           Loan Guarantees, Settlements, Peace Talks
What Lies ahead for Israel?     
                     by Gershon Ben Shabtai
                        October 13, 1991
                                
       While, as always, much controversy and political speculation focus upon the tiny
Jewish state, it is only the Jewish People, as a unified entity, who will shape the events that are
about to take place in "New World Order" which is coming to pass.  It is not George Bush
who will determine the destiny of the world, nor is it even the Israeli Prime Minister.  It is the
Jewish People as a whole.
       The G-d of Creation chose the Jewish People to be His vehicle to teach His eternal
lessons to Mankind.  It is our role to be the Divine example of rising above the mundane by
living by His Law.  Should we choose to accept our role voluntarily we will see miracles and
wonders even more astounding than what occurred when we were freed from bondage in
Egypt.  Should we try to avert our destiny and deny our Divine role, it will be thrust upon us
anyway but without the glorious and obvious miracles, and with tragedy and much suffering.
       Israel was not meant to be a beggar state.  We should not be seeking loans, we
should be offering them.  Our economy is an artificial one which cannot continue as it is.  We
must encourage free enterprise and the small businessman rather than choking them as we
have been.
       If we are to continue our relationship with the United States it must be clearly
understood to be a mutually beneficial one, not a master beggar one.  How we choose to
govern and build our country is our business and ours alone.  How we punish our criminals
and terrorists is not subject to discussion with outsiders.  
       Peace is one of the names of G-d.  There will never be peace unless He is involved
in the process.  Certainly peace will never result from His people violating His Law, such as
giving away holy Lands which He gave to us!  
       Although the Prime Minister brushes off the recent return of a Jewish presence to
the City of David in, what is now called, "Silwan" as an "unnecessary" act since all of
Jerusalem belongs to Israel; 




and although the assistant Defense Minister chastised the return as "acting as thieves in the
night"; it is clear that only by acting as they did were Jews able to affect their presence in this
Yudenrein part of ancient Jerusalem. 
       The incredible fact is that the only legal objection raised against the continued
Jewish presence in Jewish owned properties in the City of David is the strain it would place
upon the police to provide the residents protection from their Arab neighbors!  Once again we
come up against a clear example of rewarding Arab terror.             This is our country.  If we are willing to permit others to live here with us that is
fine.  But if these "guests" in our country choose not to give us a moment of peace in our own
home do we preserve the peace by leaving?  Any normal self-respecting people would never
allow their guests to throw them out of their own home by violence!  How can such behavior
be justified?
       What is true for "Silwan" in Jerusalem, is true for so many Jewish cities throughout
our country; Hebron, Schechem, Jericho, Bet El, Bethlehem, just to mention a few.  The press
is quick to condemn Israel for establishing isolated settlements near these places which Jews
have established to avoid the violent response by Arabs who will never willingly permit a Jew
to live near them in these cities.  
       It is wrong to establish new settlements.  We should be returning, enmass, to the
original Jewish cities and towns throughout our country, openly and proudly.  Any adverse
reaction from Arabs should be swiftly and decisively dealt with.  If the Arabs are willing to live
together with us in peace, fine.  If they are not they should be thrown out.  Why does this
country need to invest millions for its army to protect her citizens from local Arabs?  Do we
owe a special favor to our murderers?  Since when does rewarding murderers result in peace? 
In whose interest are we acting?  Certainly not our own.
       If we are honest about it we can solve our economic problems, absorb our brothers
from abroad, and bring peace much closer if we would only act as if we were a truly sovereign
nation.  If we had the same pride and determination displayed by terrorist murderers in our
country who fearlessly murder men women and children in the name of "Palestine", not by
emulating their behavior, rather by acting to eliminate it, we can restore the image of the
proud Jew who ruled here in the days of King David.