Yom Kippur War
Thirty years after Israel's Arab enemies sought to annihilate the Jewish State by launching an attack on Yom Kippur, the war is widening again. And Jerusalem's decision to bomb a terrorist training camp in Syria in retaliation for Saturday's suicide bombing attack on a Haifa restaurant has all the usual suspects criticizing Israel.
The foreign minister of Jordan, Marwan Muasher, criticized what he described as Israeli "aggression" and a "dangerous Israeli escalation," according to the Jordanian news agency Petra. The foreign ministry of Egypt, which receives about $1.9 billion a year in American foreign aid, issued a statement condemning the "provocative and aggressive Israeli policies" and proclaiming its "solidarity with the Syrian people," the Agence France Presse reported. The secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, said the Israeli raid "amounts to state terrorism," the AFP said. The Arab League, recall, now includes a representative of the Iraqi governing council installed at the cost of billions of American dollars and hundreds of American lives.
The American State Department yesterday made the mistake of calling on Israel to exercise "restraint." More appropriate was President Bush's own statement Saturday after the terrorist attack on the restaurant in Haifa, in which at least 19 were killed."I condemn unequivocally the vicious act of terrorism committed today in Haifa, Israel," Mr. Bush said. "This murderous action, aimed at families gathered to enjoy a Sabbath lunch, killed and injured dozens of men, women, and children. This despicable attack underscores once again the responsibility of Palestinian authorities to fight terror, which remains the foremost obstacle to achieving the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security. The new Palestinian cabinet must dedicate itself to dismantling the infrastructure of terror and preventing the kind of murderous actions that we witnessed today."
The president's statement went on,"The American people join me in expressing condolences to Prime Minister Sharon and all the people of Israel, and in reiterating our common dedication to the cause of fighting terrorism."
Mr. Bush's response had the virtue of highlighting the difference between his approach and that of the leading Democratic presidential candidate, the former governor of Vermont, Howard Dean. "I deplore violence of any kind, especially violence perpetrated by terrorists against innocent civilians," said Dr. "Do Not Take Sides" Dean. "Despite these tragic events, the United States must continue to take the lead in seeking the resolution of this seemingly endless conflict. I urge President Bush to further engage in the process so that the voices of moderation that represent the majority of people on both sides of the issue prevail."
Dr. Dean's statement, unlike Mr. Bush's, failed to criticize the Palestinian leaders. His reference to "the voices of moderation that represent the majority of people on both sides of the issue" raises more questions than it answers. Does Dr. Dean consider Prime Minister Sharon to be a voice of moderation? What about the polls that show between 60% and 70% of Palestinian Arabs support suicide bombings? Given how Israel marginalizes its own extremists, what animates someone to compare them to the Palestinian terrorist organizations, which are tolerated, even encouraged, and funded, by the Palestinian, Arab, and Iranian leaderships?
As for General Clark, his most detailed comments on Syria came in an interview last week with talkingpointsmemo.com, when he suggested that it was less of a problem than Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. He also suggested that the Bush administration's hostility toward Syria was motivated by "more or less settling scores against the Soviet surrogates in the Cold War in the Middle East," a motivation he seemed to view dimly. Among the Democrats yesterday, it was Senator Lieberman who struck exactly the right note when, on Fox News Sunday, he described the Israeli strike as "Not unlike what we did after September 11 in attacking Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan."
Indeed, there are plenty of ties between Syria and Al Qaeda, starting with the fact that an American air force translator was indicted last month for spying for Syria on the American prison camp at Guantanamo Bay where the captured Al Qaeda terrorists are being held. An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said the camp struck in Syria is a place "where operatives of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad train, while enjoying the backing of Syria." The statement also said "Iran provides funding and direction" to the terrorist groups.
Jews around the world gather today to observe the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. Among the prayers said is one asking God for peace. If the Jews of the past generation were accustomed to peace, or if they lived in a friendlier neighborhood, the appeal for divine intervention probably wouldn't be so urgent. In the absence of the intervention of a supernatural power, the hope for peace rests — as it has for so long — with Israel's own army and the friends, such as America, of the Jewish State.
