What is even more painful is the Supreme Court’s biased approach. If the rule of law is of utmost priority, how is it that the court turns a blind eye toward thousands of illegal homes built by Arabs in Jerusalem, the Negev and the Galilee? Orders to dismantle these homes have been issued yet never acted upon – whereas the dismantling of nine Jewish homes could not suffer even a short delay. Am I wrong in sensing a sickening trend of self-hatred, a complete disengagement from the roots of the Jewish spirit and Zionism? How can Jewish leaders take a path that constantly creates a dangerous rift within the People of Israel?
One of the many byproducts of this loss of Jewish national pride and self-respect is the failure of our government to deal seriously with the security of our people and its land. The basic responsibility of a government is to protect and defend the people from its enemies. In the months since the crime of “disengagement” – in which Jews were driven from their homes and Jewish land yielded to our enemies – rocket attacks have been a daily occurrence in our southern towns. Just last weekend a seven-month-old baby was severely injured together with her parents.
In all these months no effective steps have been taken to stop these murderous attacks. How can any leadership accept a situation where Jewish citizens need to constantly run for cover into shelters?
Again I ask, Is there no feeling of national pride and sensitivity? We warned our government that pulling out of Gaza would bring even more rocket attacks closer to Ashkelon and Tel Aviv. The response was that if that happens our army would return to the area and destroy the source of the attacks. Needless to say, nothing like that has happened. The attacks are continuing more intensely. A government that does not have the courage and determination to use its armed forces against its enemies, but instead turns them viciously against its most loyal citizens, is a government that must be removed.
Sunday night a mass demonstration took place in Jerusalem with the participation of more than a hundred thousand people. This was the first time since the degradation we experienced at the disengagement from Gush Katif that we could again absorb the spiritual elevation of multitudes of faithful Jews coming together to strengthen one another at a time of crisis. We all came to express our outrage at the merciless attacks on Jews who were demonstrating in favor of the Zionist ideal and against our government needlessly destroying Jewish homes in our country.
All the speakers (among whom were the Knesset members injured at Amona, who appeared with heads bandaged and arms in slings) at the rally called for the establishment of a committee of inquiry to investigate the police violence. The horrible pictures you all have seen by now were reminiscent of the darkest periods of Jewish life in exile. It is unthinkable that such scenes should take place in the Land of Israel – and be perpetuated by a Jewish government against its own people.
The general impression left by the speakers was not of hatred but of deep anguish and humiliation brought upon us by our own brothers who are blind to the reality of Jewish destiny. The most powerful call for the future was a call for unity. We feel a crucial need for the unity of loyal and faithful Jews. Responsible political leaders and rabbis must arouse the deepest spiritual powers within the Jewish soul. These powers are inherent only in Eretz Yisrael.
