A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Where's the Leadership?

Israel is being bashed on campus, threatened with sanctions by the UN, and condemned as a pariah at the Hague and the UN General Assembly.

Among American Jews, there may be different views on whether there is a potential Palestinian partner, whether unilateral withdrawal is a good idea, and whether Bush or Kerry is better for Israel.

There's a strong consensus, however, that Israel has a right to defend itself, that the fence is a legitimate and legal endeavor, and that the international community's condemnation of Israel, despite Palestinian terror that has killed approximately 1000 Israelis, is an outrage.

The anti-Israel hysteria continues unabated in full force, but nobody even mentions the idea of a mass rally supporting Israel and condemning the Hague and the European Union.

For 18 months after the Palestinians launched their terror war against Israel in September 2000, no major rallies were organized by the Jewish establishment.

Indeed, in the April 6, 2001 issue of The Jewish Week, Gary Rosenblatt - in one of his finest columns - lamented:

"There has yet to be a major, coordinated effort to galvanize the grassroots. There has been no national event to channel American Jewry's love of and support for Israel - and distress over the Palestinian-orchestrated violence - into a powerful statement of activism.

"What does it take for the leadership of American Jewry to lead? my Israeli friend asked. While reluctant to speak on the record, he expressed cynicism about the willingness or ability of national Jewish leaders to take risks and mobilize a successful, large-scale event. 'At some point,' he said, 'organizations claiming to be national have to show accountability. That's the job of leadership.'

"His frustration is understandable, but several leaders say it's not so simple to stage a national demonstration. First, they caution, if they sponsored a major rally in Washington and it did not attract huge crowds - the Soviet Jewry rally in D.C. in December 1987 drew some 250,000 and was an enormous success - that would be far worse than having no rally at all, not to mention the financial costs. Second, the pros recognize that it is far more difficult to attract people to a 'pro' rally than an 'anti' rally...

"Enough is enough. As the intifada enters its seventh month and the terror attacks on Israeli civilians escalate, one wonders how much longer we have to wait before expressing our commitment to Israel and indignation over the intifada in a dramatic and effective way. Not only is it vital to give vent to our feelings and draw together as a community, we need to show the administration in Washington and the media around the country that Americans Jews are united in their support for Israel."

Only after another year, after hundreds more Israelis were murdered, and after 3000 Americans were murdered on 9/11, did the Jewish establishment wake up and organize a rally. There was little planning, because the rally was mobilized on little more than a week's notice. The concern that the masses wouldn't come proved wholly inaccurate. On a work day, a couple of hundred thousand Jewish Americans came to the Capitol from across the country.

The 2002 rally saved lives. President Bush had been publicly demanding an immediate Israeli pullout from Palestinian towns in Judea and Samaria. He backed off after the rally. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz gave a rambling speech that spoke of the need for Israeli concessions and focused on Palestinian suffering. This at a time when the U.S. was bombing Afghanistan. The crowd didn't personally heckle Wolfowitz, but firmly stated its position: "No more Arafat" and "No double standard."

Almost another year and a half has since passed. A lot has happened. President Bush got the message of those at the rally and declared that Yasser Arafat is not a partner for peace. Prime Minister Sharon defeated Binyamin Netanyahu's leadership challenge, called for the formation of a Palestinian state, and won a landslide victory over Amram Mitzna in the 2003 elections. The U.S. went to war against Iraq, Baghdad fell, and Saddam Hussein was captured, his two sons killed. Sharon decided to build the fence. Israel's standing on college campuses reached an all time low. Two Palestinian prime ministers were appointed. Israel's cabinet decided to remove Arafat, but he remains in his Ramallah compound. The road map was touted as the best path to peace. The Geneva Accord briefly emboldened the Israeli left and their supporters. Sharon called for unilateral withdrawal. Hamas leaders Sheikh Yassin and Aziz Abdul Rantisi were liquidated along with many other terrorist leaders. Statistically, terror attacks declined thanks to the fence and IDF heroism, but Jews continue to be murdered, people like Goldie and Shmuel Taubenfeld of New Square, Dr. David and Naava Applebaum of Jerusalem, Tali, Hila, Hadar, Roni and Merav Hatuel (and Tali and Dovid Hatuel's unborn son) of Gush Katif. The fence route has been substantially altered to move it closer to the Green Line. The Hague ruled, 14-1, that the fence is illegal and that the world must do all it can to have it torn down. The UN voted 150-6 in support of a resolution demanding that Israel tear down the fence and pay reparations to Palestinians. All 25 members of the European Union supported the resolution.

Avi Weiss and others have organized small grass roots protests, but the Jewish establishment has done nothing. During this time, numerous "anti-war" rallies have been organized, all of which contain shockingly anti-Israel posters and invective. Its trendy to hate Israel and to call it an apartheid state.

Enough is enough. As the intifada enters its fifth year and the world's animus toward Israel escalates and becomes even more ominous, one wonders how much longer we have to wait before expressing our commitment to Israel and indignation over the European reversion to hatred of Jews and Israel.

It's time for another mass rally. Unfortunately, it probably won't happen anytime soon. The Jewish establishment leadership has other things to do, like engaging in self-gratifying meetings with political hacks at party conventions.
posted on 8/26/2004