Prisoners, Politics, Policies, Perceptions, Principles and Pardons

Once again the news is filled with denunciations, demands, pleas and outright indignations all demanding Israel release or commit to actions which will alleviate the reasons, conditions and complaints in order to mollify and end the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners. It is not a new set of circumstance as this exact scenario has been played out before much to the delight and satisfaction of those who constantly call for Israeli surrender no matter the reason, situation or possible deleterious results which will be caused. The last time there were hunger-striking terrorist prisoners, we add the modifier terrorist in order to clarify exactly the kind of people and the reason for their detention as such is important, the world, or at least the Europeans and their cohorts from the left, made a set of demands with attached admonitions which revealed their duplicity. Now that the precedent and full consequences for particular actions have been established, this time around only the bald demand need be voiced as the rest of the limitations are understood. But what are the demands and the options the Israelis may utilize in addressing this situation?

The initial picture is a select number of Palestinians held due to their ties to terrorist activities. Some are under what is known as Administrative Detention, a charge left from the British Mandate legal system where those responsible for planning, arming, or other direct means of assisting terrorist activities were placed in custody for the increased safety of the peoples as a whole. Such incarcerations usually have an upper limit to the length of time such a prisoner may be held though there is no limit as to how many times they may be held or the frequency. Neither of these latter conditions applies to those currently involved in the hunger strikes and many of the strikers are imprisoned for actual terror acts. The one part of this entire affair which will never likely be explained are the limitations placed on the country or other administrative body under whose jurisdiction the hunger-striking prisoners are held. They are required to have a neutral physician determine the rationality and sanity of the prisoner and if they are found to be of sound mind, then they must be advised that their actions are harmful to their general health and could, if carried to its logical end, result in death. This is the limit in which the government may intercede concerning the hunger-striking prisoner. If the prisoner should expire as a result of their refusal of nourishment the state is not seen as being responsible. Should the state intervene and force-feed the hunger-striking prisoner, the act is viewed as a denial of the prisoners’ rights and such actions may lead to sanctioning the state. In a nut shell, Israel is left powerless to act in any manner to provide sustenance as long as the prisoner is deemed rational. So, if Israel were to force-feed any of the hunger-strikers, they would very likely find themselves charged with crimes against humanity as they would have denied the prisoner their human rights. If Israel followed international law and allowed the hunger-striker to starve and die, the firestorm that would follow would be beyond any such outrage ever before seen. That leaves Israel with only one option, to capitulate to the demands of the hunger-striking terrorist prisoners and release them to resume their organizing, assisting and implementing terror attacks against Israeli civilians. This is the unspoken desired result those protesting Israeli lack of actions in preventing the adverse effects of starvation from inflicting the hunger-strikers.

The real problem Israel is currently facing is a direct result of their former actions. Many, ourselves included, advised not to give in to an early release or any other demand made by the initial hunger-striking terror prisoners. This is not to say that Israel should have allowed the prisoners to starve themselves to death. There is a technicality which can be applied to make a kind of end-run around the noninterference clause within the applicable international law. The law states that if a prisoner should be determined to be in an impaired state of mind and possibly not fully cognizant of the imminent danger their actions are causing, then the prisoner may be hospitalized and fed. The only qualifying requirement is the documentation of their limited capacity by two neutral physicians. It is highly doubtful that two such physicians could be procured to make such a determination and thus allow Israel to address the threats of prisoners starving themselves to death while not surrendering to the demands for release or any other demands. No doubt Israel would probably be called to account for their actions for feeding terrorist prisoners against their declared intentions and will to starve themselves to death in order to bring condemnations upon Israel. It is not too late for Israel to implement this method for addressing such protestations in a way which will blunt the indignations from the world’s busybodies while also rendering hunger-strikes as an ineffective ploy robbed of its impact and denying the intended result. Sometimes it becomes dizzying witnessing the lengths and depths many in the world will travel simply to condemn Israel.

