                      A Voice from Hebron
                     by Gary M. Cooperberg
                          June 9, 1996
               Another Chance to Choose Greatness

     There are moments in history which are laden with opportunity for greatness.  The day
when the State of Israel was declared could have brought redemption with it had our leaders the
courage to recognize just how miraculous that moment was and declare Israel the sovereign state
of the Jewish People exclusively.  Instead they rejected greatness and opted for mediocrity as they
insisted that our Arab enemies share our sovereignty with us.  Again, in June of 1967, after our
astounding victory over our Arab enemies, we had a golden opportunity to bring true redemption
by accepting the miraculous return of Judea Samaria and Gaza and redefining Israel as an
exclusively Jewish State.  Again we failed miserably and brought upon our own heads a horrible
reign of internal terror.
     Until May 29 of this year, it seemed as if we were doomed.  Peres resurrected the
moribund Arafat and made him King of Palestine.  He created a statesman from the terrorist
leader by introducing him to the President of the United States and gaining him the Nobel Peace
Prize.   Further, he gave him Jericho, Gaza, Bethlehem and much of Judea and Samaria.  He
authorized the establishment of a PLO army inside Israel, and suggested that he would not oppose
the formation of a new Arab terrorist state on Jewish soil! 
     Then, in answer to our prayers, we were granted another miracle.  Binyamin Netanyahu
was elected Prime Minister.  Once again we have been given an golden opportunity to extricate
ourselves from the mess made for us by our former leaders.  It can be done.  
     As of this writing, Mr. Netanyahu is in a perfect position to make firm and drastic changes
which can secure the future of his nation.  His position of "peace with security" is a good one, but
one which will need careful definition.  
     I would like to offer my suggestion as to how our new Prime Minister can be faithful to
his Jabotinksy idealism while maintaining his commitment to continuing the peace process.
     First of all, allow me to remind you that Menachem Begin's conception of autonomy was
just that, autonomy.  It was the concept that the Arabs of Israel should have the right to rule over
themselves.  It never suggested that Israel relinquish any part of her land to a foreign entity, only
that a significant foreign minority be given limited rights to rule over themselves.   The problem
which came about under the Peres government was that the impression was given that Gaza and
Jericho, along with most of Judea and Samaria, were to be given over to the Arabs.  Further, it
was implied that these lands would become Arab property and give way to a new sovereign Arab
state.
     The very first thing Mr. Netanyahu must do now is to redefine the original autonomy plan.
Let him make it abundantly clear that we want peace and we want to grant Arabs living in Israel
the right to self rule.  But this self rule must be subject to overall Israeli sovereignty.  Gaza and
Jericho, as well as all of Judea and Samaria, will always be part and parcel of the Jewish State. 
They should immediately be incorporated into the State of Israel as a dramatic emphasis to this
axiomatic fact.  The "Palestinian Authority" should be made to understand that its function is to
represent the needs of the Arabs of Israel to the Israeli sovereign authority.  There is no reason for
an armed Arab police force, nor should any Arabs be permitted to bear arms.  Security must
remain exclusively in Jewish hands.
     Further, all Arabs in Israel, on both sides of the so-called "green line" should be
recognized as subjects of the Palestinian Authority, not citizens of the Jewish State.  As such they
can vote for their own leaders and participate in matters affecting their own religious, social and
cultural affairs.  They will be welcome as good neighbors and guests in the Jewish State, but not
as citizens.  Their political rights can be met via the Palestinian Authority, not via the Israeli
Knesset.
     It should be clearly recognized that this "cliff-hanger" election was only such because a
great majority of Arabs viewed Peres as a proponent of the concept of creating an independent
Arab state on Jewish soil.  If we expect to maintain Israel as a Jewish State, we must act swiftly to
guarantee the impossibility of a large Arab electorate influencing the character of this country. 
This must be done now, swiftly and forcefully.
     Mr. Netanyahu, you reacted to Prime Minister Peres' statement, virtually declaring the
Golan Heights as Syrian land, by rejecting it outrightly.  It is imperative that you immediately
similarly reject the Palestinian Authority as being anything more than a spokesman for Arab, non-citizen, guests of the Jewish State.  You are not married to any of Peres' mistakes.
     After Menachem Begin was elected Prime Minister in a stunning victory over Rabin, the
press in the United States asked him if he intended to withdraw from Judea and Samaria as Rabin
had promised.    Begin's retort was that the People of Israel chose him instead of Rabin because
they apparently disapproved of that idea.  Thus he was merely fulfilling the will of the electorate.  
     Mr. Netanyahu, all eyes are on you now.  Greatness awaits you and is expected of you,
from friend and foe alike.  You can rise to this momentous opportunity, or you can slip into
mediocrity as did your forebears from both parties.  It is all in your hands.  Learn from our past
mistakes and lead us as a proud Jew who understands what Jewish destiny requires of us, and
realize that the Hand of G-d will always strengthen those who take risks for authentic Jewish
destiny. 