Eyes wide shut
Sitting at my computer, my ears have become accustomed to the sounds of jet fighter planes flying overhead. A siren warning of an approaching missile does not terrify me as it once did. I am fortunate because I live in Jerusalem where for multiple reasons, there have been far less missile attacks here, than in Tel Aviv, Askelon, Sderot, Beersheva, the north, the south… still… take it from me, war is hell.
Most families have many brave soldiers who have put their lives on the line to protect us all from the assault on our homeland and our people. The stress which sits in our hearts is far more unbearable than the damage of rockets. We cannot know if our loved ones are safe every moment, and a text or phone call from them, temporarily relieves the anxiety for a few seconds.
It is understandable that everyone is pointing fingers of blame. How did this happen? Didn’t anyone have intelligence about this buildup and training? Who can we blame? There must be someone we can vilify. If “our” candidates had been elected… surely this war would never have occurred? The specifics of our internal failures will be addressed for years to come… but they were not the beginning nor the core of this catastrophe.
There is so much blame to be assigned that one barely knows where to begin. This war did not begin with the Hamas murder of our innocents on October 7th, 2023. It began years ago in a world which chose not to see.
Nations were warned about Iran’s intentions for world hegemony. Countries were warned about opening their borders and losing their national identity. They were warned that their own cultures were being undermined daily.
World-wide, universities accepted vast sums of oil money for “chairs” in “Middle-East Studies” which changed the mindset of their students. The money received was more important to the Presidents and boards of directors, than the repercussions. Those departments taught whatever they wished… unless it was an understanding of the only democracy in the Middle East. That was forbidden.
Mosques were built in every city around the world, and on campuses… Muslim student centers were established. We understood that immigrants needed to have their own culture. No one was held accountable for the activities inside these buildings.
The United Nations turned into a Jew-hating, Israel-bashing institution which spent vast sums of time ignoring atrocities around the globe. It certainly paid no attention to Iran’s aims or financial support of terror in its proxies … all of whom are “respectable” voting members of the United Nations. Did the world demand it be dismantled? Did they stop paying for its absurd existence? Of course not. The UN was only actually “united” in demeaning the only Jewish country in the world. From testimonies of those who worked inside the sacred halls of the UN, it has become clear that it exists to ensure that the Ambassadors would have the joys of extravagant lifestyles, all the benefits of living in the United States, and in the case of many Ambassadors of third-world nations, a guarantee that they would never have to return to the countries they were supposedly representing. Did the world care? Did they pull their financial support of this fraudulent institution?
When it was discovered that UNWRA was a facilitator to Hamas activities, did the world withdraw their funds? When the schoolbooks of the Gazan and Palestinian children were found to be teaching both Jew and Israel hatred, murder and mayhem… did the funds stop flowing to the UN?
Then we must face the realities of cyberspace. Years ago, one of my first articles- July 2, 2016 in the Jerusalem Post, was titled “Facebook, a tool for murdering Jews: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/facebook-a-tool-for-murdering-jews-459273 . It suddenly became evident that the social media platforms had spiraled out of control. The few who tried to educate about the dangers of unregulated communications taught us about the “dark-web” and “echo chambers.” Governments looked in dismay at the damage being done to their societies, and the instant mobilization of those wishing to perpetrate evil. They held hearings in congress, parliaments… and accomplished very little to change the realities on the ground… or rather…in cyber-space. I wrote that article seven years ago. Not only did the situation not improve, it worsened.
Iran was known to be the main sponsor of international terrorism. It was known that they had not only filtered hundreds of millions of dollars into regimes prepared to do their bidding, but allowed terrorists from those countries to come onto their own soil to train militarily. The world knew this, but turned away shrugging their shoulders. Iran was so far away… how could it matter to the free Western world?
It was known that the sanctions on Iran had crippled it. Hamas and Hezbollah went to Iran for financial support and it was reported that they were turned away as there were no funds available. America came to the rescue… removed the sanctions…allowed Iranian oil to flow once again, and handed Iran six billion dollars in exchange for four Americans being held there for exactly this purpose, impowering the head of the Iranian monster once again.
When exactly did the USA become a benefactor to the Islamic Republic of Iran? What exactly did Obama and Biden have in mind when they closed their eyes to the potential for world harm when allowing the Iranian nuclear program to move forward? What did Obama wish to accomplish when he (as one of his last official acts as President of the United States), had pallets of cash delivered to an Iranian plane -destination Teheran? What “in the hell” has been going on behind the backs …no…actually “in front” of the eyes …of the American people and the International leaders of the “free” world?
Israel is now fighting, as Prime Minister Netanyahu recently said … “Our second war of Independence.” We have seen our innocents slaughtered savagely by both Hamas members, and in equal numbers…by “civilian” Gazans who raped and plundered alongside on October 7th.
As thousands march through the streets of major cities in the free world, supporting the atrocities they have seen ….oblivious to human horrors, supporting Hamas and by extension, Iran, I cannot but warn that Israel’s war is a precursor for that which will follow in your country…wherever you are. In my home, I have a framed statement by German Pastor Martin Niemoller written after the Holocaust in Europe. I share it now, and hope that all will take it to heart:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
—Martin Niemöller
—
Postscript: When selecting the photograph for this article, I resisted the temptation to select three cute monkeys, or three cartoon skulls depicting “See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil.” There is nothing about babies being slaughtered in the name of Islam which should evoke a smile. This photo is my tribute to innocent babies everywhere, entitled to life, dreams, love and hope.