Comment: Facing the ugly truth
Comment: Facing the ugly truth | JPost | Israel News.
( “Even the worst Jewish extremist couldn’t resort to that level of barbarism, we tried to convince ourselves. After all, we still have our Jewish values.” These had been my exact thoughts. Jews are a collective society. There’s no ducking responsibility for actions other Jews take. I’m in stunned horror and grief. May God forgive us. – JW )
07/06/2014 17:03
The disclosure of the suspects in last week’s horrific murder of Shuafat teen Muhammad Abu Khdeir represents – aside from the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 – the darkest hour for the Jewish state since Baruch Goldstein went on a rampage 20 years ago in Hebron, killing 29 Palestinian worshipers and injuring 115 more.
It was so easy to think over the last few days that it couldn’t have been Jews who dragged the 16-year-old Khdeir into their car, drove him to the Jerusalem Forest, set him on fire and despicably murdered him as revenge for the equally brutal deaths of teenagers Gil-Ad Shaer, Naftali Fraenkel, and Eyal Yifrah. Let it be an internal Arab feud or an honor killing. Even the worst Jewish extremist couldn’t resort to that level of barbarism, we tried to convince ourselves. After all, we still have our Jewish values.
But the facts leading up to Khdeir’s death were impossible to ignore. At the same time that the three Israeli victims were being eulogized and buried last Wednesday, an angry Jewish mob was marching on Jerusalem’s Jaffa Road shouting “Death to Arabs” and “Revenge” while they attempted to storm businesses employing Arab workers and demand their ouster.
Arrests by the police and condemnation by civic and political leaders did little to quell the thirst for Arab blood, however. And a few hours later, the revolting events played out that were revealed by the police Sunday.
It raises questions about who we are and who we are becoming. Granted, Israeli and Palestinian societies reacted so differently to the murders of their countrymen. Israelis grieved, held rallies, called for unity and struggled with how to make things better. A few thugs amid the vast majority decided to take revenge. Arab communities, on the other hand, have reacted by widespread rock throwing, dragging Jews out of their cars and setting the vehicles on fire, and violent civil disobedience. The fact that Arab society still doesn’t know how to express itself without violence is an issue that only they can deal with, if they so choose.
The behavior of Jewish citizens of Israel is an issue for all of us. Regardless of the anger, hate and urge for vengeance that we feel when yet another terror attack occurs and Palestinians kill yet another innocent Israeli, there is no room for vigilantes.
It’s time to decide what kind of society we want to be: one where excessive beating of suspects by Border Police are accepted with a roll of the eyes and ‘what can you do’ shrug, one where Jewish brutes yelling “death to Arabs” is tolerated and some circles, even encouraged, or one where there is zero tolerance for such behavior. Anti-Arab racism and Jewish terror are now out in the open for everyone to see, and can no longer be swept under the couch.
With the events over the last week threatening to unravel into a larger, long-term conflict, and with our leaders unable or unwilling to lead, it’s time for the citizens of Israel to wake up and say, ‘enough.’
It’s been clear for a long time to anyone not blinded by ideology that Jews and Arabs are destined to share this land. As we continue to inflict atrocities upon each other and the differences between the extremists on both sides blur into one ugly stain, it’s also become clear why we’re still embroiled in this never-ending struggle – we deserve each other.
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WarSclerotic 
July 6, 2014 at 4:55 PM
With the events over the last week threatening to unravel into a larger, long-term conflict
That long term conflict exist already for, yes there it is , a long time !
Jews and arabs is possible,Jews and mo slimes, well what do you think ?
July 6, 2014 at 5:15 PM
Joe, Jews are people, and as with any group of people there are bad seeds. Do not be to hard on yourself or your people. The stress you’ve all been under can make even decent people crack!
I’m afraid more like this will occur until madness stops!!!!
July 6, 2014 at 5:25 PM
Yes we’re people. However, we identify ourselves as “the chosen people.”
This despicable act undercuts everything we’ve fought for and it shames us to our core.
What’s the point of being Jewish if we’re just like everyone else?
July 6, 2014 at 5:32 PM
Even Satan was a chosen at one time. No one on this earth is perfect, chosen or otherwise!
July 6, 2014 at 5:44 PM
quote :This despicable act undercuts everything we’ve fought for and it shames us to our core.
