Why doesn’t the Israeli government stand up for the rights of Jews to holy sites?
Giulio Meotti, INN
Mention any biblical and historic site of the Jewish people. You won’t find one preserved and protected by the Israeli establishment.
Not only is the Temple Mount no longer “in our hands”, but its easier substitute, the Western Wall, has also been conceded by Israel’s government to a group of femminists and cultural extremists.
Judaism’s holiest place on earth today is the site of the most severe religious persecution of the Jews. Israeli governments have failed to stand up to wanton Palestinian acts of desecration. It’s the greatest crime of all – a religious and cultural crime of historic proportions.
Under pressure from Europe’s multiculturalists, United States, political Islam and Unesco, which are all trying to “de-Judaize” and “Islamicize” the most holy Jewish sites, the State of Israel seems top be giving up its sovereignty on sacred sites.
These Israeli “leaders”, leftist or rightist, seem proud that Dizengoff has replaced the Western Wall, that Herzliya is surrendering the Cave of the Patriarchs and that Holon is giving up the tomb of Rachel.
Israel is giving legitimacy to a fake Arabized geography which opens the Jüdenrein post-1967 areas, a de-Judaized “holy land”. When last January Benjamin Netanyahu visited the isolated “settlement” of Rechelim, it was called a “historic” visit. Why? Has Israel already forsaken these holy hilltops to the Sunni terrorists?
The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hevron and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem— the second most important Jewish holy sites — have been omitted from the list of Israel’s national heritage sites. If it’s “West Bank” or “Palestine”, as most of Israeli establishment believes, those are justifications for saying that “Jews stole it”.
The problem in fact is that Israeli mainstream has been persuaded to think that the Palestinian Arabs, whose members came to the holy land from the Arabian desert in the 7th century, are the descendants of the non-extant, disappeared “indigenous Canaanites” of the Bible.
Beit HaShalom in Hevron was purchased for a million dollars, but 16 holy Jewish families were evicted by a rightist Israeli government from the premises for no reason at all – as a court ruling issued later determined.
Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus, which is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, is an abandoned site which can be reached by Jewish worshippers only like thieves in the night, escorted by the IDF and only once in a month. It was Ehud Barak, not Hamas, that abandoned the site to the terrorists.
No Jew is permitted to set foot without military escort in the Shalom al Yisrael synagogue of the “city of palms”, Jericho. What is the difference between today’s segregation and that existing between 1948 and 1967, when Jews were denied access to it?
Who knows that the Tomb of Joshua bin Nun is in Kefel Hares?
A few days ago, Israel finalized the deal with the Vatican for the sovereignity over David’s tomb on Mount Zion, where some believe Jewish kings of Judea are buried. Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert wanted to turn over to the Arabs not only the Old City of Jerusalem, but also the Mount of Olives and the ancient excavated City of David.
Having accepted that east Jerusalem, where the real Jewish history took place, is “the Palestinian capital”, Israel gave the final ammunition to its enemies, including the liberal left, the Jewish self haters, large segments of Christianity and Islamism, which already justified the eradication of the Jewish people.
Israel’s materialism, self anti-Semitism, consumerism and relativism have turned Beit El (the site of the Holy Ark and Prophet Samuel’s court), Bethlehem (the birth place of King David), Shilo (the site of Joshua’s tabernacle and the Holy Ark) and Tekoa (hometown of the Prophet Amos) into symbols of “apartheid” and “colonialism”. It is Israel’s fault, it is the greatest Jewish betrayal.
In the eyes of Israel’s decision-makers, these holy sites, once sources of national pride, have become a “security problem”. That land can’t be called “Zion” without Jerusalem’s real city, Bethlehem, Hevron, Jericho, Beit El, Shilo and Shechem. These are Israel’s genetic code.
If Israel loses the sovereignty over these sacred dots on the map, the Jewish State becomes the Nazis’ Luftmenschen – the human beings of the air. And that state will go down like a castle of sand.
The writer, an Italian journalist with Il Foglio, writes a twice-weekly column for Arutz Sheva. He is the author of the book “A New Shoah”, that researched the personal stories of Israel’s terror victims, published by Encounter. His writing has appeared in publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, Frontpage and Commentary. He is at work on a book about the Vatican and Israel.
Cheap shots against BB or any other disliked Israeli politician is all that people have when they feel so powerless, they don’t even try to effect change.
Israeli commenters at Israpundit in particular have much so much knowledge, passion, concern and love of Israel and the ability to speak on these matters. They are right there in Israel, close to the action, close to the Israeli leaders and Israelis and thus close enough to try.
It is therefore a shame that most do not do more than vent their frustrations and anger on the pages of Israpundit. They all have the ability to be advocates and activists. It appears the will to try is lacking. Just trying to make a difference for the better is its own virtue, even if in trying one is met with failure.
As I did in my comment #14, I am urging all Israpundit commenters and especially Israeli commenters to find the will that I know is within you if you seek it and become advocates and activists in some cause.
Trying to turn the Israeli government and the Israeli people from the course they have been on of bargaining away Jewish heritage in return for nothing but Palestinian empty and broken promises, is certainly a cause worth undertaking.
@ the phoenix:
A moving song that evokes the heroism of the Jewish commandos. No need to understand Hebrew. It’s in the voice and the images. Thank you, Phoenix.
In fact, it’s not only the holy sites that are being desecrated, but the memory of Yoni and thousands of heroes who gave up their lives for the land of Israel and the Jews who live in it. The way Israeli leaders treat land and people – as expendable both of them – is deeply offensive and disgusting.
@ the phoenix:
Missing from the last sentence:
“…and yoni’s brother is betraying EVERYTHING his brother fought and died for”
@ Canadian Otter:
Dear otter,
This comment and the link that you provided got me to really shake my head…. I have named my son, Jonathan, in honor and memory of Yoni who did not come back alive from the daring rescue mission.
I invite you to listen to this hauntingly beautiful song, sang by yehoram gaon about the raid on entebbe.
http://youtu.be/3IejIif5kEU
I truly do not understand what happened to the concept of “el am asher lo yecheshe…. She’et banav LO YAFKEER L’ZAR!” ( a nation that would not abandon its sons……)
All the “settlers” are being abandoned…. Those that insist on defending Judaism and land are deemed ‘terrorists’….. And while young ones lose their lives this BASTARD gets to celebrate 90 years of polluting the earth with his presence…
@ Canadian Otter:
In a way BB is responsible for death of big brother Yoni. It was little brother BB who convinced Yoni to join the Sayeret Matkal.
The wrong Netanyahu got to be PM of Israel……
Bill Narvey Said:
So “early gratification” is a Jewish meshuggah! This will be another excuse to trigger antisemitism!!!
“Yonaton Netanyahu never imagined that brother Binyamin would do two unimaginable things”
Another heartbreaking column, this one by well-known investigative journalist Lee Kaplan.
From Entebbe to Chelm. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/13458
Yonaton Netanyahu became a national hero during the operation to rescue Jews taken hostage by Arab hijackers.
@ Viiit:
Yes indeed and I am a repeater and it’s worth repeating. “Please remove the arabs from the Temple mount and allow the Jews to pray at their Temple”
If I am correct Judea and Samaria are part of the Holy Land and if I stand corrected the Holy Land doesn’t belong to the arabs. It is believed and understood G-d returned His people to the Holy Land and there are no arabs listed on the manifest.
The only sensible and logical solution is the legalization of J & S and integral part of the land and state of Israel. Will let the Christians and Muslims in charge of their respective sites. Not less, not more. There is no other solution. The whole world knows it, but 30%-50% of the Jews seem not to care or are against. This is problem No 1.
@ Viiit:
I totally agree.
Please release my comment #14 from moderaton.
Meotti is an alarmist, but not without good reason.
Current and past Israeli governments have, with a mind to satisfying some immediate exigent objective or perceived need, repeatedly traded away tactical and strategic advantages and positions, lawful rights and important elements of Jewish heritage to the Palestinians in return for Palestinian promises that were either empty or immediately broken.
This pattern of Israeli governments repeatedly entering into bargains with Palestinians that satisfied neither Israel’s immediate nor long term needs and goals, induced either on their own or in response to outside pressures, reveals that Israeli leadership suffers a congenital penchant for for making bad bargains with the Palestinians.