On another front of this situation, Israel should refuse to allow any advantages to come of not only the hunger-strikers but also those rioting and attacking security forces in supposed support of the hunger-strikers. We say supposed support as it is a relative call as to how much of the current increased violence is directly due to the prison hunger-strikers and how much is simply instituted in order to attempt to interrupt the joys and revelry associated with the joyous Purim celebrations throughout Israel this week. If Israel were to react with panic and surrender to increases in violence perpetrated by the Palestinians, the result would be a never ending spiral of increased violence. This has been the exact reaction to apparent Israeli restraint in the face of violence perpetrated against her citizens in the past. When Israel attempted to simply wait out increased violence of previous intifadas instead of mobilizing and restoring order; their lack of action was perceived as weakness and resulted in more violence, increased destruction, higher death toll, additional casualties and a greater intervention in order to restore order and calm. Each time Israel has appeased such pressure tactics such as these hunger-strikes which are coordinated with allied NGOs, leftists, and other anti-Israel and anti-Zionist groups and governments, Israel has simply guaranteed more similar actions with ever increasing demands attached. In every instance where some act was initially met with Israeli compliance and surrendering before coordinated world demands, the action would be repeated and escalated with demands eventually surpassing even the ability of the most permissive and tolerant of Israeli society to agree it was necessary to meet the demands in the hopes of restoring peace and order. This use of escalating threats tied to ever increasing demands has become the normal operating procedure of the Palestinian Authority with its preconditions, Hamas and their rocket barrages and has even spread to the anti-Zionist allied groups in Europe, the Middle East and world-wide. Since Israel gives in to some minor action and continues to capitulate through numerous and ever-increasing escalations; whenever Israel finally refuses and takes whatever actions are necessary to restore order, the result is the same calamitous cacophony of shrill denunciation thrust upon Israel for having the audacity to defend her people, country and even existence. The intent of the most minor act of defiance should be treated the same as the eventual escalation of such similar act if Israel can ever expect to live with the same peace and tranquility afforded other nations. It is not as if the boisterous cacophony if indignations would be any more or less than when after numerous escalations Israel finally resists the blackmail that is at the heart of the terrorist onslaught faced by Israel daily. The friendship of the world which is offered before every demand for Israeli concessions, usually land for the promise which matters not as it will never be met, will likewise not be forthcoming but withheld with yet another concession brought forth as the new parameter necessary for their friendship. The friendship of much of the world will remain denied to Israel until she learns that the world only loves those who demand their respect. Capitulation begets further demands, standing one’s ground is the only path which eventually leads to respect, the first requirement for friendship. Simple stated, capitulators will capitulate themselves to death, both literal and figurative, while the steadfast will dictate the terms and gain respect and be the ones whose friendship is sought. Israel needs to soon choose which side of this fence they will be found, lying helplessly defeated and trounced on the side of the capitulators or standing strong with pride among the recognized nations of the world. Let us hope and pray they choose to stand among the nations.

Beyond the Cusp

My Being Overcome Emotionally by a Moment

Today I will take us through something which happened today which despite being completely apolitical still managed to overwhelm me unlike anything I have ever experienced. But, as usual, some background. As some of my readers have likely figured out, I am currently in Israel coming from my home in the United States. I am taking what is called a pilot trip with my wife in order to assist in planning making Aliyah later this year if all goes well. In the past when the moment was right or something coerced conversations to the subject of Israel and its special place and meaning to Jews I had expressed many thoughts, emotions, desires and experiences which I had either heard about, knew for sure or were otherwise relevant to the particular subject discussed. The importance and inability to replace Eretz Yisroel in Judaism was always a subject high on the list of discussion issues. But when my daughter and I spoke right before I left, we discussed the expectations I held and what type of reaction did I feel I might have upon deplaning in Israel. There was good reason that this was our subject which I will try and recall and explain as accurately as I am able.

I had heard from people over the years about their reactions when first arriving in Israel. Some of these stories or recounting was given by people who had simply visited Israel while others came from actual Olim who had returned to the United States for a vacation and to visit relatives and friends left behind. Some of the stories had been recounting told by people giving testimonials and still other by comedians who related their stories mixed with humorous anecdotal tales some of which may have been slightly enhanced or contrived. Still, the combined total provided for some interesting stories with a rich mixture. One repeated emotion was most often recalled was the act of kissing the ground as soon as they hit the runway after landing in Israel. Since some of these people were relating events from within the past decade or two, one might be somewhat suspicious as almost all airports no longer deplane down stairs onto the tarmac but rather through gates which empty into the terminal of the airport. That simple exaggeration was likely to express their reactions once they cleared customs and baggage claim and cleared the airport and reached their destination by train and possibly taxi as the likelihood of reaching an area of ground suitable for kissing is unlikely anywhere close to Ben Gurion Airport. That aside, many people explained being overwhelmed with emotions and simply weeping with exultation upon landing in Israel or seeing the fountain spelling out ‘Welcome Olim’ in its computer controlled water shower similar to this example or this example. I know that it is likely that any programmable fountain would strike awe into even many of the most staid people on the face of this Earth. Still, despite all the stories shared between my daughter and myself, my prediction was that I was most likely to prove to be among those staid people who would shrug at the fountain, let alone be so predictable as to kiss the ground or, as one comedian related about his children initially being embarrassed when he rolled around in the sand and dust upon landing in Israel only to have them join him rolling on the ground after he had stopped a number of times so he could repeat his odd routine. He had explained to them that the land of Israel was magical and he was soaking up the magic of Eretz Yisroel and they eventually gave it a try and according to this comedian, they all loved it and they still do it to this day often to the amazement of all around them when they partake of this now family act and joke, perhaps by now, family custom. I am sad to report that I reached my hotel and at no point did I fall to the ground to kiss the ground, let alone roll around kicking up magic Israeli dust.