Unquote : agree, but nothing human is a Jew strange, even despicable act,s
But is there solid proof, of this despicable crime, a bullet in the head i can believe , but burning alive seems to me something from people with an other perception
July 6, 2014 at 5:49 PM
It’s simply unthinkable to me, joop. Like a story saying the earth is flat. An innocent boy murdered to avenge other innocents. Burned alive by Jews.
As a nation we must find a way to distance ourselves from whatever gave rise to this.
July 6, 2014 at 5:56 PM
Right, but why are you taken this as a nation guild, are all arabs and mo slime,s guilty on the murder of 3 Jewish children ?
You are feeding the anti Jew and anti Israel feeling with your collective guild feeling, they will say , see you they say it by there selfs.
Stop it, it is just a terrible act from complete idiots !
There is no blame in general on Jews or Israel !
July 6, 2014 at 6:16 PM
Of course not. It’s not an issue of guilt. It’s a question of who we are and why we fight. This hurts us on the existential level. We have to find a way to overcome it.
Antisemitism needs no “feeding.” It will always find its expression. That’s why we need an Israel to protect the Jews.
But why do we need Jews?
“It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6
July 6, 2014 at 6:24 PM
Quote : We have to find a way to overcome it.
Unquote : You will find the way, as you did before ( you in general ) , it is the soul of Israel and his people .
July 6, 2014 at 5:59 PM
Defeat the evil that haunts you!
July 6, 2014 at 6:10 PM
JW,
If the Americans could’ve elected Hussein only 7 years after 9/11 (and then reelected him), anything is possible. Be thankful you have a leader of your country you can be proud of (or at least don’t despise with all your guts).
If anything if this killing was indeed done by Jews I think it puts more rather than less need for the Netanyahu government to eradicate Hamas.
What we see is in the absence of a strong leadership the cycle of violence is worsening with no end in sight.
July 6, 2014 at 6:23 PM
The State of Israel as a Light unto the Nations
In his writings and speeches, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973) emphasized his vision of the state of Israel as a moral and social beacon to the whole world, and by that, in his view, it shall implement the vision of the prophets.[4] The selection of the Menorah as the Emblem of Israel was derived from the image of the state of Israel as a “Light Unto the Nations”.[citation needed]
Israel’s vision of “Light Unto the Nations” was reflected in the words of the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his address at the 2010 Herzliya Conference:
“You are dealing with our people’s fate because it is clear today that the fate of the Jewish people is the fate of the Jewish state. There is no demographic or practical existence for the Jewish people without a Jewish state. This doesn’t mean that the Jewish state does not face tremendous challenges, but our existence, our future, is here. The greatest change that came with the establishment of the Jewish state was that Jews became more than just a collection of individuals, communities and fragments of communities. They became a sovereign collective in their own territory. Our ability as a collective to determine our own destiny is what grants us the tools to shape our future – no longer as a ruled people, defeated and persecuted, but as a proud people with a magnificent country and one which always aspires to serve as ‘Light Unto the Nations’.”[5]
July 6, 2014 at 6:39 PM
Noble words indeed. But as mere mortals we all suffer with doubt and temptation that we all struggle to keep in check. Nobel works do not counter that reality.
July 6, 2014 at 6:55 PM
Evil will not leave the stage willingly, it must forcibly be shown the way. As it was with the Nazis so it must be with radical Islam. Israel must raise its sword and not sheath it again until the work is done.
July 6, 2014 at 9:27 PM
Herman Wouk writing about 9/11 in his revised introduction to “The Winds of War.”
“The evil in human hearts knows no boundaries, except the deeper, stronger human will to freedom, order, and justice. In the very long-run, that will so far has prevailed.
… Now it is the destiny of America — for all its faults and weaknesses, the greatest free society in history — to lead the world against a new grim outbreak of evil, a savage stab at the core of freedom on Earth, a dark, shocking start to a new millennium.
May the Father of all men prosper our arms in the new fight, as He prospered — in the end — the cause of men of goodwill in World War II.”
July 6, 2014 at 11:23 PM
Until we see some spunk such as below from those in Europe and the other places, those who are currently in harms way. I see no reason for America to send its young into the brink.
Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”
Show me this then I’d agree. Not before.
July 6, 2014 at 11:36 PM
Meantime as Israel burns, numb nuts is trying to score debating points.
“Netanyahu Tells PA: Find Teens’ Murderers, Like We Found Khder’s”
What happened to the 48 hour ultimatum, unfucking believable.
July 7, 2014 at 12:30 AM
Sooner than later one of those rockets will land and score big. What will Netanyahu say then. We will meet calm with calm?
July 6, 2014 at 7:22 PM
Joseph, as much as I admire your work, I can not and will not join you in beating up yourself, as well as Jewish existence over this. If it is true that Jews perpetuated what appears, at present, to have been an abominable murder, and if they will receive as severe punishment as murderer Arabs receive, then I don’t see where Am Yisrael has fallen short, morally or ethically.
With all the Arab murder of Jews that takes place, has taken place, and unfortunately will take place, there are many scores to yet be settled.
If it turns out that Jewish vigilantes sought out an innocent random Arab boy and murdered him, they chose the wrong way to settle scores. They were lacking wise leadership.
I am reminded of the guys in the (British Army) Jewish Brigade who stayed on in Europe, after WW2, and who CAREFULLY hunted down and executed Nazi barbarian leaders.
Just prior to dispatching each barbarian with a single shot from a pistol, the heroic Jews said these words: “In the name of the JEWISH PEOPLE, I sentence you to death! BANG!!!!
The rest of the world will be condemning all of Jewry for what has happened. No need for any of US to join in their celebration of shortcomings on the part of a mere 1/2 dozen of us.
July 6, 2014 at 7:23 PM
oops, I see it was not Joseph who wrote the piece. Sorry!
July 6, 2014 at 7:36 PM
Ira…
Don’t be sorry.
Please read the comments on the story.
Others share your view.
I attempt to explain my issue as a Jew.
July 6, 2014 at 10:56 PM
thank you for your response, joseph. the relationship, between arabs and jews, everyone will agree, is toxified to levels that are unbelievable. behind it all, i must say, that things were ok with the arabs until the advent of the iranian khomeini revolution. i believe that the emergence of the shia islamic republic of iran enabled those chess players to generate instability throughout the middle east; instability which they have exploited and which they’ve parlayed into the role as the regional hegemon. iran has generated so much death and other sufferring, and thoroughly NEEDS to be reduced to meaninglessness, by any broker who has the abilities to do so. so, who?
July 6, 2014 at 11:11 PM
Quote : i must say, that things were ok with the arabs until the advent of the iranian khomeini revolution
Unquote : ?? please explain, i can remember a couple of wars and so on. for me the problems started to become serious after the fall cq defeat of the ottoman reich ! not to forget, lets say the less desirable action or inactions of England .
July 6, 2014 at 7:47 PM
I agree 100%, Joe don,t be to harsh on yourself on Israel and the people !
July 6, 2014 at 10:11 PM
But it must be clear for the whole world that Israel is a state with a working police force and a correct judicial system, they got the barbaric murder in no time.
On the other hand we have the pa and hamas , that bunch of criminals, terrorist, who know who the murderers are from the 3 Jewish children but refusing to hand them over to the police.
July 6, 2014 at 11:34 PM
AND PUBICLY PROMISING TO DO IT AGAIN!!!!!
July 6, 2014 at 11:37 PM
Oops ‘PUBLICLY’.
July 6, 2014 at 11:17 PM
The arabs use to build there command centers beneath hospitals, to
set up their army camps in civil areas, to set up AA guns on top of hospitals, to fire rockets out of civilian areas, to hide behind civilian men, women and children…thats their style : not hesitating to offer their own people. Remember the boy who was said worldwide by the media to be shot by the Israel army – later it was confirmed that the boy was intentionally shot by arab terrorists…I dont buy it so quickly that jews killed this boy now – rather I think this would fit to arab behaviour / style : kill your own people, then blame the Jews and the world will love to buy the lie / to bash the Jews once more.
Its a shame that Israel is dealing harder with itself than it deals with those who constantly kill Jews and want to destroy Israel ! I think Israel needs a change in leadership – to get leaders who do not apologize for being Jews, for living in Israel !
July 7, 2014 at 2:28 AM
Bingo!