A few days ago, my friend Joe Wurzelbacher, with whom I wrote Joe The Plumber – Fighting for the American Dream, arrived in Israel to cover the war in Gaza. It boggles the mind to consider where Joe’s journey of fame began and to envision him now in Israel, ducking Hamas rockets and interviewing officials and citizens of that war-torn land. When I first met Joe shortly after that final Presidential Debate, one of the subjects we discussed was, ironically, the ongoing conflict in Israel. I had recently published a novel, Things Forgotten, which recounts the biblical Israelite Conquest of Canaan through the eyes of an Arab descendent of Israel’s brother Esau. I spent the greater part of five years researching the biblical and secular history of Israel. I shared with Joe my insight about the conflict, my love for Israel and the rich history of the Jewish people. Our mutual affinity for Israel was a prelude to that now infamous campaign trail exchange between Joe and the Jewish man from Florida who said, “A vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel.” To the astonishment of many, Joe had agreed. Now Joe is in Israel and the plot thickens.
So why have Arabs and Jews, brethren descended from the same patriarch, become mortal enemies? For many of us, Sunday School taught that God promised the ancient land of Canaan to Israel. However, understanding the Arab-Israeli problem requires knowledge of more recent history.
On May 16, 1948 the front-page headline of The Palestine Post (now The Jerusalem Post) declared, “STATE OF ISRAEL IS BORN.” After centuries of Jewish persecution throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, among which the Nazi Holocaust killed some six million Jews, a homeland for Israel was reborn. The Jewish pursuit of statehood was nothing less than a dire struggle for the survival of their race. The rest of the world, save the U.S., didn’t want them. Despite the welcoming arms of Jews living in Palestine, the British, who possessed a mandate over the territory at the time, collaborated with the Arabs to restrict Jewish immigration. Why? The world had no misgivings about the Jewish goal for statehood, which the Jewish Zionists had openly expressed. The British had initially asserted their support in the Balfour Declaration of 1917, but refocused their diplomatic efforts on preserving favorable relations with the Arab oil-producing nations—yes, the oil saga is that old. Nonetheless, to the opponents of a Jewish state of Israel, what option did the Jews have, but to fight for a homeland? Sadly, antisemites throughout the world would have been all too happy to see the total annihilation of the Jews. As a point of fact, the Hamas Charter calls for the death of all Jews. If you’re a Jew, how do you negotiate with that?
Despite the rhetoric spouted by extremist groups on either side, citing religious differences and blood feuds, the primary reason for the conflict between Israelis and Arabs boils-down to property and political power. In this way, the civil war in Israel today is not dissimilar to the American Civil War; another sad and bloody conflict between brethren and neighbors. Our Civil War was fought over States Rights versus Federal authority; at its root a political power dispute over property (black slaves). If the South had prevailed in that conflict, what child born today with black or brown skin would have hope of freedom? Would the notion of Civil Rights have ever entered our national consciousness? Would a divided America have been capable of defeating the Axis in WWII?
Consider the reality of a Hamas victory over Israel. What would the future hold for Jews living amidst the Islamic state of Palestine? The Hamas Charter leaves little doubt about their view of human rights and the lives of Jews.
What about the future of Palestinians and Arabs if Israel defeats Hamas? In Israel, the future is now. Today, an Arab Israeli has equal rights, may vote in elections and may hold public office, which many do. If Israel is allowed to defeat the terrorists within its borders, a young Palestinian today might grow to become Prime Minister of Israel. After all, a black man is about to take the oath of office to become President of the United States.
What we in the West must understand is that Israel has been fighting for their very survival since the Exodus from Egypt. Never again will they idly be led into ovens, such as an Arab woman called for during a recent pro-Hamas demonstration in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Many in the media chastise Joe’s journey to Israel, citing he lacks the experience or education required to understand and accurately report on the conflict. That may be true, but over the decades, how successful have Middle East experts, scholars and Nobel Laureates been in securing the peace? Today, Israeli school children are targeted by Hamas and must hide in bomb shelters amidst of their playgrounds. At night, they eat supper with their parents, not in their living rooms, but in their basement bunkers. Would we in America tolerate one week of this madness? Israelis have been enduring this reality for decades.
I think we all could use a healthy dose of the common man’s good-ole common sense. Students of history understand that often, simple solutions work the best. In a conflict between two opposing sides, where one side refuses to compromise, the choice is either to surrender or endeavor to defeat the enemy. Anyone believe Israel should surrender? One needs only reflect upon Genesis 4:9 where God asks Cain, “Where is thy brother, Abel?” If you had to choose between Israel or Hamas, which do you think would be the better keeper of his brother?
Thomas N. Tabback
Author of Things Forgotten
Co-author of Joe The Plumber – Fighting for the American Dream