An Elusive Prophecy

A few people have suggested that written reactions (here at Treppenwitz) to Israel's challenges tend to sound vaguely apocalyptic or Conan the Barbarian-esque (e.g. "We must crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentation of their women", etc.).

Point taken.

So, to provide a somewhat softer, and perhaps more balanced, perspective on yesterday's events, I've asked Zahava to weigh in.  Here's what she had to say:

There are so many conflicting thoughts swirling around my head today, that it is more than a tad overwhelming.  Of course, the dominant feeling for most of us is simply profound grief.

I am so very sad for the families of Ehud Goldwasser (z"l) and Eldad Regev (z"l) – their memories should be a blessing.  After two long years of hoping and praying, these families now bear the horrific task of releasing hope, and must now mourn the loss of these courageous, dearly loved young men.

I am also so very sad for the rest of us. This is a national loss – a national tragedy.

I can't comprehend the scores of issues factored into the decision that ultimately resulted in our trading five live convicted terrorists for the remains of two soldiers. And I don't have the energy, or desire, to try to contemplate them in writing here.  I think that rehashing disagreements over this 'done deal' is futile.  Clearly we were damned no matter what we did.  I can only hope and pray that our government acts to ensure that we never again find ourselves in such an untenable position.

More important for me, at this point, is the relative quiet in which yesterday's events took place.  I want to know why there was no outrage from the rest of what we (erroneously) refer to as the "civilized" world?  How is it that the Lebanese government was able to hold a celebratory home-coming in the streets of their capitol for a man who murdered a 4-year old and her unarmed father, and whose actions are directly responsible for the suffocation of a 2-year old, and there is no outrage or condemnation from the family of civilized nations?

How is it that the rest of the world managed to refrain from comment on this?

For context, consider for a moment the level of protest and condemnation that would erupt in the western halls of power if a convicted murderer anywhere else in the world was released and publicly feted in a state ceremony, and held portrayed a hero for his crimes. Now consider the new levels of outrage if it came to light that a kidnapping/murder were carried out with the sole intention of gaining leverage to negotiate the murderer's release?!

Whatever nation celebrated and rewarded such primitive, barbaric behavior would be marginalized and permanently ostracized from civilized political discourse.

But amazingly, the moment you slap "Israeli" as a modifier in front of the words "murder victim", the world falls strangely silent…. or worse, uses horribly twisted logic to justify 'militancy', 'resistance'… anything so as not to call it by its real name; pre-meditated, cold-blooded murder.

I can only hope and pray that the world's resounding silence regarding our national loss, and the glee with which the Lebanese people are celebrating it, has not gone un-noticed by the Israeli public.  I pray that this telling silence will serve as a wake-up call to our fractured society… and a clear message to all that unity and cohesion hold our only hope of protecting and preserving Israel and her citizens.

Throughout all this, one thing remains crystal clear to me:  Until such time as Israel's existence is finally recognized and her people are accepted as full and legitimate global citizens, Isaiah's elusive prophecy; 'Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more', will remain nothing more than a bunch of empty words carved in stone outside the United Nations, designed to allow apologists for murderer's to sleep at night.