etc. . . . with the accompanying social displacement and with withdrawal comes the announcement ZEVA ADOM, ZEVA ADOM. Olmert knows the dividing of Jerusalem is beyond a painfull concession but strikes at the focal point of Jewish consciousness spanning generations Olmert knows the people know and he is running scared.

That Bush is endorsing the 23 Arab state is inexcusable as it represents the rewarding of Terrorists. As to the rest of the President’s remarks can any American President be more a Zionist than Israel’s Prime Minister?

The eternal nature of the Jewish People cannot be denyed Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker