Stockholm/Oslo

The distance between Stockholm and Oslo is a little over 500 kilometers. In Israel however they seem to converge together.

According to Wikipedia: In psychology, Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors as an act of kindness.

What more accurate description can be used to describe the “Peace Process” and its activists today in Israel? For that matter, the world also in its unique relationship with radical Islam? Is it not PC to wear a “Kafiyeh” (Arab Head covering) and support your local extremist calling for the end of Israel, while the same extremists are against every basic human right and principle that most “enlightened” people stand for?

In Israel we watch as demands are presented by those whose only true wish is to bring about the death [demise] of the Jewish State, and we are berated both from outside and within when we protest the danger to our people.

In the world of “I told ya so”, we are also champs. Our neighbors spiral out of control, wending their ways into the hands of various “Brotherhoods” who share a cry and demand to rise against Israel. We gave up Sinai, our buffer, only to read - too late, now-that Egypt is opening the border to Gaza. Our Syrian buddy to the north (Assad) is called a coward for not fighting Israel over the Golan as he murders countless numbers of his own people. Jordan’s “ Palestinian” majority growls in wait of taking their rightful place at the helm on our eastern border.

The “wise ones” at State have finally decided and furthermore even stated publicly that they feel that Syria is no longer a viable “Partner for Peace”, and are surprised at the Abbas/Haniyeh embrace of love handles. They get the big “Duh” award!

Yes, this coming from many of the same people who decided to fund and equip Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, the Extreme Islamists in Libya and, let us not forget, our own little PLO/Hamas Army in Israel. I might have over-stepped myself in putting the PLO and Hamas together…they haven’t signed their little paper yet.

Euphoria is in the air… the possibility of attacking and defeating Israel seems closer than it’s been since way back when, in 1973. Even the locals are entranced and caught up in the melee, celebrating even as we mourned the senseless and evil slaughter of two parents and three children, guilty of being Jewish…the 4 month old baby’s crime: crying, deserving of being stabbed through the heart. Let us not forget open season on Jews making their own way to Joseph’s Grave in Shechem (Nablus).

As the truth of our neighbors’ intentions rear their ugly head, a small phalanx of Israeli “intellectual illuminati” call for the gallows from Tel Aviv in their support of a “Palestinian State”…. hmmm, intellectuals?

Wait! Hold your breath! Bibi has yet to speak!

So that’s where we stand right now…not a pretty picture I know, but that’s how it is. We should be thankful that at least we (at least those of us that have the ability to see and hear) are able to see what others have in mind for us. This may enable us to act, wisely, hopefully, Gd willing. If we are smart enough, maybe we can prevent the “bad” from happening.

Some have even called these events a Blessing in Disguise. The problem is, sometimes the disguise is too good.

So Stockholm syndrome is alive and well and living in Israel…for now, but not for much longer.

Anger and Frustration

The pictures of the attack in Itamar bring back the nightmares of the last round of violence during the uprising that started in the year 2000. Even then, people refused to realize the horror and intensity of the attacks. Many of these attacks were not even shown to the world, let alone our people.

Our Arab foes do not have courage, do not have honor, they never did, and who knows if they ever will. I am not being derogatory, simply factual. Arab terror prefers the weak, the unarmed as targets, and as shields. Do they not use schools and hospitals as staging grounds for attacks?

The rebellions in the Arab nations and their history prove these points, their own treatment of their own populations show us that, INCLUDING how they treat their brethren in Judea and Samaria.

This is what many of them are rebelling about!

What a fitting end to Israel Apartheid Week, by showing the world who gets hailed as a hero in the Arab world, just as these heinous celebrations in Gaza, Ramallah, Nablus and other places prove. Their leaders hesitate to condemn this attack or do so while explaining how it is “understandable” and these same Arab leaders are the same people our own weak minded, misdirected, deceived youth in college campuses flock to. These are the new heroes of so-called “Liberal thinkers”, these are the people who get invited to so many Jewish events, and these are the speakers at J STREET and other and ignorant and self hating organizations.

My own personal frustration regarding this particular attack comes from my own experience in the Security world. I watch the outpouring of hearts from around the world to bond with the remaining members of this dear family. The majority of the Jewish world is crying, and giant efforts are being made to assist the family in any need they may have.

WHAT ABOUT PREVENTING ATTACKS LIKE THESE?

Why do we only wake up when we are victims, why will we only see major efforts being made then?

Of course we come across those who say, Jews shouldn’t be there, then this would not have happened… really? Has terror against Israel only started in 1967? Has it only been limited to Judea and Samaria? All of this is ONLY because we are in our historic homeland? How ignorant can someone be?

I know, VERY ignorant.

I am frustrated and angry because I have worked years at trying to convince our own that we must protect our people, we must defend and fight against our enemies, just like anyone else in this world!

The concept of Jews defending themselves and standing up to their enemies is still relatively foreign to many outside of Israel, even to a few inside of Israel.

Defense and Strength are multi dimensional, and each side must be addressed and dealt with. Standing up to Politicians, Hate groups, wrongful legislatures are only a few of the dimensions. Building, populating, LIVING are more, and my realm; Security is another.

I am frustrated that we act only “after” and not “before”. Why do most people not realize that the point is to PREVENT and STOP terror attacks against us?

We have proven to the world that we excel at being victims, our Arab neighbors have even jumped on the bandwagon, they figure it worked for the Jews, “why not us?” Except in this case they have duped an entire generation and world from seeing just who is really victimizing whom, these Arab leaders have hidden themselves from the world and their own people’s eyes. They have portrayed the Jews and Israel as enemies (for years and generations) to veer attention away from their own despicable acts against their own and humanity.

As parents we try to safeguard our children, we do whatever necessary and then some. We take precautions regarding our property and watching over those dear to us. We try to prevent problems from occurring, we are considered wise and “sharp” if we have the insight to foresee possible problems and act in a pro-active manner.

Shouldn’t it be the same in how we act towards our people in Israel?

I know standing up and defending yourself and people is not for everyone, I know fighting back against terror doesn’t speak to most. Many people feel easier comforting victims or the hurt. Many even prefer this.

I would like to prevent more of our people from becoming victims… I would like to stop the hurt. I would like to fund projects that may prevent attacks from occurring and watch children grow, marry, and become parents. I know, many of you are saying, “he’s a dreamer.”

No I am not a dreamer, I “hang” with a bunch of people (and majority of a country) who feel and act the same way, I also know that many of you reading this feel the same way.

We can make this happen. Lets make this happen!

Chesed (Kindness) has always been known as a Jewish characteristic,

Gevorah (strength) is also.

No More Jewish Victims!

A Rant

Defend, defend, and defend! Stand up for Israel! Israel advocacy etc. etc. and etc. Prevent world isolation, it goes on and on and on and on.

It’s gotten that you can’t walk down the street without stepping in it.

How do we fight back? We try to prove how nice we are, how good we are, what we have done for the world, for society… We support the downtrodden, the underdog, the weak.

Guess what, no one cares!

This is not a contest between who has done more, or who is right or wrong!

It’s not about occupying land or people, (if it was Jordan would have been renamed by now).

It is not a popularity contest.

It is about bringing change to the State of Israel, and that change is to either to erase it, cease its’ identity as a Jewish state or to remain a Strong Independent Jewish State in the Land of Israel.

That’s it, no more, no less. Not a paranoid statement, not theory or theology, not political jargon, just reiterating what our Arab neighbors and Arab residents of Judea and Samaria have been saying all along (mostly in Arabic, so much gets lost in translation).

With a sea of change and turmoil going on around us, there are calls, demands for Israel to act now and immediate to come to a “Peace” agreement. I ask is it wise to purchase an apartment from someone who isn’t the owner?

Enough with trying to prove who is nicer…

Having Jewish kids abused on US college campuses, Pro Israel Jews afraid to speak their views in their own synagogues, defending the only real democracy in the Middle East, making excuses for defending our lives and the lives of our loved ones, it is enough!

Time to take the ball into the other court!

Let the Arabs defend against the wholesale murder of their own people (daily)!

Let the Arabs defend against mass Human Rights abuse.

Let the Arabs explain the lack of women’s rights (and so many other rights) in their society.

Let the Arabs explain their specialty and habit of targeting civilian populations.

Let the Arabs explain why they continue to teach their children that Israel is to be wiped off the map and why it is ok to kill Jews.

Let the Arabs explain why they refuse to let Jews live among them.

Let the Arabs explain that and so much more.

Let the supporters of these Arabs explain why they support everything that goes against their own philosophies or are they just biased against Israel?

No more, it is time for THEM to explain, and it is time for our own Jewish people to wise up and fight back.

We can’t make the “world” like us as long as the “world” is afraid.

Time to be strong. If someone has to defend themselves, it is the Arabs and the Muslims, not us.

Better late than never.

Taking Back Zionism…that’s what the party was called. It was put on by Birthright Israel Alumni in the beginning of February in New York. The party and the concept sound great!

"[W]e have handed over the word [Zionism] to those who attack and distort it." ~ Rebecca Sugar, Birthright Alumni Director on February 1, 2011.

"Contemporary discourse seeks to narrowly define Zionism and attack it by limiting its scope," campaign organizers wrote on the website. "We refuse to accept others' definitions and misrepresentations. We seek to Take Back Zionism and define it in our own terms, as a young generation who loves Israel."

Wow! Them’s fightin’ words! I have some questions first… Who took Zionism away from you? Who did you hand it to and why?

The way I understand part of the statement is that there is a wish to make Jews Zionists again and redefine it into terms for a younger generation who do not know what Zionism is and who loves Israel.

Again…wow! Shai Baitel (Bet El?) defined it nicely; “Zionism is the legitimate aspiration of the Jewish people to live in peace in their own country. At the beginning it was an almost romantic but pained longing for Zion, for Jerusalem and today it is the continuing effort to building the future of Israel. People from all walks of life and political convictions came together to work on the Jewish national project. Zionism was the national project, the impetus, the driving force to create the State of Israel.”

I don’t know about anyone else, but that seems to provide and understandable and appropriate definition to me, and probably to most others who believe in the Jewish State of Israel.

I agree that this meaning has been lost to so many, and the concept is foreign to many Jews outside of Israel -and even to some in Israel. So if there is a redefinition needed, this is going to take some serious R&D, especially regarding Israel and the Jewish people today.

Those who “attack and distort” Zionism today include pretty much all of the Arab nations and the majority of the Arab people, much of the Muslim population of the world, the majority of Europeans, many others and I am sorry to say, many Jewish people today.

It is obvious Birthright wishes to connect Jews once again with Israel, especially now with the majority of the world rising up against Israel, havoc breaking loose among Israels’ neighbors, and anti-Jewish remarks becoming the norm to come out of Hollywood.

That is quite the challenge: to take back Zionism, redefine it, and make it acceptable to the “young generation”.

I think I can save some time in the process…no need to redefine it; it works, always has.

In my travels and various speaking events among the different walks of the diverse Jewish community, both young, old, and in between, I have seen how Zionism was not given away, but was stolen away. By using the tools of deceit and manipulation, this once cherished value of mainstream Judaism was disguised, distorted and eventually morphed into the limited and faint dream it is today.

I call Birthright as my first witness… Birthright trips do not even attempt to go the historical sites of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria, our heartland no less. Citing politics as the reason, sometimes throwing in the “danger” card, this wonderful organization has been an accomplice to the same crime they wish to amend. They have helped accommodate a physical and mental “Disengagement” from Jewish heritage and history. The derogatory and wrongful use of the term “Settler” has been applied to all of those living beyond the “Green Line”.

Playing into the hands of political parties and enemies who oppose the existence of the State of Israel, Birthright, despite its good and noble intentions, has helped distort “Zionism” today.

