          In the Traditions of Rabbi Meir Kahane, z"l
                     By Gershon ben Shabtai
                          April 15, 1991
        Bush decrees, Baker squeezes, and Shamir pleases

       Once again President Bush is riding on his high horse and parading as the gallant world
leader who can make peace on earth.  As we sit, marveling at his wondrous accomplishment in the
Gulf War, we cannot help but observe that he not only plunged the world economy into deep
debt, but,  like King Saul in the war with Amalek, he took pity upon the royal purple and
neglected to destroy Saddam.
       How noble to hear the State Department spokesman, after all the hard work they went to,
to get world approval to bomb Baghdad, now pontificate about their concern for the "internal
affairs"of Iraq which prevents them from saving the lives of countless thousands of Kurds who are
being butchered daily in that country.  It warms our hearts to know that the same President Bush,
who told the Iraqi people that he has no qualms with them, only with Saddam, stands idly by as
the "Butcher of Baghdad" continues his butchery virtually unimpeded by a world army which is
there, ready and able to stop it!   To the Jew it brings back warm memories of World War II and
the great President Roosevelt who spoke so beautifully and charmed Jewish leaders as he allowed
Six Million to perish in a studied effort to avoid actions which could have saved at least hundreds
of thousands.
       While America's leaders respect the internal affairs of the bandit state of Iraq (which sits,
incidentally, on occupied Jewish land), the internal affairs of her alleged ally, Israel, is another
matter entirely.  Baker can visit the still-fresh graves of young Jews murdered in Jerusalem in his
"honor", and still have the callousness to presume to tell Jewish leaders where in our country Jews
should or should not be allowed to settle!  Shamir and the right-wing Sharon, rather than simply
telling Bush and Baker not to meddle in our affairs and that we fully intend to permit free Jewish
settlement in all of our holy country, instead play games with words.
         "We have no policy to direct Soviet immigrants to the "territories" (sic)".   What they
really mean but are afraid to say is, "We don't tell our Jews where they can or cannot live."   What
they hope Baker and Bush will hear, and what they do hear is, "We are not settling Soviet Jews in
the Territories".
       So what happens?  Any moron can predict that facts will eventually clash with
misinterpretations and Shamir will either have to say what he should have said in the first place, or
back down.  
       Why do we Jews insist upon putting off difficult decisions which only come back to haunt
us and become infinitely more difficult, rather than face the music now?  Can we never learn from
our mistakes? 
       Years ago Rabbi Kahane, z"l, H"yd, would refer to the medrash concerning a servant who
was ordered by the King to purchase a fish for the royal dinner.  The servant failed to notice that
the fish he had purchased was rotten.  It was served to the King who, after the first bite, flew into
a rage and demanded that the servant be brought before him.  
       "I will let you choose your punishment," bellowed the angry monarch.  "You may eat the
rest of the fish; you may choose to be whipped; or you may pay the cost of the fish out of your
own pocket".   (One cannot help but conjure up a picture of the late Jack Benny as we see the
servant's response).
       Being a prudent fellow the servant decided to take, what he thought to be, the easy way out. 
"I will eat the fish," he declared.  But with the first mouthful he gagged in disgust, and just could
not continue.  Knowing the exorbitant price of the fish, he then reluctantly offered to accept the
whipping.  After the second lash the pain became too much for him to bear and he pleaded with
the king to be allowed to pay the full price for the fish.
       Had the servant the intelligence to consider the outcome of his decision in advance, he
would have paid for the fish at once and been done with it.  Instead, because he was a fool and a
coward, he chose to accept all three punishments!!  What more fitting comparison can there be
then between this foolish servant and the "wise" politicians who think they run the Jewish State?
       Even now, Shamir presents his new plan for Arab self rule in the Jewish State.  Even were
such a preposterous proposal accepted by the Arabs it would be a death blow to the State.  We
need Arab policemen in a Jewish State?  Our only saving grace is that the Arabs are both prouder
than us. . .  and even more stupid.  The Arab will never accept anything less than a Palestinian
state-- even if the Shamir suicide plan could be step one toward their getting it.   Why can't we for
once be as honest as our Arab cousins and proudly state our beliefs?     
       Peace conferences are not the problem.  We should be willing and even eager to go to any
form of peace conference.  The problem is the lack of a sane national policy; a normal and very
clear position which would be consistently presented and never subject to compromise:
         1) immediate annexation of all Jewish lands in our control;
         2) the outright rejection of the concept of "Palestine", people or state;
         3) a physical end to the "intifada" by a swift military crushing of it;
         4) the repealing of citizenship of all non Jews;
         5) the immediate expulsion of all enemies of the state before they commit crimes; and
         6) the immediate mandatory execution of all Arab terrorists.  
       The above are basic requirements for survival, not statements of racial prejudice.  Non Jews
who wish to live in Israel and abide by her laws should be permitted to do so with all due respect
and freedom, as long as that freedom does not conflict with the security of the state.  The status
of Israel as the Jewish State, however, must never be allowed to be placed in jeopardy as it has
been until now. 
      Let the people decide what to do about Jewish Land and our Arabs.  That is not "racism". 
That is pure democracy. 