Leftist Ha’aretz columnist Ari Shavit has written another sharp piece urging Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to halt the headlong rush to national disaster that his “convergence” policies represent.
Referencing outgoing National Security Council head Giora Eiland, Shavit reminds Olmert that, like him, every Israeli prime minister for the past four decades has initiated and/or entered into “peace” processes believing he could ultimately control the flow of events and especially Israel’s degree of compromise.
Every prime minister has been wrong.
“Eiland makes note of a fascinating fact: that every prime minister in the past generation who initiated a foreign policy move was swept into a process with unexpected results. Menachem Begin never imagined that he would cede all of Sinai and “establish” the Palestinian homeland; Yitzhak Rabin never imagined that he would effectively create a ‘Yasser Arafat state’; and Ehud Barak never imagined that he would agree to give back 95 percent of the West Bank, as well as the Temple Mount.”
…
“In Eiland’s view, therefore, the pattern that is emerging is fascinating: One after another, Israeli prime ministers release the genie from the bottle in the belief that they can tame it, but quickly discover that it is the genie that is taming them. What was thought to be reversible turns out to be irreversible. What was planned as a limited operation becomes comprehensive. The moment the ship leaves the harbor without a compass, without a clear destination and without a proper map of the ocean, the strong currents in the international realm exercise their own will upon it. They mock each Israeli leader in his turn, and sweep his ship into remote and hazardous quarters.”
We see it happening already with Olmert and his “convergence” plan.
What started out as a unilateral Israeli move aimed at increasing security by pinning down the terror-backing “Palestinians” became, under subtle American pressure, a means of jump starting the Road Map peace plan.
And now Olmert, while under the gaze of Britain’s Tony Blair Monday, has hinted that the primary aim of his planned withdrawal is to free up enough contiguous land for the “Palestinians” to set up a sovereign state - despite the fact that state will be ruled by a terrorist organization.
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13 comments so far ↓
1 Bob.H // Jun 13, 2006 at 7:20 am
How is it that these leaders do not learn by history. How right the above writer is, but it goes back a lot further than 40 years.
Whilst we are in a very different era to the patriarchs’ times, somethings never change.
Numbers 33v55 says, “but if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land then they will be barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell”.
We are absolutely in that place yet again. Israel of old thought that they could compromise land or tribute money for peace, and each time G-d let them be defeated before their enemies because they thought that they knew better than God.
Anyone can see the damage that is being done to Israel because of continued appeasement and compromise with the avowed enemy in the midst.
I do not think it is wisdom at present to go out and utterly destroy the Palestinians as the ancients did. We still have to live with the international community. However armed strong resistance to defend the Eternally given inheritance, and done HUMBLY in the name of the G-d of Abraham Isaac and Israel will surely be in agreement with our Maker’s plan and as such be under His favour.
G-d many many times caused our enemies to fight and destroy each other. Hamas and Fatah would easily do that if we had faith and humility to call on G-d as the ancients did. Unfortunately the way we are going it is Israel is likely to be torn apart
2 Jill Allerton // Jun 13, 2006 at 7:32 am
I can’t help thinking of how the Lord led His children to defeat Jericho. G-d’s ways are different than our ways. If they had “compromised” with the inhabitants of Jericho, the walls would never have fallen down. It is the hard thing to stand your ground, but that is the way to victory. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s ways end in death.” I believe this verse comes from Proverbs? In my own life when I have compromised for “peace” it has lead to death. I have great 20/20 vision!
3 Jeannette // Jun 13, 2006 at 10:39 am
How sad to see Israel giving land away. Many people fought and died so the Jews could have their own country again. GOD is also sad. He says in Psalm 81, “Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; there shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the LORD they GOD, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open they mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee”. How sad, it doesn’t have to be this way. Israel could enjoy GOD’S favor and blessing again if only they would turn to their one and only ALMIGHTY. I pray for Israel.
4 Martha Komstedt // Jun 13, 2006 at 6:53 pm
From the Hebrew Prophet Isaiah (50:ll)
“Behold all you that kindle a fire that
compass yourselves about with sparks: walk
in the light of your fire, and in the
sparks that you have kindled. This shall
you have of My hand; you shall lie down
in sorrow.”
