It wasn't love that won
Settlers capitulated because of government muscle, not civil war fears
The battle at Kfar Maimon
was orchestrated to cinematic precision reminiscent of Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa.
The many television cameras provided viewers at home with a bird’s eye view of the armies, each with its flags and uniforms, as well as close-up shots of commanders on the ground, sweaty and tense, in effect showing the entire breadth of the battlefield.
The last scene, where the Orange army of pullout objectors marched toward the gate of its besieged camp was superb cinema, because for long moments everyone expected a violent outburst, where masses of people smash against each other.
But then, a surprising plot twist occurred: Instead of clashing, the enemies shook hands and swore friendship to each other. A sigh of relief was promptly emitted from the viewers’ gaping mouths, and it was that sigh which was etched into memory.
Indeed, the following day commentators were asked to rule who won the battle, with almost all of them replying that “the nation of Israel won,” or that we “withstood the test,” because “both sides showed restraint: police officers and soldiers restrained themselves while protesters kept to the bounds of legitimate protest.”
Below the surface of these words, trickled the argument that our historic memory reaches all the way back to the “struggles between brothers” in the Second Temple era and that both camps, that comprising defenders of the law and the one comprising lovers of the land, are equally righteous and both yielded equally.
A lie was born
Thus, thanks to television cameras that refine the moments of climax and commentators whose words resonate with the public’s wishes, a lie that may entrench itself in the minds of many was born.
The lie is that “Orange” leaders were deterred by a civil war they never wanted to begin with. The lie is that they had another possibility except for surrender. The lie is that “love won.”
It is worthwhile recalling what they said before they were defeated,in order to realize they never intended to hug law enforcement agents. They declared, time and again, that they will move masses to Gush Katif and nothing would stand in their way.
This meant blood was about to be spilled.
Kingdom’s power won
And the truth is that they were not deterred by the prospect of a bloody clash, but rather, because they realized they have been defeated. Had they not walked right into the trap and found themselves surrounded by the fences of Kfar Maimon, had they not been surrounded by 20,000 troops, had they not discovered the government is not bending and the army is not disintegrating in the face of their preaching, they would have advanced to the Kissufim roadblock and forcefully pushed away those attempting to stop them.
Think about the following scenario: The police and army miscalculate and do not dispatch huge forces to the right place at the right time. The rebels overcome the forces with their numbers and speed of advancement. Police officers and soldiers are trying to block them.
Can there be any doubt regarding what would have materialized?
So, forget that spectacular scene aired on television. It only revealed the forced gesture but not its motives. Forget the words of flattery put forth by commentators and do not believe what the heart so much wants to believe.
It wasn’t love that won, but rather, the kingdom’s power.
At this stage of the battle for Israeli democracy it was democracy that overcame autocracy, by resorting to muscle. At this stage.
