Sunday, December 10, 2017
Elder of Ziyon
Incredulous,
the France 24 commentator asked their Israel correspondent: “Don’t the Israelis
care that the whole world is against the Jerusalem declaration?!”
His
wide-eyed expression and astonished tone were so ridiculous, I burst out
laughing.
On
December 6th, 2017, US President Donald J. Trump declared that the
United States officially recognizes the fact that Jerusalem is the capital of
Israel and is preparing to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Most
Israelis applauded President Trump for recognizing the ancient truth that
Jerusalem is the heart of Zion, the capital of Israel. In my house we also
cheered.
Like
the Balfour Declaration 100 years ago, the statement Trump made does not grant
the Jewish people right to what was always ours–it reaffirms the
international understanding of the historic bond between the Nation of Israel
and Jerusalem and the natural right of the Jewish people for self-determination
in our ancestral homeland.
This
statement sets the standard for all other nations on earth. It is up to each of
them to choose sides. Either they recognize historical truth, current reality
and assist in preparing for a peaceful future or they continue to prop up
genocidal delusions based on the lies of Jew-hatred.
It
really is that simple.
Those who
object to Jerusalem being recognized as the capital of Israel do so because
they actually have a problem with Jewish sovereignty anywhere in Israel.
Jerusalem
has been the capital of the Jewish people, the heart of Zion for 3000 years,
not just the last 70.
The
bond between the Nation of Israel and Jerusalem is unbreakable. It cannot be
changed by any external force. This is the oldest love story ever documented.
All others are fleeting.
Hamas
/ Fatah declared that, should Trump recognize Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel, the gates of hell would open up. So far, we’ve seen some temper
tantrums but, as far as I know, the gates of hell remain safely shut.
Personally,
I am glad the current President of the United States does not change his policy
according to the threats of terrorists.
After
Trump’s declaration, Hamas / Fatah announced three days of rage. The thing is
that they are so often enraged, it’s rather difficult to determine how these
days differ from all other days.
It was
no big surprise to see so many nations of the world rush to denounce America’s
policy and declare that Trump’s statement would destabilize the Middle East and
threaten the non-existent peace process. How dare the United States recognize
Jewish right to determine where the capital of their own country is?! What a
reckless thing to do!
That’s
why I had to laugh at the commentator. “Don’t Israelis care that the whole world is against the Jerusalem
declaration?!”
No.
Absolutely not. Why should we?
If we
lived according to the attitude the “whole world” has towards Jews and Israel
in particular, we would have done them a favor and drowned ourselves in the sea
long ago.
A
different people might give up but we’re stubborn. That’s the thing our enemies
don’t seem to be able to comprehend. Terrorism makes us stronger. Attack us and
we unify and THAT is when miracles happen.
The
day after Trump’s declaration a man yelling “Allahu akbar” attacked a Jewish
restaurant, smashing the windows with a hammer.
The
owner’s response was: “For what Trump did, he [the terrorist] can comes smash
windows 10 more times.” When asked if he was afraid of further attacks, he
laughed and said: “I grew up in neighborhood D in Be’ersheva [known for being a
tough neighborhood]. I’m not afraid of anything. Jerusalem is our capital and
that’s that.”
Hearing
this, I laughed. This is what “Jerusalem, above all joys” means. Priorities.
When
telling this story to American Jewish friends, I was startled by the difference
in their reaction. I realize now that living in Israel has changed me.
There
is a centuries old guideline for Jews living in the diaspora that basically
means: “Don’t annoy the non-Jews.” The idea is to not stand out too much, to
obey the laws of the land, be loyal to that country so that the non-Jews won’t
decide to turn on their Jewish neighbors and slaughter them. Often this policy
served Jews well. In other cases, Jews were slaughtered anyway. This is a
policy for a people living at the mercy of others, a people with no one to turn
to for protection, a people with no state in which they can claim sanctuary.
Israeli
Jews are different.
The
diaspora mentality is deeply ingrained and difficult to shake but life in
Israel is enough to change most Jews. While we don’t enjoy being under attack,
being denounced by the nations of the world, having to fight just to live
another day but our stubbornness is stronger than the fear tactics of our
enemies.
Israelis
have a spirit of wild defiance that is incomprehensible to our enemies (and
sadly also to many of our brothers and sisters still living in the diaspora).
This is the defiance of freedom, of a people free to determine our own destiny.
The
idea that Israelis would cringe at the disapproval of other nations is laughable.
The idea that Israelis will be swayed by terrorism is just as ridiculous.
The
consistent condemnation of Jews exercising sovereign rights in our ancestral
homeland is proof enough of the desire that Jews simply disappear. Trump’s
declaration did not “spark” Arab rage, it is the return of Jews to Zion and the
miracle of the re-birth of Israel that caused their rage.
Admittedly,
terrorism can be an effective tactic to drive colonialists out of occupied land.
It doesn’t work when applied to people living in the only home they have.
That’s why terrorism makes us stronger – being attacked for “occupying” our own
home proves how imperative it is to defend ourselves and protect the land of
Israel for the future of the Nation of Israel.
The
nations of the world can shake their heads in disapproval. Fatah and Hamas can
rage all they want.
I
laugh at their rage. Israel has given me that power.
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