Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, September 1987, page 15

180 Degrees

"180 Degrees" appears every Friday in Florida Today, parent publication of USA Today. Whenever space permits, the Washington Report will present a debate between George Thompson, a retired US Foreign Service officer, and Dan Warrensford, an engineer, on some aspect of Middle East Affairs.

It is the anniversary of the "Six-Day War," Dan, but there is little joy in the Holy Land these days. No reason why there should be. It is a desperately unhappy place. A historic panorama of brown deserts and green farms, it is red once more with the blood of martyrs which—as it was then—continues to be shed by zealots on both sides. And unless peace there is achieved soon, crimson will continue to dominate the landscape.

It is a place where 2,000 years ago Roman centurions kept an uneasy peace with swords. Today Israelis do it with guns. It is a land thousands of native-born Palestinians are reluctant to leave, and where the Israelis are increasingly unwilling to let them stay. It is all the more tragic because the world outside is largely to blame for the terrible dilemma facing Arab and Israeli alike.

Seeking to assuage a guilty conscience because it did little to stop Hitler's "Final Solution," a world weary of war looked elsewhere as survivors took land occupied by others.

So history repeats itself: Once the oppressed, Israelis now are the oppressors—however distasteful or uncomfortable they may find the role. Once the captives, they are now the captors.

We must do what we can to help this "friend and ally" resolve its dilemma. We can improve its financial position (as well as our own) if we wean Israel from our billions of dollars in gifts, loans, and weapons. We can enhance its credibility among nations if we put a stop to its continued violation of international law. We also can help if we pressure Israel to attend an international conference, the only way to bring peace to that troubled land.

But none of this will come about until and unless Americans—especially those in Congress—are free to criticize Israel without fear of being labeled anti-Semitic.—George Thompson

Spare me your solicitude about the Holy Land, George.

Your desire to "help" Israel would surely result in her destruction. That fact is obvious from your suggestions that we (the US): (a) Convince Israel to be "peaceful"—which means to ignore threats from hostile Arab states; (b) Withdraw support; (c) Persuade her to disarm.

Fortunately for Israel, even George Shultz and our wimpy State Department aren't buying what you're selling.

Whence your frequent claims that the Israelis are occupying "Arab land," and that the Jews only began occupying their nation after Hitler's "Final Solution?" Whence your temerity to use terms like "martyrs" and "zealots" to describe the Israelis? How did you muster the audacity to call a besieged people "captors?" First, as you should be aware, Jews began emigrating to Palestine in the 1890s at the urging of Theodor Herzl; the initial "exodus" had nothing to do with Hitler. Second, Palestine had come into British possession during World War I; the British promised a national home for the Jews in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 (still no Hitler, pal).

Third, if people who are willing to fight and die for freedom are zealots and martyrs, let's hear it for George Washington, Tom Paine, Nathan Hale et. al.—zealots and martyrs, all.

Last, if the Arab wars against Israel, launched in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973 (not to mention thousands of terrorist attacks), require Israel to assume the role of "captor," so be it. If Arab nations want peace, all they need to do is repeal their several standing declarations of war against the Jewish State.

In the meantime, it is correct for Israel to celebrate her victory in the Six-Day War. By remembering that conflict, she will steel herself for future attacks—which are sure to come.—Dan Warrensford