In October 2006, I wrote what Lili Galili essentially admitted to in her article in the 19 July 2007 edition of Haaretz – that the State is collapsing around us. But that collapse will not merely be caused by the sudden fall of the rotting timbers of a decaying civil infrastructure, as I implied last year; it will be helped along by our “good” neighbors to the north, the Syrians, and their new allies, the Iranians.
Although I may sense the fall of the State coming in the near future, I’m no different than most Israelis in how I feel about this country and the Jewish resettlement of our ancestral homeland. I look around me at all that this people and country have accomplished in a mere sixty years (often in spite of the State apparatus) and feel only pride and an immense sense of hope that far better days lie ahead for the entire People of Israel - that all of our tribes will be reunited from the far flung corners of the globe and we shall see a glorious future, if not in my lifetime, then certainly my children’s. The future of this nation is set down in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter Sixty. The headlines will eventually catch up with the words of the prophet.
But to return to the events at hand, the Syrian régime does not sit easily on its seat of power. In fact, it is shakier than an old man with Parkinson’s disease. The “Baathist” party is really the tool of power of the Alawites, a tiny minority clan ruling over a whole series of minority clans and ethnic groupings, none of whom can maintain control by themselves. In spite of the “republican” structure of the government, Bashir Assad, the president, is the son of the previous president, Hafiz Assad, and is really the second monarch in the Assad line of “kings” in Syria.
When good old “Uncle Saddam”, may his memory be erased from under the heavens, realized that his weapons of mass destruction would be useless against the almost inevitable American attack that appeared to be coming, he ordered his weapons moved to Syria, where they were stored in the Beka’a in Lebanon, guarded by Syrian soldiers.. I learned this from two sources, Debkafiles and at a lecture by author John Loftus in Jerusalem in early 2004.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Franco,
You make very intelligent remarks concerning Hamas, and you are right in what you say in how you characterize them. They are dedicated to the destruction of the Zionist state. But you must also bear in mind that in the mind of the average Arab stuck under the "Palestinian Authority," Hamas is honest and the PLO is not. And this perception is a correct one. The PLO spent its years in power making criminal deals with Israeli politicians that usually involved stealing the money of the average Arab under its control. The boycott of Hamas by Israeli elites and (sort of) by the United States has kept the bastards honest. Its military attack on Israel last year was an attempt to break out of this mold.
What is hard to swallow for outsiders like you is that the Israeli politicians IN CHARGE (like Peres) are also dedicated to the destruction of the Zionist state.
Now I know all about how the state president is supposed to be a ceremonial position. That is the intent of the law. But the intent of the man occupying the president's mansion in Israel is to be foreign minister behind the scenes - and everybody understands that this is what he is.
2 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Dov Weisglas defended the expulsion of Jews from Gaza two years ago on Meet the Press Sunday.
According to Weisglas,
"…All of the predicted results and all of the expected developments did indeed happen, most of them went in a positive direction from Israel's point of view, other went in a non-positive direction… but everything was foreseen." Weisglass told "Meet the Press."
It should be borne in mind that Weisglas's firm was also working for Yasir Arafat in making business deals that Sharon and Arafat were to both benefit from. While at one time, it may have been Sharon's intent to kill the slimy bastard, in the end the to became as thick as thieves with ties under the covers.
And Weisglas continues to lie regarding the disastrous pullout and expulsion even now. It is his ilk who run Israel today. The full story from Arutz Sheva can be found at the link.
3 - Jonathan
I find it enormously difficult to read any comments by you or anyone else when religious "poetical" nonsense is iterated and reiterated by both people within Israel and those outside the nation, be they Jews or otherwise. It's in keeping with everything that's wrong with the world today: fight with the conviction that God is The God and you will win, territory, morals etc., etc. It's so useless, and very frustrating that reason and rationality are thrown out the window in the name of God! God bless you and Israel and Hamas and Peres and Assad. Of course God Bless America which foolishly stepped in over 40 years ago into this mess and is still mired in it with All the Middle East or should I say the Middle Ages.
4 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Jonathan,
While I appreciate your comment (you showed up and opened your mouth at least) it is evident you have no idea of the depth of the feeling that is behind all the very difficult sacrifices made to bring this nation about.
A "state of Jews" can be established anywhere on the planet. But a Jewish State can only exist here in Israel precisely because of the Land Covenant with G-d that is part and parcel of Judaism.
What has kept this nation alive for twenty centuries of cruel exile has been the Jewish religion, and deep faith in G-d; what has motivated our return here (as opposed to flocking to a piece of territory in French Guiana, Argentina or a corner of Siberia) has been our association with and loyalty to this tiny piece of land - and belief in G-d.