Various Mainstream Jewish Religious “Leaders”… have decided that if Jews are not “Orthodox” then they should be on the “Left Wing” of Israeli politics, and have kept their flocks from visiting and experiencing the places that are part of who we are today. Events and Itineraries have been manipulated into a podium for those who only share a one-sided, often biased outlook regarding our connection to the Land of Israel.

So many non-Orthodox Jews today feel that they are a minority if they support a Jewish presence or right to live in Judea and Samaria, or the meaningful Zionism mentioned above. Despite that, there are still many strong Zionist Jews in these congregations. Many of their leaders have adopted a post-Zionist approach and side now with the likes of J-Street, Meretz and other similar groups. The list can go on and on. It's far from what Camp Ramah and USY used to teach.

Yes, BirthRight Israel, take back Zionism, but also stop letting it get stolen from you, stop letting it be kept from you, open your eyes, it is right in front of you, it has not changed, insist on seeing your history, your heritage the next time you are in Israel. Zionism is alive and well.

Chazak v’Ametz (Strength and Courage)!

If you need, I would be honored to assist. I’m listed….

Thom Foolery

Good ol’ Doubting Thomas of the New York Times is at it again, and right on time I might say. His topic this week is a “Israeli-Palestinian peace deal more urgent than ever” and how Israel must seize this opportunity to make “Peace” with the “Palestinians”.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/opinion/02friedman.html

He feels ands “fears” that Israel will make the situation worse if the arguments set forth by senior advisors, both diplomatic and military, that a “lasting peace” cannot be made with the “Palestinians”. That it would be wrong and dangerous.

Why is it more urgent Thomas? So that we may endanger ourselves even more?

Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, what is your problem? Do you not do any research? Do you not understand what the Egyptians, Tunisians, Jordanians, Iraqis and all the other Arabs are demonstrating about? Do you not understand that they want to live in dignity rather than being oppressed by their own? They want some of the same opportunities that others have, they would like to be able to be paid a fair wage, to buy enough food for themselves and maybe even buy an X-Box for their kids. How do you connect this with trying to pressure Israel into a Peace Agreement that wouldn’t be honored anyway by any extreme Islamic government?

If you would check out the “Palestinian” street, I don’t mean the brainwashed zombies you like to hang with, but rather the thinking middle class, you would find that they know all too well just who is oppressing them, and who is paying them low salaries, and guess what, you would find out that it is their own people who they put in Government. Even more, you might find that this practice of abusing your own populous is common in the Arab world.

What are those little gremlins telling you?

Perhaps your good friends in Ramallah are lying to you?

It is a curious and sad fact that so many supposed caring individuals and groups in the world are taking advantage of a horrible situation in Egypt and the rest of the Arab world and trying to use it to push Israel and the Jews living here into a situation that all agree is even more dangerous.

It is despicable.

Dominoes

The world watches Egypt closely, Israel is watching even more so. The main concern is who will take power. The number one possibility at this point is the Moslem Brotherhood. Now that nice bunch of guys definitely has an agenda for this neck of the woods. First on their list is ending the Peace Treaty with Israel. This of course includes many sub-categories that do not ease the tensions, not only with the Israeli government, but also many Arab rulers and peoples.

We are seeing demonstrations in Jordan, starting out as Pro-Opposition for Egypt, but also including support for a new Arab state in Israel (or instead of Israel) and rights for the “Palestinian” people of Jordan, who BTW, make up over 70% of that country.

Nice peaceful Lebanon in the North with its new Hezbollah puppet in government seems to be bustin’ at the seams, with the possibility of reeling backward into a civil war once again.

All over the world, Arabs and other protestors are coming out into the street backing the Egyptian protestors, holding signs to oust Mubarak, and bring about reform. Reform? That is one word that may be debated.

And coming back to Israel, some of the Arabs of Israel are getting excited once again that Saladin (Salah al Din) will rise again from somewhere, eventually to cleanse the Jews from all of Israel.