Ehud Olmert is lighting a fearsome fire in
heartland of Israel. Sharon kindled a fire
in Gaza, and now he is lying down in
sorrow. What can we say - we American
Gentile Christians who have stood with
Israel and upheld Aliyah to her Covenant
land?
Jeremiah (l3:l7) “But if you will not hear
it, my soul shall weep in secret for your
pride…” Israel, the Beloved, I weep for
you. Selah.
5 Mike M. Joseph // Jun 13, 2006 at 11:24 pm
At the end of the story, all will be well! So said God and His prophets! But alas, before that yet one last captivity is coming for Israel — the worst one ever! For the grim details and rosy future thereafter, read the shocking Middle East bestseller, which has predicted the Iraq war years before the first shot. Its title is: “Middle East: Blueprint For the Final Solution,” subtitled: “The Coming Fall and Rise of Western Democracy.” Preview it at: www.1stbooks.com/bookview/16130
6 ben // Jun 14, 2006 at 4:01 pm
No land for terror.
Muslim terrorists see israel as the “Zionist occupation of Arab land” and will not settle for anything but the destruction of Israel and eventually all non-Muslims.
Bring back Likud who know how to deal with Israel properly not that idiot Olmert that leftist who is willing to go to any length to get the peace which Israel wants but the Arabs and Muslims don’t.
7 George Ceferin // Jun 14, 2006 at 8:31 pm
The problem with the prime ministers of Israel is that none of them have a relationship with the LORD GOD and none of them give heed to His Word. God’s Covenant with Abraham regarding giving land to Abraham’s descendants forever will only find its fulfillment when Zechariah Chapters 12, 13, and 14 come to completion in the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. his name in Hebrew is Adonai Melech Yeshua Hamasheach and He will come to earth in power to bring in His kingdom, to establish everlasting peace and righteousness all over this earth and remove Adam’s curse from the earth. Halleluia!!!!!!!!!
8 pete // Jun 15, 2006 at 11:12 am
[POST REMOVED - PLEASE DO NOT USE GENERAL SLANDER AGAINST AN ENTIRE PEOPLE GROUP - THERE ARE MANY GOOD ARABS WHO BACK AND LOVE ISRAEL THAT WOULD BE DEEPLY HURT BY SUCH REMARKS]
9 charles // Jun 15, 2006 at 4:23 pm
so if there are so many good arabs in israel why did over 90% of the “palestinian” elections go to hamas (a terrorist organisation), Fatah - a terrorist and extreme organisation of the pflp (who openly are proud of their invention of plane hijackings)?
10 david // Jun 15, 2006 at 4:38 pm
too right charles - i forget there are so many muslim pro-israel groups around we shouldn’t forget how much the muslims love us. their refusal to condone suicide bombings or justifying sucide bombings in israel; hanging jews in iran and forcing christain churches to be converted to mosques is all part of the peace loving nation of islam.
11 Ryan Jones // Jun 15, 2006 at 5:15 pm
Come now. I didn’t say there are SO many Arabs who love Israel. I just said that there are some - I have had the pleasure of sitting with a handful of them. And they take an incredible risk to speak out against Muslim hatred of the Jews.
Though they are a very tiny minority, and openly recognize the moral depravity of the rest of their brethren, I am certain they would be deeply hurt by sweeping remarks such as “death to the Arabs.”
12 ben // Jun 15, 2006 at 5:41 pm
too right there are muslim moderates who do not support terror and support jews and a small minority supporting israel. chants like death to the arabs is stupid since some jews are arabs and besides the point; to wish death upon any nation is against the principles of judaism
13 Ryan Jones // Jun 15, 2006 at 6:51 pm
ben, you are right, though I wasn’t actually speaking about “Muslim moderates.”
I was, in referring to those I have met, speaking about Arab Christians - and not the Catholic or Orthodox brand.
One in particular comes to mind, though I cannot remember his name. Absolutely fearless Evangelical Christian Arab pastor whose home and church are in PA-occupied Bethlehem. If I remember correctly two of his children have been murdered by either Fatah or Hamas, and he has been shot more than once because of his faith and his support for Israel. Yet he will not be silenced.
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