Kaufman is a fourth-year political science student.
By Ziv Kaufman
The world is constantly urging Israel to withdraw from the West
Bank and Gaza. It insists that the only way to achieve peace and
stop the violence is by full Israeli withdrawal from these places
and granting the territories to the Palestinian Authority. There
are, however, many places in the West Bank, such as the Cave of the
Patriarchs in Hebron, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are buried,
as well as Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, that are considered
sacred to Jews. However, the situation in Israel has become so
bloody with Israelis being killed everyday by acts of terror, that
maybe it would be worth it to surrender these places, so there can
finally be peace. Yet, it is not only the West Bank and Gaza that
the Palestinians want, but also East Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has always been in the hearts of the Jewish nation. It
is the holiest city in the world for Jews and its name is often
recited in prayers. It is the place where the Temple was built and
according to Judaism where God dwells. Every Israeli prime minister
promises to the nation, before elections, that no matter what
happens in the peace process with the Palestinians, Jerusalem will
forever remain united and under Israeli control. Indeed, there is
no place closer to the souls in the Jewish world than Jerusalem.
But the violence and killing in Israel are so unbearable that
perhaps the Israelis will have to give up their consensus on an
undivided Jerusalem and give even that to the Palestinians, just so
there can finally be some peace and quiet in the country.
But wait! The Palestinians not only want Jerusalem, they are
also asking for the “right” of Palestinians to return
into the heartland of Israel. The thought of this is unbearable.
Having millions of Palestinians enter Israel would make Jews a
small minority. Because Palestinian refugees are full of animosity
and hatred towards them, Israel’s security could hardly be
guaranteed if this happens.
Nevertheless, if we think about it, do the Jews really need
their own state? The terror has become so severe in Israel that
perhaps it would be better for the Jewish people to live under
other regimes. As long as they can live in peace and quiet,
wouldn’t it be worth it for the Jews to just give up their
state?
For 2000 years the Jews did live under other regimes and their
experiences have been anything but joyous. During World War II,
Adolf Hitler and the Nazis killed 6 million Jews. Throughout
history other religions tried to convert the Jews and did not let
them practice their beliefs. We cannot forget the expulsion of Jews
from Spain in 1492. Perhaps if the Jews cannot freely practice
their own religion, they should change it. Maybe, in order to live
in peace and tranquillity, the Jews need to integrate into another
religion and halt their practices and culture.
No! Doesn’t this whole idea of giving in to everything
sound ludicrous? Because the Jews throughout history have kept
their values and traditions, Judaism remains alive today. Let us
not forget that Christians and Muslims also faced much opposition
initially. Yet because of their determination they can practice
their beliefs today. Thus, Jews must not give up their beliefs for
any reason because by doing so they will endanger the freedom of
others to practice theirs.
Israel shall forever exist. There is nothing more that the
Palestinian Authority wants to see than the destruction of the
Jewish state. Peace with Arafat will not change anything. As
Mansoor Ijaz, a Muslim foreign affairs analyst for Fox News, said:
“Arafat is not part of the solution, but part of the
problem.” By conceding to such demands as the right of
Palestinian return, Israel will play right into the hands of their
enemies and practically commit suicide.
Jerusalem is and shall eternally be the undivided capital of
Israel, and only Israel. The city is too symbolic to the Jewish
people, and they should never give up any part of it. Muslims,
Christians and Jews have and will always have access to their holy
places in Jerusalem, and will be able to manage them according to
their beliefs. Only under Israeli control of Jerusalem was the
sanctity of the holy places preserved.
Only after Israel hopefully reconquers the West Bank and Gaza
and eliminates the current terrorist Palestinian Authority ““
which is an insult to Islam ““ will it decide what places in
these areas to grant to the Palestinians. Israel must remain strong
and determined. If Israel shows weakness it will lose; if it
remains determined it shall prevail. Israel owes this not just to
its citizens but to the rest of the world as well. Some regimes in
the world try to satisfy terrorist organizations because of fear.
If they see Israel is no longer trying to appease terrorist
actions, those countries may do the same.