WHO WON? DON’T ASK. A FEW THINGS TO DO

With a ceasefire now in place, we can only hope that hostilities will abate—to hope for more than that may be foolishly optimistic.  Where there is no loser, anyone can claim victory, including the Gazans, for whom this week-long campaign against Israel has left over a hundred Palestinians dead and significant property damage throughout the area.  And perhaps they did win.  Perhaps they won by virtue of a ceasefire that does not censure a political entity, Hamas, for targeting civilian populations as enemy targets in full and total violation of the Geneva Conference.  Perhaps they won by funding hostilities against Israel with monies and manpower designated for humanitarian purposes alone, and doing so with impunity.  Perhaps they won by having the media portray their grievances as just the other side of a conflict in which both sides bear equal shares of responsibility.  If Gaza can enjoy even an ounce of victory in this most recent one of their  deadly temper tantrums, then it can only be accounted as a loss for the West in general, and Israel specifically.

When Hamas sends a message to Israelis that they miss the suicide bombings, a tactic in which young Arabs are convinced by old Arabs to kill themselves in the name of liberty, the West must express its outrage.  When Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza celebrate news of a bus bombing in Tel Aviv, as they did today, the West must express its outrage.  When Anderson cooper shows on the CNN website a video of motorcycles driving down a Gazan street, one of them dragging a dead body behind it, with people shouting “God is Great,” and announcing the dead man as a collaborator with Israel, , the West must express its outrage.  And if the West remains silent because it has lost its nerve or its backbone or its moral compass, then let you and I, people of good conscience, express outrage.  We are witnessing a value system that is not only sick, but is demanding parity with the West’s at best, or has designs of overtaking ours at worst.  Unacceptable—and outrageous!

What can we do?  We can do a few things:

1)      The Jewish Federations of North America have set up a fund to help those Israelis who have been traumatized and sickened by this latest round of gratuitous hostility.  The Federations are immediately freeing up $5 million to address the most critical needs in Israel.  With support from the broader North American Jewish community, the fund is helping children, people with disabilities and special needs, seniors and families who are victims of terror. Please consider a gift.  Click here for more information:  Israel Terror Relief Fund

2)      Here is a video I’d like you to watch and as you do so, ask yourself this.  Imagine if this is what our children would have to do when they went to school:  Code Red

3)      It is very important that we express our thanks to members of Congress who have come out in strong support of Israel.  When we let them know how much we appreciate what they have done, we strengthen their hands to continue their support of Israel in days to come.  And that’s really important.  Click to view 

Statements of Support

4)      Volunteers for Israel are always needed and always welcomed.  Even in the aftermath of this conflict, your decision to volunteer your time and service in Israel would be greatly appreciated.  For additional information about Volunteers for Israel, please refer to Volunteers of Israel www.vfi-usa.org, email info@vfi-usa.org, or call 866-514-1948.  You may also contact our own Norman Weingart who is very involved in this area at  (516)  433-2086 or e-mail him at:  normwein@aol.com

5)      Finally, let’s not forget the IDF, so many of whom are teenagers, the age of our children and grandchildren.  PizzaIdf.org will send sufganiot, pizza, or other treats to soldiers in the field.  It’s a small gesture that means a great deal to a soldier sitting in a tank, positioned in a field, or waiting for his/her orders.

Finally, a word about Gaza.  I wish no harm come to any person, including Palestinians.  I think their lot in life is a bitter one, but it’s not because of Israel.  It is because of a leadership that is angry and bitter, narrow-minded and short-sighted, immoral and barbaric.  Until that changes, generations of successful and brilliant minds will be lost.  May God bring Palestinians to the realization that they will succeed if only they marshal their energies to cooperate with their neighbor rather than demonstrate against her.