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Bob Westbrook is a Titusville, Florida based professional
photographer, writer, and consultant. He writes commentaries
from a Christian Zionist perspective, endeavoring to encourage Christian support for Israel. He is the Bible Prophecy moderator for the website and the author of .
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By Bob Westbrook
September 11, 2001
Enough is enough. Israel must act decisively to put an end to the incessant acts of violence against her citizens. Though most of the world is unapologetically pursuing a course of blaming Israel for the conflict, the truth is very different. If the nations are not going to be willing, for whatever reason, to acknowledge the true cause of the conflict, then Israel needs to stop caring what the world thinks. Israel must face the stark realities of the situation. Arab hatred is not going to subside, a hatred invariable since the days when the Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini began to incite the Arabs against the Jews.
Millions of words have been written analyzing the Arab/Israeli conflict, but an understanding of the cause is surprisingly simple. Looking back to the early decades of the 20th century, as Jews began to move in large numbers to the Holy Land, the Arab residents chose to act with animosity and violence against those Jews. Many efforts were made by the Jews over a long period of time in an attempt to foster peaceful coexistence and cooperation, but the Arabs have wanted none of it.
The ill-conceived Oslo "peace process" was based on the inaccurate expectation that perhaps the Arabs really were interested in peace. But the events of the last year have exposed the underlying hatred of the Palestinians, so that even most left-wing Israelis have reluctantly conceded that a different approach is needed.
So, at the risk of oversimplification, this is the situation: Most Israelis want to live in peace, but most Palestinians have an ingrained, intense, cultivated hatred of Jews and will never, ever accept their presence in the Holy Land.
Why have so many Israelis been so reluctant to accept this fact? Perhaps it is because they wanted to believe the best about their neighbors, to believe after a period of time, good will and cooperation would win out. Unfortunately, the rose-colored glasses have been smashed beyond repair. On second thought, it's not unfortunate, but fortunate that they've been smashed. Solutions based on illusions lead only to disappointment.
If no diplomatic or political solution is possible, what is left? Is the perpetuation of the current unacceptable situation something with which Israel should just learn to live? No. Neither are the crazily impractical separation schemes any kind of realistic answer. Though superficially they might seem attractive to a populace weary of terror, they simply will not work. Worse, they give Arafat what he did not receive through negotiations. So what is the answer?
Since I am neither Jewish nor an Israeli, perhaps I have more latitude to propose what many will consider unthinkable. Based on the harsh reality that has been imposed on her, it is time for Israel to think about the unthinkable: immediate, unilateral annexation of the West Bank and Gaza, and expulsion from Yesha and Israel of any and all persons who are not willing to peacefully coexist with Jews in a Jewish state. As unpleasant as it is, this is the only realistic solution. Indeed, whether sooner or later, this solution is inevitable.
Israel would request each Arab resident to sign an affirmation of Israeli's right to exist, unconditionally renouncing forever any kind of hostile, violent actions against Jews. Anyone unwilling to sign this document would be making the choice to forfeit any right to live in greater Israel, and would be immediately and irreversibly expelled to their Arab country of choice. This solution is simple, effective, and just. They will be given an unambiguous choice: either you agree to live in peace, or you don't live in our land. It will be no surprise when very few Arabs agree to sign such a renunciation of hatred and declaration of intention to peacefully coexist in Israel's land. So be it.
Will this evoke raucously furious accusations of brutality, racism, and ethnic cleansing from the rest of the world? Certainly. They are unwilling to admit that the underlying cause of the problem is the intractable Arab hatred of Jews. So let them protest and condemn Israel all they wish. They are not the ones who have to weep at frequent funerals of friends and neighbors.
Some will label this as a policy of hatred. In fact, it is just the opposite -- it is the expulsion of hatred. Only those who have renounced hatred and violence can live in peace. To expel those who refuse to abandon their hatred is not a policy of hatred. It is a policy of peace; indeed, it is the only solution that projects any possibility of peace.
The objective of this policy is not expulsion, but genuine peace. Nearly all Israelis would welcome the prospect that their Arab neighbors would suddenly embrace peaceful coexistence. However, we all know this will not happen, which in itself is further proof that this policy is the only one that really makes sense. Conditional expulsion will prove to be a necessity.
This can be, and should be, a policy devoid of malice. It should be enacted in the most peaceful manner possible, dependent, of course on the reaction of the Palestinians. But if they choose to put up one last fight, that will be their choice.
Is this a violation of democracy? Perhaps. But a greater principle overrides concerns for violation of democracy: the principle of the national and personal security of Israel's citizens. Even democratic nations such as the United States have taken undemocratic measures to protect their national security during times of war. Even democratic nations do not permit treasonous persons to persist in treacherous acts against the nation and its citizens.
After centuries of being vulnerable to attacks while dispersed among the nations, the Jewish people finally have a refuge in their own homeland. But this refuge has proven to be no refuge at all. It's time for Israel to do whatever needs to be done to make their land a true refuge for the Jews, regardless of what the rest of the world thinks. The only way to do this is to expel those who are a threat.
The Jewish prophets of the Bible foretold that in conjunction with their return to the land in the end times, the Jews would "dispossess" other peoples. Interestingly, God does not speak with disfavor against this, but approvingly. In His viewpoint, the authentic tenants He designated for the land are claiming their rightful possession.
Yes, the God of Israel is still acting on their behalf. "Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalms 121:4 NIV) It's a good thing He is remaining vigilant, because Israel is going to need His help. Another sad reality that they will be forced to accept is Israel will be increasingly isolated and ostracized by the rest of the world. They will inevitably stand alone, with only their God standing with them to uphold their cause. The sooner they acknowledge and accept this, the better. Why? Because, as the Jewish prophets proclaimed, God will not forsake them. He will come to their aid when they call upon Him, as everyone else abandons them.
I am well aware of the initial negative reaction that these proposals will elicit from most "moderate" Israelis. But proposed they must be, because they are inevitable. The holy prophets who outlined the return of the Jewish people to their land also outlined the circumstances that would surround that return. Both the defeat and expulsion of those who persist in their ancient hostility against Israel, and the increasing isolation of Israel were predicted by the prophets. The sooner Israel starts listening and acting accordingly, the better.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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