My wife and I landed just before noon last Friday. When we were having lunch in the middle of a touring trip to visit and experience some of the communities in the Galilee we reached the end of day four. Still no emotional outburst or even a fluttering other than the feeling that the ground under my feet was pulsating and moving ever so gently back and forth. Not constantly as much as from time to time, something which I explained as being a reaction to far too much walking and advanced age. After our small lunch snack we returned to the tour-bus and waited for the rest of our entourage of future Olim to return and our tour to continue. This was the actual start of day number five as we had just passed noon. That is when the world changed in a single moment. We were in front of the City Hall and administrative building for Karmiel in the middle of the Galilee with the temperature around fifty-five to sixty-something and a nice stiff breeze. I looked out the window at nothing in particular, just scanning and taking in the area. My sight came to rest on the flagpole with the Star of David with the two deep blue stripes of the flag of Israel billowing and waving wonderfully in the breeze. The Jewish six-pointed Star just grabbed me and it hit me, I was in Israel, I was finally and really in Israel, I was home, I need some tissues. There was a warm surge of a kind of tingle that was of a really strong and wonderful type which swept through me up, down, back and forth repeatedly never quite repeating but simply washing me beyond delight. The feeling was exactly what I have felt before whenever I would hear Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, but much more so. This unexplainable excited bliss continued taking different forms and continues now as I write of my emotions just looking at that one sole flag waving in the wind with soft billowing clouds almost dancing across the sky behind her. I have had my Israel revelation and I cannot find any words which would give it the description and meaning even remotely approaching the elation and absolute ecstasy, delight, joyousness, exuberance and whatever else one could think to add. In my life I have had very few specific moments which compare in any way with what I felt today. Likely the closest I have ever been to what I felt today, and was possibly equal or even more intense as this celebrated something equally important in my life, was the chanting of the Aliyah prayers for the reading of Torah at my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. Beyond this I do not know what can be added so I will end here and relax and relive this wondrous eventful experience and bask in the warm afterglow.

Beyond the Cusp

Is the Future of Zionism Healthy Without Knowledge of History?

The results from a MarketWatch poll conducted for the Zionist Council of Israel contained indications of promise and problems for the future of Zionism. The promise of the future health of Zionism was most evident in the answer to the simple question of whether they consider themselves to be Zionists. Of the three-hundred Israeli Jewish teens between the ages of 15 to 18 years of age 82.9% responded they considered themselves as Zionist while 15.8% defined themselves as non-Zionist. Somewhat less promising was that just under 30% did not know significance of the date November 29, 1947, the date of the United Nations vote proposing the establishment of the partition of the remainder of the British Mandate which directly led to the founding of the nation of Israel and the first refusal of the Arabs to the offer of their own country between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the other results are just as mixed.

Over half, a full 53.5% did not know what the Oslo Accords were, specifically 70.8% of Haredi and 48.2% of secular teens. Their lack of knowledge that the Oslo Accords were simply an agreement between the Israelis and the PLO that established the Palestinian authority, returned arch terrorist Yasser Arafat back into the West Bank and granted him legitimacy, and was an initial step which was supposed to provide a path to reaching a final status establishing a Palestinian State side by side with Israel with both populations living in peace and security. The ensuing failure of the Accords has been a large impetus for the propaganda battles which have been much of the Arab Israeli difficulties since then. The apparent lack of knowledge by the youth and future leaders of Zionism of this important event and the results it has spawned is a gap in their education which must be corrected as such ignorance could prove dangerous. The one truth all sides can agree over is that the Oslo Accords have been one of the epic failures in all of history.

One of the most promising results was that 82.9% of respondents knew the words of the national anthem, Hatikvah, perfectly. It is interesting and understandable that the percentage who knew the words to Hatikvah and described themselves to be Zionists were exactly the same. It begs the question if the respondents in affirmation of these two questions were an exact correlation or if there was any divergence no matter how minor. There was almost a unanimous affirmative reply to the question of whether the youths had visited Jerusalem, something pretty much expected considering the attractions of Jerusalem and the small size of Israel. Almost 85% affirmed that they would enlist in the Israel Defense Forces or another form of national service even if it were not mandatory. This high percentage response may suggest an inspirational solution to the share the burden dilemma facing the new Knesset of simply making the IDF and national service voluntary while also increasing the salaries to represent a professional military. Slightly less of the youth expected to live in Israel long term answering they expected to be residing in Israel in fifteen years.

The overall results of the poll reveal great promise for the future of Israel and Zionism. The one troubling answer was obviously the lack of general familiarity with the history of Zionism and Israel indicated by the higher than preferred knowledge of the date of the United Nations vote which allowed for the establishing of the Jewish State and an even greater ignorance concerning the Oslo Accords. Both of these shortcomings are easily solvable with adjustments being initiated in the education system assuring that there is a stronger emphasis on the History of Israel, Zionism, and Jewish history. All in all, the results are promising. I would be interested to see a similar poll taken on the subject of religious observance and likely intended observance going on in their lives. If such a poll would produce similarly significant results towards being religious Jews as the results on Zionism, Israel would have a healthy and promising future as these youths realize their dreams and take the task of leading Israel into the future.

Beyond the Cusp