Night Club Terror

It was a day, observed each year in Israel and by Jews through the world, marking the 60th anniversary of the heroic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during World War II. It is also a day where we remember all those Jews who were murdered during Nazi Hitler “Final Solution”, in its attempt to destroy the entire Jewish race. Ceremonies took place throughout Israel. At 10AM that morning, its citizens, paused in silence with heads bowed for two minutes, remembered all those Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

It was a day. During that very same day, the newly “elected” prime minister of the Palestinian Authority was approved along with his cabinet by the Palestinian “legislature.” The US conveyed its support of the regime changes.

Here are some facts the media probably did not convey. Only four of the approved cabinet ministers were chosen by Abu Mazen. The rest of the ministers were chosen by Arafat himself. This means that Mazen does not have control over the cabinet. Furthermore, neither does he have control over the security forces. There has also been talk about Mazen being a moderate.

Really? Mazen, along with Arafat, founded the PLO terrorist organization in 1964. Mazen, was treasurer of the PLO and therefore was the “money guy” behind the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre of Israeli athletes in Germany. Mazen in the 1960s claimed in his doctoral thesis that during the Holocaust less then 1 million Jews were killed and this was done by a Zionist-Nazi alliance. I do not believe this constitutes being a moderate, and neither do I believe this man can be trusted to bring peace if he himself is part of the organization which is committing terrorism. Could I be wrong?

And it was a day. Later, (actually the next day), around 1 AM, a terrorist struck. The terrorist, an Arab with British citizenship, committed a suicide terrorist bombing in Tel-Aviv. The location called “Mike’s Place” was chosen. This Jazz bar was frequented by dozens of people that night, many of which were known to be foreign embassy workers in the area, and tourists. Most of those within the bar were also in their 20s. The time of night when the terrorist decided to commit his murderous act was when the bar was packed with people. Luckily, the security guard saw the terrorist. He approached him and stopped him from entering the bar. However, the terrorist did blow up at the steps of the bar. The Israeli Defense Forces is currently looking for a second suicide bomber (also a British citizen) who was supposed to commit his terrorist act but who experienced a technical difficulty and fled.

The groups that took responsibility were Hamas and Fatah (Arafat’s own terrorist group). Three people were killed, 64 were injured. Six of the injured have serious wounds, and a total of 17 are still in the hospitals. Most of these people are of the same age as are many of us here at Connecticut College. Can you imagine that? One minute you are having a good time dancing, laughing, talking, at a beachside nightclub, and the next minute you are draped with blood. This is what Israelis our age have to deal with on a daily basis. And these are the terrorists who are occupying the Palestinian Authority we want to give a state to.

Ironically, on a day revolving around the mourning of Jews, more Jews were murdered and more Jews will therefore be mourned. This shows you the type of animal terrorists Israel has to deal with. It is these terrorists who must be brought to justice, and we must support Israel’s moves to bring them to justice. Unfortunately, it is these terrorists which are harbored and sponsored by the current Palestinian Authority. This is the number one factor that must be solved before any serious attempt is made to provide a Palestinian state.

The Holocaust is indeed an extremely important subject in the Jewish state. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, summed it up in a part of his speech very clearly during the state ceremony, “The Jewish people arose from the abyss of the Holocaust severely wounded, but still breathing and wiser. Never again will Jews be unprotected and homeless. Never again will we place our security in the hands of strangers, nor rely on the kindness of others. We will not be led astray by illusions, nor under-estimate those who wish us harm. We shall be strong, determined and steadfast in defending ourselves and will cut off any hand raised against Jews anywhere. We seek peace with all our hearts, but we have learned this lesson: it is not in weakness, nor with faint heart, that we will achieve security and peace, rather with boldness, courage and a willingness to guard that which is most precious and vital to our future.”

Only in Israel do Jews die on a day marking Jewish deaths. Only in Israel does its US ally call for the creation of a Palestinian Arab state which would be led by these terrorists themselves in a so-called “roadmap” plan. Only in Israel does the whole world keep quiet during the attack and cry out when Israel defends herself. Only in Israel do we have European leaders, supposedly committed to the new prime minister, call up terrorist Arafat and legitimize his murderous hands. Only in Israel does the world have trust in an “elected” Palestinian prime minister to bring peace even though he denies the holocaust and was the treasurer of the PLO terrorist group committing the 1972 Munich Olympics attacks which killed Israeli athletes. Day in and day out this is what Israel is experiencing. Hundreds of deaths, dozens of maimed individuals, and thousands of orphans. Could you imagine living in such a society?

There is no need for me to imagine it. I have lived in it for seven years and I am well aware of what Israel must do and must continue to do. Israel is not just fighting a war against terrorism. It is fighting a war for its survival. It will only take Israel one loss in a war for the fulfilled dream of a Jewish homeland, in the form of the State of Israel, to disappear. We must never allow that to happen.

The events of Tuesday, April 29th began with remembrance and mourning, with prayer for a speedy end to man's inhumanity to man, and hope for peace and brotherhood for all. The day ended with a loud crash, with the true reality that peace in the world cannot be achieved as long as terrorists are allowed to rule in any part of the world.

My last column for this year as my campus paper comes to a close.

Pics in the article

There is another very good book by Uris called, I believe, Mila 18. I read it about 30 years ago. I asked my girl friend, at the time, if she wanted to read it. She declined as many of her mother's relatives perished in the Warsaw Ghetto. I fully understand her choice. However, it is a very powerful book.

The best book I ever read about it was Leon Uris' "Armageddon".

Huh?

I thought Armageddon was about Berlin. Maybe it has something about the Warsaw Ghetto. It's been quite a while since I read it.

John Hersey's The Wall is the novel about the Warsaw Ghetto. And John Ross's gun novel Unintended Consequences tells the story when it develops a key character, and obviously alludes to what happens to regular people when they are not allowed to own guns.

ML/NJ

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