I am concerned that the present US administration is showing such support for this uprising. Mubarak was never a friend to Israel, but he sure was not a friend to Islamic extremists. In fact none of the Arab leaders are a friend of Israel, but they are definitely not interested in loosing power to Extremist Islamic parties.

Now, every analyst or Mid East supposed expert in the world (as long as they live outside the Mid East, in safety) realizes that when an Arab dictator falls, the next step is not democracy. In fact it is usually a slide into extremism, that is, unless the US will station forces defending the “new” government.

There is indeed a domino effect and the question is where will the blocks fall?

As we mentioned before, it is simply a matter of time before the present Arab dictatorships change hands, yes change hands, as Democracy and Islam do not mix. First on the agenda of all of these new leaderships will not be a peaceful, fruitful relationship with the US, it will be quite the opposite. Western society tends not to understand the “Arab” street. I am sorry to inform you, it is not made up of the shiny happy people of the Upper West Side of NY, it is not lead by the Professors of Columbia U, nor is it occupied by the residents of Dearborn, Michigan. The residents of the “Arab street” are the mob, and who rules the mob will eventually be in power.

At present the rulers of this mob throughout the Arab world happen to be extreme Islamic parties, also known as Moslem Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and many other names. Learn these names, these will be the new rulers of the Arab regimes in the Middle East. These regimes will be put in power by the “mob”, whose uprising is getting support (at least publicly) from some Western powers.

Watch how we will see how this becomes the new cause on US campuses, along with continuing calls for Israel’s downfall. I know, some of you are saying, “crazy”, he’s extreme”, hey, it’s just a thought, a possibility, so play along with me for a bit.

Again, coming back to Israel for a sec, the calls from the Arab street and various Arab pundits are already being heard to oust Abbas from rule, rise against Israel, and so on, and so on, but this time the “mob” may have the verbal support of the US admin. Israel carefully watches the developments down on its southern border, as we all know where this may lead. In Jaffa the Arab demonstrations that include Left Wing Israeli Jews calls for a city free of Jews, this of may well spread. Yes, the Arab street is rising up against its enemies, and everyone is a candidate. To make matters worse…the message being sent out or at least understood from the White House is that they will support any uprising.

If I was to continue to play this game of possibilities, of conspiracies, of action novels, I might say that this all may fit into some sort of plan, a scheme if you will. One that places the Arab nations in the hands of the Islamic parties, a scheme that puts Israel in very real danger, and a plan that would have a definite effect on American and Western society as we know it…that is, if I were to continue to play this game.

And so the Dominoes continue to fall…

Civil War… Not on my shift.

One of the looming and possible scenarios (spoken only in whispers) of the past and ongoing “Peace” process is that of the split of the Jewish Nation. This “worst case scenario” is a fear that most of us won’t even acknowledge as a possibility… therefore we place it in a hidden burrow in our mind. “It can’t happen”, “not possible”, “not to us”, are usually the words spoken when this topic is broached.

What are the symptoms that could lead to such a nightmarish reality? Diametrically opposed sides and philosophies? Outright public displays of hatred and violence between camps?

It should sound familiar. The headlines are full of examples. Our Jewish history is filled with these symptoms. Not just the symptoms, but the results also. Not just in bloodshed and the useless loss of life, but the exile of our people from our land.

So where are we now? Where are we heading?

Causing civil disruption and internal opposition within a society has always been viewed as and effective and efficient tool of war. To cause a split in a society that weakens the basic fabric of nationalistic goals is considered a victory and a devastating blow.

Often covert and hidden from the eyes of the public, this attack camouflages itself as an “advanced way of thinking”, “liberal thought”, and one that will better the world and we as a people. It can be adapted towards any cause, hence making it attractive to anyone. The desired result however is to cause dissention and civil strife.

A unified people are strong, so obviously the first step is to attack that unity, drive a wedge into their heart.

