Jack Engelhard’s
So after my most recent column here in which I bewailed excessive Israeli compassion for its enemies, like the tendency to offer prompt medical attention for Arab terrorists, I heard back positively from many in my corner, but also from the emphatic naysayers – Jews afflicted by moral equivalency syndrome.
They say that being compassionate at all times begins in our Scriptures. Yes, justice, justice shall you pursue. That’s our Torah. But what about the other parts of justice – you know Moses and what he did to Egypt in retaliation for Egypt’s abuse of his people, the Hebrews? They say that David was a man of peace. He sure was. But when attacked, David was a man of war. Read up on this. Read his Psalms. Try Psalm 59, for example, and find: “Rescue me from my foes, Dear Lord…rescue me from bloodthirsty men who surround me…Destroy them!”
Get the picture? (Never mind how times have not changed across 3,000 years.)
They say that compassion is woven in our character…agreed…and that compassion has served us well over the centuries. Baloney. They say that if we do the measure for measure thing, why then, oh dear, we become like them; we stoop to their level and risk losing our humanity. Well, humanity – there has not been much of that going around these days. As for the risk of becoming like them – here is what I say.
I say it is worth a shot.
Maybe if we behave (savagely) like them, if only once in a while, finally they will take the hint and leave us alone.
Mario Puzo figured that out while writing “The Godfather.” Get the rival “families” before they get you…and make the rest of them “fear you.” Settling scores, it’s called. Suppose, therefore, that Bibi gets a message out with these words: “Murdering Arabs is a national duty.” Does that make you squirm? Me, too.
That is not Bibi, of course. That’s Abbas: “Murdering Jews is a national duty.” Yes Abbas said that and nobody cringed, nobody in the entire world.
Nobody squirmed.
Suppose Bibi announces that he does not want “filthy Arab feet” stomping holy Jewish ground. Bibi never says this. Abbas did about “filthy Jewish feet.” The world shrugs.
Suppose Israelis declare days of rage because Arabs stole Jewish land? No days of rage from the Jews. Only from the Palestinian Arabs. Suppose Israelis begin stabbing, stoning and shooting Arabs helter-skelter.
That is totally against Jewish practice.
But when the Palestinians practice it, CNN and the BBC and The New York Times will find words and pictures to justify Palestinian murderous behavior. If the shoe were on the other foot, would the Israelis get the same generosity? Or is murdering Jews a Palestinian Arab entitlement? John Kerry justified Palestinian rage on the settlements, the Jewish settlements. Arabs, Mr. Secretary, are in a rage everywhere, about everything. Naturally none of my recommendations has a chance and truly it is against my nature to desire such brutishness on the part of my people.
Besides, what would the neighbors say?
But I must say to my Liberal friends, those who asked, “Jack Engelhard, where is your heart” – did you ask John Kerry the same question? Did you ask him why he equated Arab killers with Israeli victims, and why was he not OUTRAGED when he heard Abbas saying what he did? Saying, “Murdering Jews is a national duty.” Nobody squirmed? That’s right. Nobody squirmed. Nobody cringed. Did you ask Mrs. Sun at the EU and Mr. Moon at the UN – where was their condemnation for that remark and for the Arab bloodlust that followed? Take it from someone who knows. Worry less about Jewish humanity. It is still in place. Worry more about their humanity, whatever there is of it.
New York-based author and bestselling novelist Jack Engelhard writes a regular column for Arutz Sheva. His novel “Indecent Proposal” was translated into more than 22 languages and turned into a Paramount motion picture starring Robert Redford and Demi Moore. His latest thriller, largely about media bias and deception, is “The Bathsheba Deadline.” Website: www.jackengelhard.com
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