Historical Moments

by: Paula R. Stern
June, 2008

Every few years, Israeli leaders tell us we are on the edge of a great historical moment and if we don’t seize this opportunity, all manner of terrible things will happen. More often than not, what they mean is that their political lives are in jeopardy and to save themselves, they are about to do something dramatic, something drastic, and often, in the long run, something extremely dangerous for our future here.

Sixty years into our re-existence here in the Middle East, it astounds me that we are so strong, and so weak. So permanent, and yet so temporary. Rather than do what we must, we do what we can to hold the line. Hamas and Hizbollah will never be destroyed, never stopped because the government lacks the conviction. Their greatest power, it seems is in avoiding prosecution and declaring historical moments.

Our sixtieth anniversary is indeed a moment to celebrate and remember, made more special by all that we have accomplished despite endless wars and threats from our enemies. Sixty years and the world has come to accept the amazing innovations we regularly pour out of this small country. There are probably very few countries in the world which don’t have Israeli inventions and technologies featured prominently in their daily lives. Some are too stubborn to admit it.

Far be it from me to tell the Indonesia police force that a piece of their software was developed right here, and before we remembered to switch it, there was a map of Tel Aviv in the user manual. No, let’s not tell the Saudis about all the “Made in Israel” labels that are removed from their products and never should the proud and mighty Iranians “discover” the source of some of their defense-related products.

Telecommunications equipment created, designed, and even manufactured here in Israel fills Africa, Asia, Europe, and even the Arab countries. Our medical research is literally unparalleled in the world, with incredible breakthroughs on the horizon and huge international corporations have firmly invested and hired tens of thousands of Israelis because they recognize the value of our educational system, our commitment to innovation, and the ingrained Israeli persona that requires us to adapt, to survive, to overcome.

But somehow, that incredible Israeli ingenuity falls short whenever it is elected to office. Somehow brave and innovative generals become intimidated with the task of truly defending the country and so we tread water, push Hizbollah back from the brink only to watch it rise and strengthen itself again. Always, the operations into Gaza are limited. We cripple ourselves by announcing, even as we go in, that we will soon go out, that our goals are short-range. In most societies, this restraint would be praised by others, but in our Middle East, restraint is seen as weakness, delay is seen as cowardice.

With his approval rating hitting yet another all-time low and almost across-the-board calls for him to resign, Olmert is desperate to bring the Syrians, Hamas, Abbas, anyone to the table. Whatever it takes, whatever he has to give, whatever impossible and dangerous compromises he must make, Olmert will offer. The reality is that the only history happening here is one that our prime minister is in trouble and wants to fix his corrupt legacy.

Never mind that the Palestinians shoot rockets at Sderot, that the family of Gilad Schalit wonders if it will ever see their son again. Olmert can’t be bothered that Hizbullah is yet again playing with the emotions of the families of our kidnapped soldiers and proudly announcing the apparent upcoming release of the murderer Samir Kuntar. All that matters to Olmert is his desperate bid to save his pathetic government, and so he and his ministers are heralding another historical moment.

Israel will stop falling for these tactics of our leaders only when we accept some basic truths about our reality here. Peace will not happen because our side withdraws, bows, relinquishes, releases, and appeases. And no, peace won’t come because Olmert wants to save his sorry legacy.

Of all the shifting tides and changing landscapes, the one truth that has never changed here is that peace will come only when the Palestinians want it more than they want to see Jerusalem running with our blood. Peace will come when Hizbollah recognizes and respects Lebanon’s recognized northern border and stops attempting to kidnap our soldiers, traumatize and terrorize our northern residents, and torture Israelis families who want nothing more than to see their sons and husband come home. Peace will come when the Syrians understand that we will negotiate from a position of strength and not agree to withdraw for anything but the most permanent and real agreements.

But most of all, peace will come within our country when the left and right agree that our political leaders should only be elected because what they care about most is the country and not their pathetic legacies. When Olmert’s historical moments are exposed for what they really are, his government will finally fall and Israel will have the strength to elect real leaders. Let us hope that those leaders will have the strength and wisdom to either defeat our enemies or turn them into real peace partners.