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Rabbinic Insights

It's up to them—and us

San Diego Jewish Times, July 28, 2006


By Rabbi Wayne Dosick

The well-known, usually well-regarded syndicated columnist Thomas Friedman recently wrote, "I have to say that the violence unfolding between Israel and the Palestinians today is utterly without purpose. Israel has evacuated Gaza, and what does Hamas do? It doesn't put all its energy into building a nest for its young here — a decent state and society, with jobs. Instead, it launches hundreds of rockets into Israel.

"The Palestinians could have a state on the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem tomorrow, if they and the Arab League clearly recognized Israel, normalized relations, and renounced violence. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know Israel today. Palestinian politics seem determined to destroy Israel in its territory — even if it means destroying themselves in their own territory."

 Is Friedman right?

Surely, he is right about how the Palestinians are behaving. It was a year ago when we watched the Israeli army forcibly (though gently) remove Israeli citizens from their homes in Gaza — homes in the place where the government had sent them to settle. These were the homes in which they had lived for more than three decades, the fields that they had sown and harvested. They dug up the graves of their sons who had died defending the Land. They moved away and began to carve out new lives elsewhere, because the government told them that this was now best for the State.

The Palestinians got what they wanted — all of Gaza. But, as Friedman points out, they did not build schools; they did not lay sewer lines; they did not bring toilets, or construct roads. They did not create jobs and build up an economy. They did not teach their children even one song of peace — because they have no songs of peace.

Instead, they attack Israel by sending rockets, and by kidnapping (read: take as prisoners of war) Israeli soldiers.

These are not the actions of a government or a people that wants to improve its own lot, that wants to build up its people and its land, that wants normalization, yet less peace, with its neighbor.

But is Friedman right when he claims that there would be peace tomorrow, upon the Arab recognition of Israel, and the normalization of relations with Israel, and the renouncement of violence?

That, of course, is the theory. And that is the hope. And that has been the working plan of the Israeli government since Rabin, since Oslo.

But, does it have any standing in current reality?

It could, if Israel were dealing with rational men and women of good-will. But, we just do not know. We just do not know who is a trustworthy partner for peace.

Even if the old, elected Palestinian government were still in charge, it clearly could not control its streets. The diplomats can make any deal they want. If they cannot enforce that deal in their own country — if their citizens will act on their own, and continue violent acts of terrorism — then any deal is, as they say, "not worth the paper on which it is written."

And currently, Israel is not even dealing with that government. That government was defeated in open elections, replaced by Hamas, a political entity dedicated to violence, terrorism, and the destruction of the State of Israel. This is now the duly elected government, chosen by the Palestinians themselves.

 So, with whom does Israel negotiate? With whom does Israel partner for peace?

 The Hamas position is clear. It does not want a "two-state solution." It wants a "one-state solution." Hamas calls for the utter destruction of Israel, and the death (or, kindly) the exile of her people.

 The Palestinians say that they want Israel to return to the "pre-1967 borders." What irony! Before 1967 — that is between 1948 and June, 1967 — Israel was in the "pre-1967 borders." Was that acceptable to the Arab world? Of course not. That is why the Arabs went to war against Israel in 1967 — not to let her retain those "pre-1967 borders," but to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth.

So, if in the greatest peace gestures ever made — and tell me: when in the history of the world has the victor had to return land to the vanquished in order to have peace? — Israel were to graciously return all the land conquered (annexed and occupied) in 1967, and return to the "pre-1967 borders" would the Arab world be satisfied?

On that question lies Israel's future, Israel's very survival. For, if the Palestinians were ever to agree to that deal — and it surely does not look as if that is going to happen anytime soon — would it just be a ruse to temporarily placate Israel and the world, while, all the while, planning Israel's ultimate destruction?

This is the continuing debate between Israel's hawks and doves, the continuing debate for those who love Israel, wherever we live. It is the question on which Israel's elections are decided, and it is the question that will determine whether we continue to observe Tisha B'Av as a remembrance of a moment in long-ago history or — God forbid! — as a response to events in our day.

At the moment, there is no question to be answered, because, right now, it's up to them — it's up to the Palestinians and the Arab world to decide if, as Friedman suggests, they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and get a state.

Yet, if sometime in the near or distant future, the Palestinians make that kind of conciliatory gesture, then it will be up to us — to believe them and risk, or to continue to doubt, and continue to protect.

Rabbi Daniel Gordis reports from Jerusalem that Israeli teenagers are not very optimistic. During an interview with a group of 15- and 16-year-olds on how they see the future, one young man said, "I am afraid that the future will be just like this." None of his young friends contradicted him.

So, if this young man is typical, then a new generation of young Jews born in the freedom of the Jewish State reborn after almost 2,000 years — lives in despair that his future in his land will be bright.

Somehow, he has to be redirected and — dare we say — inspired, by the age-old certainty — Hatikvah. There is hope; there is always hope. And, "If you will it, if you really, really want it, it is no dream."

Let that young man look right in his own city. Jerusalem is now undertaking a $90 million renovation of the center city, as a pedestrian mall, a world-class tourist destination. I, myself, will miss the little old shops and restaurants that I love so much. But, Hatikvah. The hope of the future, the certainty for the future, is in that renovation.

God willing, Israeli determination willing, Tisha B'Av will remain a national remembrance of events long past. The future is rooted in hope. The future calls out for peace.

 Let all men and women of good will envision that peace. Soon — please God, soon — let the children of Isaac and the children of Ishmael, the children of Jacob and the children of Eau, touch hands in peace. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

Rabbi Wayne Dosick, Ph.D., the spiritual guide of the Elijah Minyan, an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego and the Director of the 17: Spiritually Healing Children's Emotional Wounds. He is the award-winning author of six critically acclaimed books, including Golden Rules; Living Judaism; and Soul Judaism: Dancing with God into a New Era.