[Marxism] Ultra-ultra Zionist attacks Ultra-Zionists

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

THE JERUSALEM POST, Aug. 12, 2006
To the PM, from a mother
ESTHER WACHSMAN

On Tuesday the 7th of Av I took my youngest of seven sons to the army 
induction center. Because we are a bereaved family I was obligated to sign 
a waiver so he could serve in a combat unit. My hand shook as I placed my 
signature on that permission slip.

But my son was adamant: "I must fight for my country, for its very existence."

I was proud - and, yes, anxious.

But I became all the more troubled when, the very next day, on the eve of 
the most tragic date on the Jewish calendar, the 9th of Av, you, Mr. Prime 
Minister, gave an interview to the foreign press. And in response to a 
question, you connected the war in Lebanon to your West Bank convergence 
plan, suggesting that success in Lebanon would facilitate your plans to 
uproot settlements in Judea and Samaria, as you did in the Gaza Strip.

BY NOW you should have understood - if you'd only removed your blindfold - 
what disengagement from Gaza has gotten us. It's beyond me to understand 
how around the time of Tisha Be'av, and in the midst of yet another war for 
Jewish existence instigated by a modern-day Persian Haman, you could make 
so obscene a statement.

You had total consensus for the war in Lebanon, and for wiping out 
Hizbullah. And you undermined it by telling every soldier/settler, every 
fighter with a nationalist ideology, that he would be risking his life for 
an outcome that might also contribute to the destruction of thousands of 
Jewish homes. You pointlessly diverted the zeal and motivation of these 
wonderful soldiers, causing them to become conflicted just as they were 
poised to enter the battlefield.

It is precisely this type of senseless hatred that caused the destruction 
of our Temples and precipitated the exile. And yet, on the very eve of the 
anniversary of that destruction, you chose to reopen a rift in our people, 
to tear open wounds, to distract our committed sons and daughters from 
their undying loyalty to this great nation.

Why, Mr. Prime Minister, why?

I LOST my third son, Nachshon, may his memory be for a blessing, to 
Iranian-supported Hamas terrorists while he was wearing the uniform of the IDF.

Hizbullah in Lebanon is, we all understand, the vanguard of Iranian terror 
in the region, and it collaborates with Hamas here. Hamas kidnapped soldier 
Gilad Shalit, and Hizbullah set off the current hostilities by kidnapping 
Ehud Goldwasser and Udi Regev.

Now, Mr. Prime Minister, I may not be politically, diplomatically or 
militarily savvy. But as a plain citizen, let me share my questions and 
doubts and about the direction Israel has lately been taking.

Why were the captors of Gilad Shalit not pursued within minutes of his 
kidnapping? Similarly, why was Hizbullah given enough time to smuggle 
Goldwasser and Regev away?

For six years we allowed Hizbullah to prepare for this war. Will someone 
tell me why?

Why can't the most powerful army in the Middle East destroy the 
infrastructure that is sending rockets and missiles out of Lebanon to kill 
Israelis in the north?

It seems wrong to me that called-up reservists, in their thousands, should 
be wandering around in the north waiting to go into battle with little 
protection or guidance. How else to explain the deaths of so many soldiers 
last week from a single rocket?

In my view, journalists should not be allowed a blank check to cover, 
photograph and film war operations. This gives the enemy tactical 
information that could help them with their targeting.

Don't air your dirty laundry in public. If there are disagreements between 
the cabinet and the IDF - quite frankly, I have no desire to know them.

ISRAELI hasbara remains poor. We need to make more use of effective 
spokespeople such as Binyamin Netanyahu. We are blessed with many 
intelligent and eloquent speakers - there is no excuse for not getting our 
message out.

The generals keep talking about the "long arm" of the IDF. Where is it? Why 
were the border towns and cities in the North left unprotected and 
unprepared for Hizbullah's onslaught?

Why has there been no systematic relocation of women and children out of 
the line of fire? It distresses me to see the sight of refugees within the 
land of Israel, which was created to be a sanctuary for Jewish refugees 
everywhere.

On the military front it boggles the mind, it demoralizes us and lessens 
our faith in our leaders and in the armed forces to learn about what seems 
like a whole series of botched efforts, "mistakes," and unrealized 
opportunities.

MR. PRIME Minister, I grew up revering and loving the IDF. I have sent all 
my sons to serve in our army. Yet as I send forth my youngest - may God 
protect him and all the soldiers of Israel - my feelings and those of 
countless others are very conflicted.

I have known you for many years, Mr. Prime Minister. We have shared podiums 
in Israel and many more abroad. Yet to be frank, I could not vote for you.

And yet I once did vote for you, when you were mayor of Jerusalem. Then I 
found you caring, energetic, intelligent, idealistic and strong-willed - 
you exhibited true leadership qualities. Where has that Ehud Olmert gone? 
All you do now is react.

Every Shabbat we pray that God will grant His guidance, strength and good 
counsel to our leaders.

Ehud Olmert: You are God's messenger. May He grant you wisdom, vision, 
strength and the leadership necessary to bring Israel salvation.


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