That evidently means nothing to you. But it is the base of our nation and our nationalism. The flag of the State is based on the design of our prayer shawl, and in spite of (secular) regulations prohibiting it being worn as such, it often is.
If it is hard for you to read and accept this fact, then it will be hard to realize that yes, Jonathan, prophecy in the Tana"kh is real, and is coming true around us, whether we want to admit it or not.
Don't worry, though. Many people are as blind as you are and they comment frequently here at Blogcritics.
Thank you again for commenting.
5 - moonraven
Ruvy,
I am always reluctant to engage you on the subject of Israel, as you seem to lose completely the measured and reasonable tone you apply to other topics.
However,
1. If there is genuine concern about a possible attack from Iran and Syria, why has the Israeli government stubbornly refused any kind of peace talks with Syria?
2. Those supposed WMDs of Saddam Hussein--they were smuggled out of Iraq in backpacks, or what? And precisely what kind of WMDs did he supposedly smuggle out?
6 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Marthe,
To answer your questions:
1. This government will do what it is told to do. there is nothing sovereign or independent about the government of the State of Israel. The idea of peace talks with Syria did arise in the Olmert cabinet some months ago, but the US nixed it. Every time the idea came up, and it has come up repeatedly whenever there seemed to be no possibility of progress in shaping talks with the PA, either something happened in internal politics to cause the government to hesitate, or, for one reason or another, the Americans did not want the talks.
2. I can't give you absolutely for sure answers on the weapons removed from Iraq before the American attack, but to the best of my knowledge, the weapons were to be used with gas or dirty bombs. To my memory, they were smuggled out on trucks at night.
7 - moonraven
Thanks, Ruvy.
1. It's hard to say who is the "john" and who is the whore in the US/Israel tango. But since the US gives the Israeli government billions and billions--30 billion more was announced on Saturday--I guess the whore is probably Israel. If I were in your shoes I would give them the finger and turn my toes into dust, as we say here. There are many better places to live--maybe just about anyplace, at this stage of the game.
2. I think that's just propaganda that you've decided to believe. If Saddam had had WMDs, he would have used them.
8 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Marthe,
There is no doubt as to who is the whore in the relationship between the USA and Israel. The Israeli gov't (along with rich Jewish American businessman who get a high [or a hard-on] out of throwing their wight around with "checkbook Zionism") have been whoring it up since 1968 when Levi Eshcol went to Lyndon Johnson to beg for help after the French screwed the Israelis over on an airplane deal. According to someone at the meeting, Eshcol practically had to beg on his hands and knees for help, and the help he got was conditional at best.
The American government has showed the same good faith with us as they did with the American Indian population a century earlier. Fortunately, we haven't been in the way of Americans seeking our land, or we would have been murdered off just as systematically.
2. I think that's just propaganda that you've decided to believe. If Saddam had had WMDs, he would have used them.
I have to disagree with this. Saddam Hussein decided to pull his punches and hide out when the Americans invaded in 2003 (giving them the "easy" victory they thought they themselves had wrought), and evidence of this "pulling punches and hiding out" behavior can be extended backwards in time to late 2002 when the Iraqis dictator decided to hide his weapons in Lebanon. That "easy victory" has since been erased, even though Saddam Hussein himself is dead.
9 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Let's be clear on this, Marthe. I would prefer to believe that there were never any Iraqi WMD's. I'd feel a lot safer. But I don't feel safe at all...
As for leaving here, that's a nugatory. We've made too many sacrifices ourselves. This is HOME, come hell or high water, and we'll die before we are driven out.
10 - moonraven
Ruvy,
It is of course your choice regarding both your belief in the WMDs (problem is I remember some of the fiascos involved when SH TRIED to get them) as well as where you call home.
Mexico has lotsofproblems--and there is no hope in sight--but it's home for me.
11 - Leslie Bohn
Based as it is on the ridiculous premise that an invisible man has promised you a very specific tract of land, I find your analysis of the events in the Middle East completely worthless, Ruvy.
Good on Jonathan, and so many others, for recognizing it as such.
12 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Marthe,
Mexico has lots of problems--and there is no hope in sight--but it's home for me.
It's not that bad, Marthe. You're doing what you believe in, and can put your heart into your work with joy. You can look outside the window and see pyramids built centuries ago by your own civilization and draw inspiration, awe, humility and pride.
I'm lucky enough to be in a similar circumstance. I "raise my eyes to the mountains" each morning and draw sustenance from the view and from what it means. I live right by the Road of the Patriarchs, where Abraham travelled millennia ago, right near ancient Tel Shilo where the mishkán - sanctuary - was located until it was moved first to a threshing floor, and then to the Temple of Shlomo. G-d has granted both me and my wife work with honor. My wife and I both have more friends here than we ever had in the States, and the same is true for my sons.