What is considered Israel’s “soft side” is being used as a “weak link”, this being our want of peace. Ironically this soft side is also one of Israel’s defining characteristics. Because Israel has been faced with war and terror since rebirth, the country and people’s thirst for peace weakens it in the eyes of its Arab neighbors. By making false promises of a peaceful existence and the use of unlimited funds, many Israelis were drawn to what is known as the “Peace Activists”. Being victorious in wars that were meant to destroy Israel and Operations meant to fight terror have been re-spun as to make Israel seem as the aggressor, this combined with the merciless exploitation of the Arab residents of Israel presents one of the most premeditated acts of deceit and straight out lies the Middle East has known.

Once viewed as the zenith of Zionistic efforts, “settling the land” was rebranded into “extremism” and religious fanaticism. Despite the facts on the ground, rifts were caused and separation started. Religious philosophies and worship were politicized and were no longer a personal matter.

Zionism was partitioned.

To skip ahead to today we see that most Israelis living in Israel do not accept the deception that is being presented. Experience from Lebanon, the Arab violence of 2000, the unrelenting attacks from Gaza, the Gaza retreat and expulsion of Jews has revealed the true intentions of our Arab neighbors. Indeed when offered 96% of Judea and Samaria, that too was turned down. It is common to see that the Arabs of Judea and Samaria are not talking just about that region but all of Israel. One only needs to look at their flags, their emblems, at their media, pay a visit to their market place, or step inside an elementary school for a look at their true intentions.

So the people of Israel, despite their known stubbornness began to realize that the “Left” was simply wrong regarding the Peace Process and the idea of a “Jewish” state was not really part of their picture.

So when different groups claim that US and European intervention is a necessity, there is a reason for their statements. Seeing their defeat in Israel, the Arab and anti Israel “spin” machine along with their PR, set off to find the next weakest link, it proved to be that of Diaspora Jewry. Where Israel’s PR or “Hasbara” department was simply a virtual concept, there was basically no unified body to stand up to the Arab juggernaut of illusion. Strategic mistakes at the onset of the Oslo talks made matters only worse and today we see an unmistaken divide among the Jewish people regarding Israel.

Many groups formed in Western Universities and they fell in line like a well disciplined company of Marines, and today we find that one of the most hostile anti Israel atmospheres today exists on the campuses of higher learning.

University students are prime targets, they are in fact the up and coming generation, most are also products of a lesser education when it comes to Israel, so deceiving them is not really a challenge, especially when many of the students do not come from a religiously observant background that might have exposed them to wider more informed view of Israel compared to other views.

Pro Israel movements have only begun to see the importance of these campus activities, and are now acting. The Israeli government is even beginning to wake up and take action, though not enough. Seeing their success on campus and looking to preempt more Pro Israel activity, Anti Israel and Post Zionist groups have begun to look towards the high schools also. Remember they operate under the guise that they are the elite, the intellectual and liberal leaders, the caring and champions of human rights. So doors are opening left and right, despite the truth.

One small factor that I left out, these anti Israel and “Post” Zionist groups have unlimited funds and are backed also by enemy states to Israel, the European Union, and many disillusioned Jews.

Yes, their goal is the division of Israel, both geographically and socially, with the eventual cessation of Israel as a Jewish State. That thought and possibility of Jews fighting against each other does not deter them, we have seen on some campuses the possibility of violence even fuels them, as good enemies should.

One of the largest challenges we face today is to stay together. We must keep an open, thoughtful dialogue flowing and deal with our differences on our own…as one. Our enemies rejoice at our internal bickering, and self inflicting harm and wounds, even more…they support and “help us” to hurt ourselves more. They pick out their targets and attack, as we look on and shout back at them like toddlers.

Time to stop, no more being a victim to their onslaught. It is time to regroup and rebuild and fight back. Sure we will have out differences, we will have our fights between each other, but it is up to us to mend them. We must not let our enemies continue to widen the rift… it is up to us to close it.

As we draw together, our strength will grow, and those that speak against Israel will wither.

They like to see strife and fighting and would love a civil war between the Jews, well…not on this shift.

The greatest fear adversaries of a Jewish State have is that of a unified people, lets give them what to be afraid of, what to be very afraid of.