Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave a beautiful speech before the United Nations yesterday. It was, perhaps, the pinnacle of his career, at least in his own eyes. As a result of his perceived capitulation to terror and international pressure, he's been feted and pampered at the UN this week. Reminds me of the fattening of turkeys before the slaughter.
The Palestinians will always be our neighbors. We respect them, and have no aspirations to rule over them. They are also entitled to freedom and to a national, sovereign existence in a state of their own.
These words will be parsed and pondered, celebrated and condemned. Respect? Entitled? By virtue of what? But as Ha'aretz has rightly observed, they represent Mr. Sharon's backhand flip to the party that's about to disown him. And not a moment too soon, as new evidence of bribery and corruption is about to rain on the PM's parade at home.
When I started this blog a little over three years ago, I resolved that it would stand for something. Something concrete and substantial, something that could be identified and identified with. This blog is neither left nor right but some of both and a little in between. Here, I speak my mind and my heart. I'll continue to do so as long as I keep posting. And I won't apologize for a bit of it unless I'm convinced I'm wrong.
My first and foremost priority here has always been the support of Israel, my other home, my other heart, the cradle of my people and the ultimate source of all that I am. I'll defend her against attack and against danger, whether it comes from her enemies or her friends, from her detractors or her supporters, from the outside or the inside. Even if it comes from her Prime Minister. I'll acknowledge her mistakes and condemn her excesses, but I will never capitulate to the pressure of popular sentiment.
The same, by the way, must be said for many of the people, many of the bloggers, with whom I emphatically disagree. Though we reach different conclusions, their dedication, sincerity and passion is beyond question. You'll find a bunch of them on my blogroll.
I believe that the world we know is teetering on the brink of a deep and dark abyss right now. Whether it falls will depend almost entirely on the leadership and courage exhibited by a very few men and women in the coming days, weeks, months,.... And while I'd like to think that the good guys will win, I'm not seeing it right now. Please pardon my pessimism. I just don't find a lot of encouraging signs at the moment.
In a few days' time on the Hebrew calendar, the New Year will begin, the 5,766th year since the Creation. According to Jewish belief, the fates of people and nations are determined at the New Year by the Creator – to be spared or to be doomed. May the Holy One, blessed be He, determine that this year, our fate and the fate of our neighbors is peace, mutual respect, and good neighborly relations.
That's one of many sentiments in Sharon's UN speech with which I can wholeheartedly agree. If only...
Shabbat Shalom.
