Saturday, October 30, 2004

The Vulnerability of Israel


For the Jewish people, therefore, the history of the twentieth century may be summed up thus: If there had been a Jewish state in the first half of the century, there would have been no Holocaust. And if there had not been a Jewish state after the Holocaust, there would have been no Jewish future.

— from A Durable Peace, by Benjamin Netanyahu

The mushroom cloud rising over Tel Aviv has to be the greatest dread of the Jewish State in the 21st century. For a half a century after the birth of Israel, the existence of a haven for Jews all over the world could be assured by the armed might of the Jewish state. But, as the time approaches when Iran can deliver nuclear-tipped missiles to the heart of Israel, the existence of that haven can no longer be assumed.

Even without access to the secret deliberations of Israel's security bodies, it is safe to say that Israel will do everything in its power to frustrate the designs of the mullahs in Tehran, and the Israeli military is undoubtedly capable of doing so. But the terrorists of the Great Islamic Jihad are intent upon acquiring nuclear weapons, and even a well-placed dirty bomb could do enormous damage to Israel and force much of its carefully-tended farm land out of cultivation. A devastating attack of this kind might cause the collapse of Israel's economy.

This is a reminder of why Israel is perhaps the most important ally in the war against the Islamists. The very existence of America is not yet threatened by them, but Israel is very much at risk. They could become our greatest ally because the stakes are so much higher for them.

The jihadis make virtually no distinction between Americans and Zionists; the two terms are virtually interchangeable for them. Nothing better demonstrates why it is time to stand with the Jews.

10 comments:

jj mollo said...

The original Christians were all Jews. I have always thought that Christians should see themselves that way. Muslims have always been resentful of Christians for not accepting their new religion as a natural extension and sensible clarification of their own. Christians feel the same way toward Jews. For the most part, however, it's just ethnic solidarity. No matter what people say they do or believe, they always eat at separate lunch tables.

Baron Bodissey said...

I remember many years ago hearing born-again Christians refer to Jews who converted to Christianity as "completed Jews". But that hasn't been my experience with most Christians.

The Jews are God's chosen people, and, in His mysterious way, he has shown that those who believe Christ is the Messiah and those who don't can coexist amicably.

Brittany said...

Well said! I stand with Israel always.

Baron Bodissey said...

Thanks for your support. It's good to have a young person on board!

Baron Bodissey said...

Lancelot -- The US and Israel have been very generous in offering the Palestinians a state, considering that they have never had one before and that their brethren in Jordan and Egypt never wanted them to have one until it became expedient, in order give Israel a poke in the eye.

A huge number of Palestinians live in the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, but there is no sign that the king has any desire to give them their own state.

Doug said...

re:
"Thanks for your support. It's good to have a young person on board!"
Well, thank you for the compliment! ;-)
Doug
...thought I might find that Bartlett guy here: Now I'll have to look.

Baron Bodissey said...

Doug -- He's on the "Is Islamic Democracy Possible?" post.

Baron Bodissey said...

Yes indeed. I presume you've seen our friend Buddy's take on this...

Baron Bodissey said...

Oh, yes, I've been following the fun in Belmont. I don't have a TV, so it's the only entertainment I have!

Baron Bodissey said...

Definitely. A lot of tthe time I'm just a lurker at Belmont, but when the the Israel/anitsemitism issue comes up, I just feel compelled to enter the fray...