By Shelley Glaser
I came across an interesting fact the other day about Israel. If you are an only son you are exempt from serving in a combat unit of the IDF, unless your parents give you written permission to do so. The same goes for all bereaved families who have lost a loved one during combat. And this got me thinking about what an incredibly sensitive country Israel really is. Not just to its sons, or to the residents of Gaza who were given warnings during the previous war, before Israel bombarded them with massive force (which makes one wonder if the forces presently bombing Syria are also dropping leaflets to prevent the unnecessary deaths of women and children and whether they too will be accused of war crimes).
Israel is not only sensitive to its sons or its citizens but is illustrative of a true democracy at work. Nowadays democracy has become a relative term. Ask Mr Obama. He was able to confidently ignore the Human Rights abuses of Iran and other dictatorships with whom he has entered beneficial relationships, precisely because democracy is well, relative. Who after all, he would ask , are we to question the inner workings of other nations? Who are we to say that democracy is superior to ‘benign’ dictatorships? And of course the real humdinger is as always contained within the confines of political correctness. No-one wishes to be politically incorrect.
As a result democracy is a term that has largely been left out of our present political vocabulary and discourse . It is suggested that it be returned forthwith otherwise it may make the present war on terror rather confusing. Why would anyone want to bomb the hell out of Syria then? Why are the Syrian refugees no longer being considered to be friends? And why did the American Congress recently vote against a large number of refugees of Moslem origin being allowed to enter its borders? Its not because they are mainly women and children. Or because they’re irrational. It’s because of a religious fundamentalism which in certain circles cannot be identified or even mentioned.
And if people want to support the British Labour Party I’m all for it. Even if, according to one headline Corbyn isn’t anti-war he is simply anti-West.
Being anti-West is perhaps the single most important factor for the success of ISIS and other terrorist organisations. Who, after all can’t relate to hating the West’s obsession with itself, its materialism and well its colonialism which did turn Africa into a basket case. Note to the uninformed: Israel is not a colonial entity. After all the Russian and Polish emigrants escaping the pogroms of Europe had no intention of coloinising Israel for the benefit of their motherlands.
But Corbyn is not only anti-West or anti-War he is pro- terror (as seen in his comments regarding what a shame it was that Osama Bin Laden was murdered. Negotiation with terror leaders is certainly not a no no for Corbyn ). He is also Pro- Palestinian and we all know where ISIS is infilterating. Its not just Europe and other western democratic nations. Israel as a result may for once be allowed to deal decisively with the terror its facing, without all the criticsm, precisely because it is what it is: terror. Terror is by its very nature undemocratic, it doesn’t matter if you’re a female, male or a Norwegian terrorist.
Terrorists aren’t very picky it seems. They do not ask before plunging a knife in your back if you’re pro-Palestinian, anti-West or whether you boycott Israeli goods. It is of no consequence to them. Unless you are Jewish of course. Then they’ll stab you in Paris or even in Jerusalem, Gush Etzion or Tel Aviv.
So let us all stop the pretense and get back to our Democratic roots, and once again be proud of being Jewish, democratic and pro-Israel.