It brings to mind the biblical story of Jacob and Esau which tells of Esau, returning hungry from the fields one day, traded for a mess of red pottage, his birthright by virtue of being Issac’s eldest son, to his younger brother Jacob.
The story has become an allegory signifying a person’s acceptance of some trivial gain to satisfy some immediate need, but in the process, losing something much more important.
Successive Israeli governments in their dealings with Palestinians have acted far more like Esau than Jacob.
One might also liken this penchant by successive Israeli governments and the Israelis they govern to the proverbial frog in a pot of water slowly brought to the boil which makes no effort to escape before death overcomes it, because it continually adjusted to the incrementally increasing heat.
Meotti however, offers both the Israeli government and Israelis an opportunity to look back and see all that Israeli governments have incrementally bargained away.
Will Netanyahu’s government and Israelis be shocked by the horror of Meotti’s revelations and from there be moved to cease to be Esaus and hereafter beome Jacobs?
Meotti’s revelations and the dire warning inherent in his words that to continue to follow the path Israel has been on in her dealings with the Palestinians, ultimately will lead Israel and Jews, not to salvation but to death, must reach the Israeli government and all Israelis.
If you Israeli contributors are really serious about objecting to the path the current and past Israeli governments have been on in their dealing with Palestinians, you must do far more than just vent on Israpundit.
To that end, I encourage Israeli contributors to Israpundit to write to and call not only PM Netanyahu, but write and call Knesset members. For those Knesset members in your area, request an appointment to express your concerns and demand that the Israeli government as regards dealings with Palestinians, to change course away from the course Israeli governments have in past followed.
Contact information for PM Netanyahu and Knesset members are at: http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mkindex_current_eng.asp#N
In addition, write and speak to your Rabbis, community leaders, friends and acquaintances and arrange meetings with them if at all possible to have them all read Meotti’s words, take to heart the alarming dire warning Meotti’s words convey and induce them to raise their voices and demand that their Israeli government be guided accordingly in devising their positions, policies, statements and negotiating strategies and tactics with the Palestinians.
@ rongrand:
Of course we don’t give up. It is just that we seem so unfocused. We run around in circles and repeat stupid actions as if… you know the rest.
The paradigm will not be solved by writing essays and protesting. We must return to our original values and commandments.
Those that do not Believe, found fashions to fabricate replacement demigods.
They hijacked words such as “Peace” and turned into an industry of deceit and death.
We must pick up the proverbial flag and move to eject the “combina” before it will be too late.
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2:
Shmuel, don’t give up hope, as long as there is a G-d in heaven we should hope and pray.
Remember the devil is an anti-Semite and he has many disciples who are portrayed as leaders.
I understand you.
I understand you.
The plain answer as to why the plans did not appear to bring in the catch is that there is very little fish to catch. The same syndrome that affected our people before the Holocaust is repeated now, and the actors, except the language are similar.
The big nasty bully role is shared by the US, EU, etc. The capos are most of those in the consecutive coalitions. The Peresites play to the hilt the role of capos. Some families are taking fortunes onto themselves and the people fumbles along from one circus show to the next.
Recently another “financial crisis” popped as a prop to take more money away from us.
Where the money go? Mr. Feiglin did a good job of detailing that.
The “Haredim are studying Torah” scream by the unJews is always a prelude for more taxes and less services.
There is NO MILITARY command staff worthy of being called that. The specialize on foam rubber and paint balls against the enemy, but generally they just run away from stone throwers or assault Jews.
Netanyahu lies routinely about construction and all other principals to the Jews.
Hope?
A miracle only. We Jews, the majority of us, cannot act as a people and elect the worst possible candidates. Also in the US.
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2:
No disrespect meant at all shmuel, but if this is so, then,
WHY have 11 years gone by and nothing was done?
Actually, it is not so, there was a lot that was done….. AGAINST the Jews…more “sacrifices for peace”…… the land and its history are given away to enemies (the scum invented people AND the Vatican…)
I am now halfway through Barry Chamish’s book “bye bye gaza”….. Even if a fraction of what he writes is true (and I believe most if not ALL of it to be true)the situation seems pretty grim…. The Jews and their land are like the proverbial frog that is being boiled to death , slowly but surely and that, by its supposed leaders….
