Hamas could make reality much less pleasant
צילום: רויטרס
Fragile situation
Things are looking good for Israel. But we've seen that before
A story is told about the legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who responded to a claim that his successor, Clement Atlee, was a very modest man.
"He has much to be modest about," said Churchill.
As the Jewish year 5766 begins, we would be wise to remember Churchill, Atlee and modesty. Politicians, public figures, certainly journalists and government ministers are all singing the praises of the State of Israel, the state of the economy and security.
To paraphrase the biblical Song of Songs: Song of Songs for Sharon. Let him kiss me with his mouth.
We've seen this movie before: During the mid-1990s, Israel's economy soared to new heights, the world opened its previously locked doors, tourism flourished, the Arab boycott mostly collapsed – everything was great. Perhaps too good.
Arafat was right
At the time, late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said, "I opened up the doors of the world for you." He may have been a repulsive weasel, but he was right.
The first agreements with the PLO became our silver platter. The world smiled down on us as never before. A cloud of euphoria floated over Israel. We returned to the family of nations.
Even if all this is true, our politicians and journalists would be wise to take a small breath of humility. Who knows better than they how quickly the wheel can turn.
All it would take, God forbid, is one terror attack, 30 dead, and we would be right back where we started.
That is to say: Everything is very fragile. Even if Sharon, Netanyahu, Olmert and the rest were worthy of the highest praise for their accomplishments, the keys to the future do not rest solely with them.
One small directive from Damascus, one Hamas attack, and we go straight from festival to catastrophe. To paraphrase the late President Ezer Weizmann: The mood swings in Israeli public opinion can drive a person "crazy."
Can't hide their love
There is no way to hide it: The world loves us and is extending a hand to us, as it did during the 1990s, because of the disengagement program.
The world, it turns out, wants this to continue. Residents of the West Bank will pay for every handshake from Tony Blair. Sharon himself wants not only to enter the history books, but to write and publish them here and now.
They key to the new year, however, remains in the hands of Khaled Mashaal of Hamas and Ariel Sharon and the government.
Let's hope each of them makes the proper, wise decisions.
