In 1962, John F. Kennedy was
president of the United States. Though
not a general of the US Army, nor a man of any great military experience, he
was regarded as a war hero, on account of his record as a young officer in the
US Navy. It was President Kennedy who led the United States into the disastrous
Bay of Pigs episode in Cuba, after the foolish attempt to conquer that country
with Cuban exiles. And yet, when Khruschev decided to set up Soviet-controlled
missile bases in Cuba, Kennedy understood immediately that such a threat to US
sovereignty, with missiles which could be armed with nuclear warheads in the
country’s back yard, could not be tolerated.
He immediately ordered a total
sea and air blockade of Cuba, and reconnaissance flights over the country – And he ordered the full mobilization of the US Armed Forces. Knowing that we could be on the verge of World War Three. (But Hussein Obama is not JFK).
When the very first rocket was
fired from Gaza at the civilian population of Israel, the head of Israel’s government
made a grave mistake. At that moment,
Israel should have come back with a powerful response – leaving Hamas, the
citizens of Gaza, and the world, in no doubt that Israel would not tolerate
such an assault on its sovereignty. An immediate, appropriate response, of the
appropriate strength, at the very beginning of events, would have gained the
understanding and support of the world.
The latest campaign in the South
was not just one more campaign against Hamas terrorism. It was – and is – a
campaign for the restoration of the State of Israel’s sovereignty. That evidence is plainly to be seen in the partial
embargo declared by the airlines of the world. Israel cannot, and must not, abandon
public relations efforts to explain the realities of the situation, in the face
of a negatively prejudiced world.
One need not be a public
relations expert to realize that there are several essential messages which
must be got across to the world – clearly, unmistakably and continually. These messages should be repeated over and
over again, however tiresome their repetition may become.
First: Israel’s bombardment is not directed at the civilian
population of Gaza. The opposite is true. We take all possible care not to harm
civilians. Hamas, on the other hand, deliberately launches its rockets and
missiles at civilian targets in Israel.
Second: no sovereign state in its right mind will allow its
civilian population to be continually bombarded with rockets and mortars, from
any geographical area on its borders. Any state in the world would react
violently in the face of such a situation. The right of self-defense renders
such reaction legitimate.
Third: It is Hamas, not Israel, who is responsible for damage to
civilians. Hamas makes sure of this by deliberately carrying out its bombardment of Israel from the most heavily
populated civilian centers, knowing full well that Israel’s answering fire must
be directed at the launch sources of the bombs and rockets, which Hamas has so
carefully located in the densest civilian areas.
Fourth: It is not
in Hamas’ interest to protect civilians from harm. On the contrary – Hamas wants as much damage
as possible done to civilians. This is a very powerful propaganda weapon in its
ongoing war with Israel.
These are very simple
messages. We understand them very well –
and yet, most of the world is unaware of them. It is not sufficient for us to
complain that the world reacts unfairly. We should be constantly hammering
these messages home to the whole world.
The Jerusalem Post - this week's poll:
Should Israel Send More IDF Troops Into Gaza?
Yes (Votes: 78.6%)
No (Votes: 21.4%)
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