The other day we ran a post by David Wilder, spokesman for the settlers in occupied Hebron, because his community plays an important role in Israeli politics but its views are not well-known in the U.S.; our mainstream press doesn’t report them. Wilder then commented on that post and directed readers who want to know more about settlers’ views to a document he wrote called, “Breaking the Lies. Revealing the Facts. Questions and Answers about Hebron.” Wilder writes at the outset, “You may not agree with all that is stated, but at the very least it is straightforward; as we say it, as we believe it, and as we live it.” The following Q-and-A appears on page 14.
What’s your solution to the present conflict?
There aren’t any magic answers or simple solutions. The situation here is very complex. No one is willing to make real compromises because the issues are primarily religious and no one is willing to compromise on religion. However, I believe the beginning of a solution is recognition by Jews, primarily in Israel, but also elsewhere, that Eretz Yisrael [biblical name for land that includes the West Bank] really belongs to the Jewish people. If Jews reject this concept, how can we expect our enemies to accept it?
The second part of a solution is mass Aliyah to Israel. Today there are six million Jews in Israel. When there are 12 millions Jews here, the Arabs will take us more seriously. Presently most Jews do not live in Israel. If this land is so important to us, why aren’t they here? When the Soviet Union opened its gates, allowing Jewish emigration to Israel, Arafat begged them to prevent Jews from coming to Israel. This is one of their greatest fears. People will come to Israel. If not because of love of Israel, then because of Obama the First, or the Second or the Third. Jews from Europe will come home to Israel as massive extremist Islamic populations fill France, Spain, England, and elsewhere. When Judea and Samaria are populated by millions of Jews, peace talks will change, out of necessity. What will the White House suggest doing with a million displaced people?
Note that Wilder moved to Israel from the U.S. in 1974. Our headline is based on the fact that most Jews outside Israel live in the U.S.
Bukra fi mishmish
Wilder belongs in a psychiatric facility.
“When the Soviet Union opened its gates, allowing Jewish emigration to Israel, Arafat begged them to prevent Jews from coming to Israel.”
I think Wilder leaves out an important point here about Jewish emigration from the former Soviet Union to Israel. In the 1970s through the 1980s, with the Cold War raging, there was a PR push from the U.S. Government and American Jews to “Free the Russian Jews”. When the Soviet gates were opened Soviet Jews flew to Italy or Austria where they caught planes for … where? Between 1970-1990, with the U.S. intent upon freedom, Soviet Jews were free to come to the U.S. and about one-half did. see: “Israel Affairs” Vol. 17, No. 1, January 2011, 7–20. I recall pressure then from Israel and American Jews for the U.S. to restrict Soviet Jewish immigration (so that they may be ‘more free’ to choose Israel?) In 1990 the U.S. withdrew automatic refuge status for Soviet Jews (the Germans did likewise) and the ‘freedom’ to choose Israel was total. I don’t know if Arafat begged as described, but there was definitely begging going on.
I bet Wilder NEVER had a real job.
It seems to me the russians going to Israel was a HUGE step in the moral degradation of the state of Israel.
>> No one is willing to make real compromises because the issues are primarily religious and no one is willing to compromise on religion.
The issues are, primarily:
– past Jewish terrorism;
– past and on-going ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homes and lands;
– the establishment of an oppressive, colonialist, expansionist and supremacist “Jewish State”;
– the supremacist “Jewish State’s” 60+ years, ON-GOING and offensive (i.e., not defensive) campaign of aggression, oppression, theft, colonization, destruction and murder;
– the supremacist “Jewish State’s” refusal to honour its obligations under international law; and
– the supremacist “Jewish State’s” refusal to enter into sincere negotiations for a just and mutually-beneficial peace.
>> The second part of a solution is mass Aliyah to Israel. Today there are six million Jews in Israel. When there are 12 millions Jews here, the Arabs will take us more seriously.
So…the problem with Israel isn’t that it’s an oppressive, colonialist, expansionist and supremacist “Jewish State”, it’s that it’s not a sufficiently-populous oppressive, colonialist, expansionist and supremacist”Jewish State”.