Leftist blindness at fault

Shlomo Angel responds to Grossman's address at Rabin memorial

Shlomo Angel |Published: 11.07.06 , 23:14

Shalom David Grossman,

I would like to begin my response to your address at Yitzhak Rabin's memorial Saturday at the Rabin Square with a paraphrase of your closing emotional statement:

"Pause for a moment, take a look into the abyss. Think of how close we are to losing all that we have created here. Ask yourselves if this is not the time to return to our senses from this imaginary world of peace you have created, back to the terrible bloody reality to which we were led under false hope of peace and normalcy."

You asked "when was the last time a prime minister formulated or took a step that could open up a new horizon for Israelis, for a better future?" Unfortunately, it was just recently. Just a year ago "a new horizon was opened up" upon the disengagement from Gaza.

Indeed, a new horizon of evil opened up, a horizon of corruption and bereavement whose results we strongly feel. Prior to that, another "new horizon" was opened up at Camp David and in Taba; a horizon of dramatic compromise with our enemies in exchange for all of the West Bank and Jerusalem. Indeed, a blazing blood-red horizon fell on our anguished country and 1,500 people, mainly civilians, went up to heaven with it. Along the way, the horizon of the Mitchell Plan rose, then the Road Map and of course the infamous Oslo horizon.

You asked when we had lost the hope to live another, better life. My friends and I and the majority of this people lost its hope on realizing that it was being led like sheep to the slaughter by talented and influential people such as yourself, surrendering themselves to the enemy at will. I have lost all hope that a spirit of life, national honor and national rights for my people will come about as long as you and your ilk continue casting the blame for the lack of peace on us, letting go of a courageous grip while ignoring the increasing Islamic and Palestinian bloodshed.

No dispute over poor leadership

We have no dispute over the poor quality of Israel's leadership during these difficult times. Its "conduct is indeed deceptive and sweaty." It does indeed "just focus on tomorrow's headlines," and indeed, it is unable to "link Israelis to their identity."

However, the seeds of calamity were sown during those dark days when you and your ilk remained silent with self satisfaction. It was during the days when the Oslo Accords were deceptively being conceived; when Sharon and his ranch gang stole the rule of power with every conceivable trick; when you chose not to smell the stench rising from within the Kadima ranks because you chose to even bend morals and values in face of "peace."

And this is also the answer to your question, what drove the State of Israel to its resoluteness and cruelty towards the poor and the suffering. In your blindness, you naturally went back to using the clichés of the never ending conflict and the occupation, but to be honest, we learned how to be impervious to poverty from you last year.

We didn't hear your tormented voice in the face of the expulsion, humiliation and unemployment that befell the residents of Gush Katif for no reason. We didn't hear your concerned voice regarding the goose farmers whose source of livelihood was cut off without compensation in an arbitrary decision that put animals before human beings. But most importantly, we didn't see any real action on your part except for bemoaning the injustice of the occupation.

You decided in Yitzhak Rabin's name that Israeli society would not be able to exist for much longer in a situation of unresolved conflict. The State of Israel is the 20th century's greatest miracle (on this we agree), a miracle that succeeded in taking a bunch of smoking firebrands after the Holocaust and turning the country into a state that has become a leader in science and technology, with a high standards of material and spiritual life. This miracle occurred alongside a bloody war, in which every member of Israeli society partook. The people showed its might in the recent war as well, despite the resounding failures.

However, instead of concentrating on our commendable achievements during the past century, you and your blind ilk have decided on behalf of the people that it has lost its strength and therefore peace is necessary as all costs.

It was this peace that brought about war, weakness and bereavement. It is the peace of a small and tired minority that is dragging an entire country into an abyss.

"Behold land, for we hath squandered," you quoted the poet Shaul Tchernichovsky, when all you wanted to do was bemoan the seemingly unnecessary deaths inflicted on us because we didn't make peace. Tchernichovsky wrote his immortal poem in memory of the dead in the Arab rebellion riots, which he viewed as a terrible and necessary breeding ground for the revival of the Jewish people. He hoped that we would be worthy of their lofty sacrifice. The great poet had no idea that 70 years later a great author such as yourself would dare use his poem to accuse the offspring of the murdered, instead of the murderers.

Unfortunately, I am forced to end with a reference to your pyromaniac saying. "…the appointment of a habitual pyromaniac as director of the nation's firefighters."

You stood at Rabin Square and called out in your blindness to the leaders of the state to continue blocking their ears and eyes from this bloody reality and to continue pursuing peace at all costs.

I can only sum up by saying that you are calling upon them to extinguish the fires of hatred, hostility and the murderous acts perpetrated by our enemies with gallons of quality oil. The fires of "peace" lit recently will only increase if we continue following self inflicted blind people such as yourself.