            When in the course of Human events. . .
                        January 15, 1992
                     by Gary M. Cooperberg

       The security situation in Israel has gone beyond all bounds of what can be
considered acceptable.  Given the limitations which the government has imposed upon itself all
admit that it is impossible to prevent the continued terrorist murder of Jewish civilians.
       How is it that the Israeli population can accept the fact that outside political
pressure prevents its government from adequately protecting their very lives?  How many
more Jews must be murdered before the people rise up and demand a change in governmental
policy?
       The Jewish pioneers who live on the firing line are accused of being extremists.  Yet
the most violent response they take in reaction to the murder of their colleagues is to shoot
holes in Arab water tanks, and for this they are condemned worse than the murderers!
       The concept of building new settlements every time a Jew is attacked is certainly no
panacea.  But it does have a basis in logic.  Surely the purpose of Arab terror is to frighten
Jews away.  If they would see that just the opposite occurs and, rather than have fewer Jews
they have more to contend with as a direct result of their actions, perhaps it would discourage
acts of terror.  But this can only be effective if the government endorses it.  Otherwise we just
show the Arabs that we have no unity and that acts of terror can achieve results.
       The only real solution, of course, is to remove the cause of the problem.  The real
cause is our recognition of any "palestinian" entity.  As long as we accept such a concept we
nurture the hope of these Arabs that they might eventually plant an Arab state over the Jewish
one.
       Why can we not see that the solution lies in our hands, and not in Madrid,
Washington or Moscow?  Why must we continually play the role of mediator to the detriment
of our own interests?  It is easy to blame our leaders.  But, in fact, we are the real culprits.  If
we allow our leaders to continue to encourage Arab terrorism; if we turn away every time
another Jew is murdered and rely on the do nothing policy of our government; if we continue
our apathetic belief that we can't do anything to save ourselves and have no choice but to rely
upon those who have proven that they either cannot or will not, then we must accept our share
in the responsibility for the death of our brothers.
       Every Jew has a stake in the future of his people and his country.  We can change
things if we try.  If we refuse to even try then we have no business complaining to or about
others.  