Facts about Israel

							                              Facts about Israel
                            by Hadas Wittenberg, DCM



Coming to analyze the complicated reality and the current situation in the Middle
East, one should identify and specify the facts as well as to distinguish them from
interpretations, thoughts and ideas. Within the complex, sometimes exhausting,
blur and confusing picture that one has in mind about our region let me try and
point out some of those facts. In our post modern era it seems as if everything is
open for commentary but still we can not change the history route. We can,
however, and should hope and act toward a better future.

The State of Israel emerged out of ash in order to provide a much-needed
homeland for the Jewish people, who had been persecuted in other lands over
the ages. Two thousand years after the Jewish People lost their sovereignty over
their biblical birthplace for which they never ceased their yearning to return and
rebuild their homeland; the UN General Assembly called to create a Jewish state
and an Arab state in that territory. That was on 29 November 1947. One day
later, the Arab countries rejected that decision and started a war, while the
Jewish people celebrated this landmark resolution.

That was one of the milestones of the Arab and Palestinian terror and violence
campaign which started long ago before the beginning of Israeli control over the
West Bank and Gaza which achieved as a result of the Six Day War of June
1967, and even prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948.
Arab terrorism was rampant during wave of anti-Jewish riots in 1920-21, during
the 'Disturbances' of 1929 (which included the massacre of the Jewish
community in Hebron), during the Arab Revolt of 1936-39, and in other recorded
incidents of wholesale anti-Jewish Arab violence throughout the pre-state period.

Over several decades, Palestinian violence has played a major role in the
development of ever more dangerous forms of terrorism. It was the Palestinians
who pioneered the use of terrorist hijackings. Palestinians have refined the
technique of suicide bombers creating a cult of martyrdom that promotes more
suicide bombings. The bombers – in many cases children and minors - are
revered; their pictures hung in town squares and in schools and their relatives
are urged not to mourn but to celebrate their deaths. This phenomenon bodes ill
for the next generation, educated to worship these symbols of death and
destruction. Children taught from the earliest age to hate, kill and destroy are a
tragedy for their own people and a potential danger for others.

The wave of terrorism that began in September 2000 was a direct result of a
strategic Palestinian decision to use violence as the primary means to advance
their agenda. Indeed, it began shortly after intense high-level negotiations were
conducted to find a permanent resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and
followed by Israel's willingness to make far-reaching and unprecedented
compromises in order to arrive at a workable, enduring agreement. During the
year 2005 2,990 terrorist attacks were perpetrated against Israeli targets
including the increase of firing Kassam rockets at Israeli cities and villages.

The Palestinians voted for a Hamas government in 2006 elections. They chose
an organization, which was declared by Europe and the United States to be a
terrorist organization. The Hamas government declares that it will continue to
support terrorism, it refuses to recognize the right of existence of the State of
Israel and it refuses to honor the international obligations of the Palestinians,
given by their leaders since the Oslo Agreements.

Throughout the years Israel manages to establish peace treaties with some of its
neighbors: in 1979 with Egypt and in 1994 with Jordan. The final status of these
disputed territories - The West Bank and Gaza Strip - can only be determined
through negotiations between the parties. Attempts to force a solution through
terrorism can not be accepted and only serve to encourage further violence and
terrorism. But the Palestinians have yet to do so. They rejected every Israeli
initiative, missing opportunity after opportunity to peacefully resolve the dispute
through negotiation.

Still we have to remember it is up to them. As Israel took a brave decision to
control its destiny and to become a leading state, its time for the Palestinian
people to act toward improving their status. A decision to take the victim role is a
beneficial on one hand but hold great disadvantages on the other. By
strengthens that position one can only contribute to the perpetuation of the
current tragic situation of the Palestinian instead of encourage them to take
responsibility.

Tolerance for others, respect for all people and concern for the social welfare of
each member of society, as embedded in the Jewish sources, were the
cornerstones upon Jewish life in the Diaspora. The newly formed state, in
contrast to the surrounding region noted for its totalitarian and authoritarian
regimes, adopted democratic and pluralistic guidelines for its own society so that
Israel is bound by principles of freedom, equality and tolerance for all inhabitants
regardless of religion, race, gender or culture.

Israel is the home and the only house for the Jewish people. For that basic fact
and in order to keep the very existences of the state we are forced again and
again to fight for our well being and to exhaust our basic right for self defense. No
other member of the international community is required to do so. No other
country is threatened in different fronts by other states and organizations which
are part of the axis of evil. That is the reality in which we manage to establish a
modern society, to absorb millions of immigrants and to develop flourishes
economy and important achievements in different science fields and art. Israel is
still a young country. It has devoted many of its resources to defending its
borders and residents from threats by hostile neighbors. Israel continues to
extend a hand for peace towards its neighbors. Moreover, despite ongoing
attacks on its people, Israel continues to act in pursuance of the liberties and
values to which it has always been fully committed.