Renewed Outbreak of Terror and War Against Israel
By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman
May 12, 2021
Violence and terror have once again been unleashed against the State of Israel. While we can watch events unfold before our eyes from the safety of our homes, it’s important that we understand the wider nature and reasons for this conflict.
For the first time since the 2014 Gaza War, over the past 48 hours the terror organization Hamas has launched more than 1000 missiles against Israeli civilian population centers, causing tragic loss of life, many injuries and serious damage. Armed and trained by Iran, Hamas is taking a chance, knowing fully well that any retaliation by Israel will be viewed as “disproportionate.” Proof isn’t late in coming: While turning a blind eye to the nature of the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas, the International Criminal Court has already announced it will investigate “human rights violations.” The target of this investigation is predetermined, and it clearly isn’t the Arabs.
So what has led to the recent outbreak? Basically, a power struggle between the PLO and Hamas. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, has just canceled elections, thus entering the 16th year of what should have been a 4-year term. The reason he called off the election is that he knew in advance he would lose to Hamas, which for years now has been developing a powerbase in the areas under PLO control. The reasons that he gave publicly, however, are based on events that took place over the last couple of weeks in Jerusalem—ever the epicenter of any power struggle in the Middle East.
As Abbas would have the world view his failures: They are all Israel’s fault. Naturally.
The truth, however, is that for some time now Arab incitement against Israel has been on the rise. Any attempt by Israel to prevent outbreaks of violence is seen as reason for even more agitation. In the past couple of weeks, there have been riots in Jerusalem, a terror attack that resulted in the death of a Jewish teenager, and the launching of hundreds of incendiary balloons from Gaza, causing wildfires and large-scale destruction,
Politics among Arab nations and factions has always depended on military power—and on opposition to Israel. This historical trend has been going on since the beginning of the 20th century and shows no signs of change. Inevitably, at such times when Israel is perceived to be in a position of relative weakness, the Arabs launch acts of violence, war and terror.
The current political crisis in Israel’s government, leading to indecisive results in four elections over the past two years, combined with the change of administrations in the United States (despite his past commitment to Israel, President Biden has not yet declared any clear policy with regard to the Middle East), as well as anti-Semitic and anti-Israel attacks in the social media have provided Hamas with the opportunity it has been waiting for.
What makes the situation today even more worrisome however, is the outbreak of anti-Israel violence among some Arab-Israelis. Mob violence has broken out in several Arab villages in the Galilee in northern Israel, as well as in cities where a mixed Arab-Jewish population has been touted as a sign of the possibility of peace and coexistence. In some places, synagogues have been torched, and on several occasions the lynching of Jews was narrowly averted. At a time when many in Israel and elsewhere are calling for the right of all citizens to live in peace and security, riots and calls for the slaughter of Jews will make the realization of these dreams impossible anytime in the near future.
As in the past, while Hamas missiles indiscriminately target civilian centers, Israel’s response has been pinpoint elimination of Hamas leaders, and the precise bombing of missile launchers and operational headquarters—many of which are intentionally and cynically placed by the terrorists right next to or in schools, mosques, kindergartens, as well as high-rise apartment buildings.
While I have personal reasons to find myself constantly glued to the news from Israel, without a doubt the current conflict, like its predecessors, will continue to resonate all over the world for weeks and months to come. At stake is much more than a two-state solution, or any dream of coexistence between Arabs and Jews. At stake are two vital points: Israel’s very existence and its right to defend itself. No other country’s existence is questioned or attacked on a daily basis as is Israel. No other nation is expected to absorb missiles launched against its capital and other population centers—and remain unresponsive. No other nation or country in the world is held to unrealistic—and even impossible—standards of conduct in war or peace as is Israel.
Attacks against Israel are facilitated not only by the rising tide of global anti-Semitism, but also by the silence, inaction and even indifference shown by many Jews in the Diaspora. Yet this is exactly the time when we need to send a clear message of support to our brethren in Israel. This is precisely the time for Diaspora Jews to address our elected representatives—from local school boards to the State Department and the White House—and demand decisive action to stop anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incitement and violence.
There is no doubt in my mind that Israel will survive this tragic outbreak of violence as it has for the past 100 years or more. But unless the constant international vocal, military and financial support for terror and violence against Jews and Israel ceases once and for all, the tragedy is bound to continue far beyond our own day and time.
Sha’alu sh’lom Yerushalayim—seek peace for Jerusalem, but not only through prayers. Bullets and missiles do not discriminate between children and adults, nor between Jews, Christians and Muslims. If peace is ever to come to the most volatile region in the world, it cannot be conditional. Rather, it has to be instituted from the ground up, replacing the hypocrisy, prejudice and hatred that have tragically been at the root of so much violence and bloodshed over the past millennia.
The words spoken by an ancient Roman general, “if you want peace, prepare for war,” are true today as they were two thousand years ago. How tragic that Israel, for as long as it has existed, has had to live by these words.
Our hearts are with those who suffer the most from this violence; we mourn with those whose have lost loved ones, and we pray for the restored health of all who were injured. May peace, security and sanity return soon to a land and people ravaged by hatred and violence for too long.
© 2021 by Boaz D. Heilman
