Despite
the Rosh Hashana War, despite Arafat's villainy, despite the Arabs' implacable
hatred of Jews and of Israel, the suicidal "peaceprocess"
goes on. What is more, both Arik Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu continue
to prattle about "peaceful coexistence" between Jews and Arabs, oblivious
of the fact that such "politically correct" nonsense (if not mendacity)
disarms the Jews and increases Arab contempt for Israel and its political
leaders.
Now,
in view of the fact that there are enough Knesset votes to topple the Barak
Government, why hasn't this been done, and under Sharon's leadership? Is
it because he knows that the Likud, should it win the ensuing national
elections, has no alternative to the Oslo peace process?Is
Sharon reluctant to assume the responsibility of becoming Israel's next
prime minister because he hasn't the foggiest notion of how to undo that
covenant of death?
Of
course, it may appear unpatriotic of Sharon to refrain from joining Barak
in some sort of national unity government. But Barak's continuance in office
constitutes a clear and present danger to the State of Israel. Israel's
most highly decorated soldier is, to put it mildly, its most inept and
inflated prime minister.And he gives
every indication that he will continue to yield more and more of Israel-s
spiritual and strategic assets to Arafat, who is far more cunning not only
of Barak, but any foreseeable Israeli leader.
Israeli
politicians should accept the fact that they are no match for
Arafat,
especially when he has the Clinton Administration on his side. For this
reason alone they must terminate the Oslo covenant of death. They are simply
incapable of dealing with a creature who personifies Evil. So, what must
be done?
First,
Barak must be removed from office as soon as possible.Second,
his successor must disarm and eliminate the PLO (euphemistically known
as the Palestinian Authority). Obviously this will be a bloody undertaking,
but the sooner it is accomplished the less the bloodshed. Indeed, it must
be accomplished within a few days and without media coverage. Once Judea,
Samaria, and Gaza are pacified, the Government should take steps to move
some of its ministries into eastern Jerusalem, Ramallah, Shechem, the Galillee,
and other Arab populated areas.Such
moves will convince Arabs that Jews intend to remain in these areas PERMANENTLY.
Fourth,
as I proposed to Mr. Netanyahu before he went to the Wye Plantation Summit,
and as proposed in my book JEWISH STATESMANSHIP, the Government should
pass a Homestead Act such as that enacted by the Congress of the United
State in 1862. Small plots of land in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza should be
sold at low prices to Jews both in Israel and abroad with the proviso that
they settle on the land, say for a period of six years. This would diminish
the dangerous population density of Israel's large cities and, at the same
time, encourage Jewish immigration to Israel. Model cities should be built,
facilitated by foreign investment on terms favorable to investors. At the
same time, the Government should not only enfranchise Israelis living abroad,
but formulate an economic policy that would encourage tens of thousands
of these Israelis to return to their homeland.
Had
such policies been implemented shortly after the Six Day War, many Arabs,
without any prompting by the Government, would have emigrated to Jordan
and the Persian Gulf states.Having
formed no distinct culture or solid infrastructure in Judea and Samaria,
their attachment to the land is superficial - avowals to the contrary notwithstanding.
Indeed, while Jordan ruled the area from 1949 to 1967, about 400,000 Arabs
moved from Judea and Samaria to the eastern side of the Jordan River. During
and immediately after the 1967 war, 200,000 more Arabs - roughly one of
every five inhabitants - moved to the East Bank. The move involves no great
inconvenience. The distance from Shechem to Amman is only 46 miles. Which
means that the Arabs of Judea and Samaria can move to Jordan as readily
as they can drive to and work in Israel. If Israel's Government had also
moved some of its ministries to Judea and Samaria the idea of a Palestinian
state would have died before it was born.
It
will be asked: Does Israel have the statesman for so grandiose a program?
I answer: Nothing less is required for Israel's salvation, especially when
one considers the prolific birthrate of the Arab population west of the
Jordan.
But
let me offer a simple preliminary step. Let Sharon, backed by Sharansky,
demand that Arab Knesset members such as Azmi Bashira, Abd-Al Malek Dahamshe,
and others of their ilk be indicted for sedition.Let
it be known that that Jews will now go on the offensive against their sworn
enemies. Removing seditious Arabs from the Knesset would have a tremendous
positive impact on the Jewish people. It would restore a good measure of
their national pride, the one thing lacking and so desperately needed in
this country.