They are all kapos that lead the people to the boxcars…
I agree with every word in your post, but so far I do not see any action small that it may be that might even give a hint of a population that is outraged…..
I have asked the same question on the “feiglin , I found the money” thread but it went unanswered.
It is a true question. Not rhetorical.
@ yamit82:
Would I be wrong to think or believe the map is incorrect.
Shouldn’t the yellow and red section be green likewise.
If not, shouldn’t the Israeli leadership be about restoring it.
I realize someone in the government was responsible for giving up the little red section.
Shame on him and those who agreed.
Not leftists. UNJEWS. In fact include on that pseudo rightists.
We have identified the scum for over a decade for what they are and their plans.
Meotti is perfectly on target.
And so there is no one that can say that the Land and Heritage only the UNJEWS are selling. The UNJEWS are also selling the natural gas reserves as we speak.
The water and shale oil fields under Y & S will follow.
Names:
Peres and his Peresites, all of them.
Netanyahu and several about him
Livni et all
Dagan
Olmert
Mitzna
Lapid and most of his group
Gantz-Alon
Barak
etc.
Possible SOLUTION
Direct actions to force the UNJEWS out regardless of the conditions.
Detention of suspected criminals.
Election not organized by the present cadres, of a Temporary Government devoid of generals, present parties, “from withiners” and such.
Call for candidates for a NEW JEWISH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
For those interested there are specific plans in place since 2002.
MAP
Mixing apples and oranges.
Jewish women worshiping at the wall is not an attack on Jewish sovereignty.
Muslim Arabs occupying Judea, Samaria and the Temple Mount is occupation and loss of sovereignty.
Nations and religions change over time. Once all Jewish women covered their heads, or wore wigs. Today they don’t. That does not make Jews less Jewish.
But surrendering the native land of forefathers to the genocidal enemies is treason and folly.
Meotti demolishes the argument that present govt policies regarding partition hide a Zionist agenda, that Jews just have to trust their govt, and that all will be fine in the end. Meotti’s main proof that this is not the case is how the govt has buckled to Arab demands in areas where the US has not put pressure, such as the surrender of sacred sites for Arabs to desecrate.
If “Two States” is just talk, then why the neglect and surrender of heritage sites? Why does the govt allow rioters to attack Jewish motorists with impunity? Why does it allow Arabs to take over land in the Negev, just one of many places? What does that have to do with the Roadmap to Peace?
@ NormanF:
Semantics matter. Perhaps it’s time to stop referring to self-hating Jews as “leftists”. There are leftists elsewhere in the world who are honorable people motivated by high ideals – deluded as they may be about their methods for improving society.
In the case of Jews who hate their own kind, who advocate policies that empower Nazi terrorists – they are nothing less than traitors. If that word is too charged in a society already dominated by the enemy, then let’s find some other term. Since the word “leftist” confers a certain legitimacy to their views, the term “Self-hating Jews” would be the mildest of alternatives.
He makes a good point. Jewish self-hatred and self-loathing is the greatest threat to the Jewish people and the Zionist dream. The Arabs are not and will never be the problem! Jews have internalized a poisonous attitude that the Land doesn’t belong to them and that they have no right to be there. If Israel is ever destroyed, it won’t be because its enemies laid waste to it with the sword; it will come about because the Jews have been the authors of their own destruction. We have been warned.
This is the answer for those who are uncertain about the ruling elite’s true intentions. Please stop making excuses for them, ascribing “political convenience” or “weakness” or “pressure” or dozens of other reasons for their actions. ~~~ Giulio Meotti restrained himself from saying what he would like to say, which is a lot more alarming. Israel is in danger, not only from enemies abroad, but from the Israeli elite whose true goal is the dismantling of Israel. Your politics are a scam to deprive Jews of their land.
Remember the mortgage fraud in the US? It went on for as long as those involved were making money. They knew the whole thing was bound to collapse, but they kept doing it. Same thing in Israel, they keep giving land and heritage away, while exploiting the economic success of the country, knowing full well that at some point, when the party is over, they will pack up their bags and their millions and go somewhere else, to make more money on speaking tours.