              This Marriage wasn't made in Heaven
 
                     by Gary M. Cooperberg 
                          June 17, 1994


     It wasn't exactly love at first sight.  They both knew that this would be a marriage of
convenience... more like a business deal than true love.  But, when both parties have genuine
needs, and if each partner is able to satisfy the needs of the other, who is to say that such a
marriage cannot work?
     The date was set, September 13, 1993.  It was to be a gala celebration held on the
White House lawn.  None other than Bill Clinton, the President of the United States, was to
officiate at this wedding.
     The blushing bride, Yitzchak Rabin, was clearly shy and uncomfortable, but prepared
to make this commitment.  And the groom, Yassir Arafat, was bold and brash, clearly anxious
to get the ceremony over with.
     For a dowry, Yitzchak signed over Jericho and the Gaza Strip, promising more if
Yassir would be a good husband.  It is true that Yassir's servants murdered a few of Yitzchak's
people, but that was only because this marriage was so new.  There was much yet to be
learned.  It would take some time for the PLO to learn how to stop murdering Jews.  Patience
was clearly called for.
     Then, in a little mosque in South Africa, Yassir was caught making remarks which
proved his intentions to be less than honorable.  Aside from literally stating that this marriage
will not last, he assured his friends and admirers that it was his right to sign an agreement
which he had no intention to fulfill.
     Yitzchak was shocked at the news that, so soon after the wedding, the groom had
already proved to be unfaithful.  What could Yitzchak do or say?   The President of the United
States himself officiated at the wedding.  How could Yitzchak simply take off the ring and
demand a divorce?   It would be a scandal.
     After crying and sitting for a while with her bridesmaid, Shimon, a decision was made. 
Yassir will not make a fool out of Yitzchak, no Sir.  First Yitzchak demanded a signed
statement that Yassir will, indeed, honor his commitments.  But the fact is, if Yassir already
said that his word means nothing, what good is another signed document?  So then Yitzchak
came out from the bridal chamber, all smiles.  I still have control, she whined.  If Yassir tries
anything smart I can still show him who's boss.  And with that all of Yassir's public statements
were dismissed, by Yitzchak, as pure and meaningless nonsense.  
     Only last week Arab gunmen shot down two IDF soldiers at the Gaza strip border and
then escaped into the PLO safety zone where the "palestinian police" declared that no crime
had taken place.  
     In spite of this Yitzchak Rabin declared that they are "doing a good job".  This week, it
would seem that they have learned their lesson.  Once again Arab infiltrators shot at IDF
soldiers (baruch HaShem not seriously injuring any) and escaped into the safety of PLO land. 
This time the 'palestinian police" were said to have been in hot pursuit.  Let's not hold our
breath.
     Meanwhile, Clinton's best man, Warren, declared that actions speak louder than words
and that he is hopeful that Yassir will be a faithful husband.  He also hopes that next Tuesday
there will be world peace and the removal of the national debt.
     In spite of all the smiles and efforts to prove Yassir a faithful husband, every day finds
more evidence that he just cannot do it.  Yitzchak bravely stands up to the embarrassment by
trying to deny the evidence and either make up cover stories, or, better still, lash out against
her own brothers and sisters to get away from a bitter subject.
     To the hundreds of thousands of his own people who tried to persuade Yitzchak to
give up on this doomed relationship, Yitzchak shouted at them, telling them all that they could
spin like propellers and he would still never listen to them. 
     He visited the synagogue in Jericho and said that no one cared about it before his
wedding with Arafat, so why is it so important now?  If they like the mosaic floor so much
they can pick it up and take it to Tel Aviv.
     He visited the Gaza Strip Jewish settlement of Netzerim and declared, "If this is a
settlement, I am a ball bearing".  Ah the pain of unrequited love.  Now, rather than admit he
was wrong and call for the return of his wrongfully awarded dowry, Yitzchak is trying to
convince himself that he never wanted it in the first place.  Who needs Gaza?  Who needs
Jericho?  Who needs Hebron?  Indeed, who needs Israel?
     When will Yitzchak learn that it's okay to admit he was wrong?  There is no need for
him to lash out at his brothers.  But pride is a strange thing.  After a while it takes on a life of
its own, forcing people to do things they know are wrong.
     For a real man and wife to suffer under such illusions is a tragedy.  But for an entire
nation to be forced to suffer under the illusions of a puffed up aged has been, and be expected
to sit quietly as he destroys our country is an abomination.
     It is high time to disown both the bride and the groom, to take back all of the dowry,
and to kick the groom and his entire entourage out of the house.  Then, maybe, we can begin
to go about the business of finding true and lasting peace. 