A terrible storm will come here and upheaval much - that is what I'm write about here at Blogcritics - and then it will pass.
13 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Based as it is on the ridiculous premise that an invisible man has promised you a very specific tract of land...
Leslie, I wouldn't waste my time on such a ridiculous idea, let alone base a world view on it. I have more class than to present an analysis of world events on such a flimsy premise. There are no invisible men running around handing out deeds to tracts of land.
Do remember that you are talking to a former agnostic. As a philosophical stance, agnosticism is far easier to defend than any view of the world based on a Creator.
But while this article is presented within a "misgéret" - I guess the best translation is "paradigm" - that is solidly within the Talmud, the analysis is a news analysis, not a preaching of any religion.
If you try to reduce the ideas of Judaism to an "invisible man has promised you a very specific tract of land", then you are worse than blind - you are a fool.
But don't feel bad. You have plenty of company. Thanks for commenting.
14 - Leslie Bohn
Here, from the second graff of your "news analysis:"
we shall see a glorious future, if not in my lifetime, then certainly my children’s. The future of this nation is set down in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter Sixty. The headlines will eventually catch up with the words of the prophet.
I reassert: any "analysis" following such a load of religious bullshit is completely worthless.
15 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Leslie,
"...from the second graff of your "news analysis..."
That entire paragraph is not analysis at all, but my feelings on the matter. Let's look at it so that you comprehend what is being said, and what is not being said.
There is no pretense of analysis at all in this paragraph; it is set apart from the analysis by its first sentence, and by the first sentence of the following paragraph, both of which have been set here for you in bold.
Get it?
16 - Leslie Bohn
Yes, I get it. You are a religious lunatic, and fond of arguing this nonsense.
After you've declared that the future of a modern nation has been predicted in an ancient text, and that the "headlines will catch up," why should anyone read what you have to say next?
No rational person would or should, because that statement is blazingly stupid.
17 - troll
why didn't Israel use its THEL system last year against the crap coming out of Lebanon to at least test the system - ?
18 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
troll,
"why didn't Israel use its THEL system last year against the crap coming out of Lebanon to at least test the system - ?"
I cam think of three reasons, troll. One, is that they wanted to keep it under wraps and not use it until they had a serious emergency; the second is that the idiots at the top didn't even think of it; the third is that the Americans told them not to.
I think that of the three options I laid out, the second is most likely. The Israeli government crapped in its pants in panic last July and August and the stink reached all the way to Ma'aleh Levona...
You cannot believe the lack of linear thinking here... These are Jews???!!!
19 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Thank you, Marthe.
20 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Hmmm,
It seems that no good deed goes unpunished. Marthe Raymond (moonraven) was kind enough to come to my defense against the remarks made by Leslie Bohn. While Leslie's nastiness was alright in the eyes of our good Comments Editor, her comments to Leslie were not. But I retain Marthe's comment in my inbox and know the truth our good Comments Editor has seen fit to censor out.
You shall not commit a perversion of justice...with righteousness shall you judge your fellow. [Vayikrá/Leviticus 19:15]
21 - Leslie Bohn
Mr. Ruvy:
That's too bad. I'd love to hear her defense. She must have some proof that the future of a modern nation is contained in prophecies from an ancient, cobbled-together religious text.
Otherwise, of course, your "news analysis" is worthless, as was my point.
22 - moonraven
I did not put forth any defenze, Leslie--I called you on your offensive behavior for insulting other people's religious beliefs.
I also suggested that you grow up.
You will need to do so before I engage in any further exchange with you.
23 - Leslie Bohn
Ms. Maven:
If Ruvy chooses to express a religious belief, I'm entitled to call it stupid, just like any other belief. In this case, the idea that current events are predicted by the bible is moronic and provably false.
Religious ideas are the same as any other ideas. This one is stupid.
24 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Marthe,
It isn't that our good Comments Editor is discriminating against you because you are a woman. Your comments offended his sense of what ought to be in a comment. Because he agrees with Leslie Bohn, he let his comment stand.
It's called "objectivity" and "fairness." Hence, my quote:
You shall not commit a perversion of justice...with righteousness shall you judge your fellow. [Vayikrá/Leviticus 19:15]
25 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
This article shows what happens when a government decides that it is more important than the G-d of Israel.
Joseph's Tomb synagogue destroyed by Israeli forces
Prime Minister Olmert orders razing of structure built so Jews can pray at Judaism's 3rd holiest site
Had this been a church, not only would it have not been touched, but any damage Jews would have done would have been severely punished. By contrast, when Arabs destroy a church, as they nearly did to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre four or five years ago, they are allowed free rein of the place...
Such a government deserves to be overthrown...