                                                               
                      A Voice from Hebron
                     by Gary M. Cooperberg
            If it is a Pig, can it still be Kosher?
               Or The Oink Heard Round the World
                         June 30, 1997

     The PLO has stopped negotiating with Israel and instead has been encouraging acts of
violence to pressure the Netanyahu government to choke the Jewish State by making it cease to
grow.  In Hebron, despite the fact that a deluge of pipe bombs and molotov cocktails have been
hurled at our security forces, in addition to the ordinary rocks, our troops have orders not to
shoot the attackers.  The only response permitted is limited use of rubber bullets and tear gas. 
This despite the fact that the Arabs refuse to throw rubber rocks.  Not one murderous Arab rioter
has been arrested as the violence is permitted to continue veritably unchecked.  The policy is one
of "containment" rather than to stop it.
     Should this policy be mistaken as one of lack of ability on the part of our security forces,
we can easily see proof that this is not the case.  Our police and army are quite capable of
enforcing the law if they are given orders to do so.  Just last week a dangerous individual slipped
into Hebron and threatened to destroy the delicate balance of stability there.  No, it wasn't a PLO
terrorist loaded down with explosives.  It was a twenty-five year old Jewish girl, a new immigrant
from Russia, Tatiana Sosskind, who has not yet learned the art of Jewish self-hatred. 
     This young lady was incensed at the fact that our people are still being stoned while
driving on new highways which were especially built as bypass roads to avoid such attacks.  She
was outraged that our soldiers are forced to endure the humiliation of being stoned and watching
our flag being desecrated by our enemies while they are forbidden to react.  She could not
understand why no Jewish leader was willing to do anything to stop the humiliation of the Jewish
State and all it represents.  You see, Tatiana is still a proud Jew who just could not accept such
humiliation as a Jew.
     Unlike other frustrated Jews who express that frustration in a violent manner, this young
lady did not attempt to shoot Arabs or blow up a mosque. A creative artist, she simply drew a
picture of a pig and wrote the name "Mohammed" on it.  If the Arab enemy would murder her
brothers and sisters in the name of Islam, then, clearly, Islam is the enemy of Judaism and worthy
of attack and counter humiliation.
     She took her posters and tacked them on storefronts of Arab shops in PLO controlled
Hebron to express how she felt about a religion which inspired the murder of her people. In very
short order our capable security forces captured this dangerous saboteur and put her  in handcuffs
to face prosecution in a Jewish court.  In reaction, the Prime Minister of Israel, himself a fine
example of Jewish morality, a man who not once took the time to reassure the Jews living in
Hebron that he would stop the attacks upon them by the PLO, felt himself obligated to personally
call the PLO terrorist mayor of Hebron to apologize on behalf of the Jewish State and the Jewish
people all over the world.  His apology was soon echoed by the President of the State as well.
     In the antiseptic atmosphere of peace on Earth and goodwill to Man, it is certainly
outrageous to malign the religion of anyone.  But we are not living in such an atmosphere.  Like it
or not, despite the protests of our golden tongued prime minister, Islam is at war with Judaism. 
Islamic institutions, sanctioned by the governments of nearly all Arab states, have depicted Jews
as Nazis, pigs and monkeys.  I never heard Mubarak, Hussein or Arafat apologize on behalf of
their constituents for such outrageous cartoons appearing in their respective state controlled
newspapers.
     Behold the pride and self respect of the Moslems.  One Jewish girl, acting completely on
her own, drew a picture of a pig and called it "Mohammed" and the entire Arab world is in an
uproar.  Bibi himself has been the butt of many a vicious Arab cartoonist, yet we never hear a
word of protest from Jews.  We Jews are accustomed to being humiliated.  It is something we
have learned to live with over the centuries.  
     The fact is that Bibi and Ezer had no need to apologize.  No one would have dreamed that
they were capable of sanctioning such a "horrible" deed.  But, as long as they are already
groveling, the Arab world will milk it for all its worth. . . as they are already doing.
     Bibi, as Prime Minister you do have the right to speak in the name of the people of Israel. 
I think you are stretching that right just a bit in this case, as well as taking a bit more privilege
than you deserve by claiming the right to speak for all Jews as well.   You may harbor "respect
and appreciation" for a religion which labels you as an infidel, and in whose name countless Jews
were butchered.  I must tell you, as a Jewish citizen of Israel, I do not share your "respect and
appreciation" and disassociate myself from your pathetic groveling to the terrorist Natshe.
     While I do admit that name calling is somewhat of a childish way of expressing feelings, I
can fully appreciate the frustration and anger which compelled a proud Jewish woman to give vent
to her feelings in such a manner.   If such an expression is enough to bring down the wrath of the
entire Islamic community, then it is high time that we learn something from our enemies.  
     Islam is not worthy of either our respect or our appreciation.  It represents a belief which
denies Judaism and the right of the Jewish People to a homeland in our own country.  There is no
room to respect such a position. . . unless, of course, you are willing to negotiate away our very
existence.  I know, Shulamit said it best, "There are more soldiers in Allah's army than in the
Army of the G-d of Israel."  That is certainly true.  But if numbers are the determining factor in
what is right, then maybe we should avoid all the strife and just turn Israel into another Islamic
state right now!
     Israel exists in spite of the feelings of the rest of the world.  Israel will continue to exist in
spite of her overwhelming number of enemies.  Once the government of Israel accepts this as a
fact and realizes that the G-d of Israel personally watches over us here, day and night, perhaps it
will begin to govern in regard to Jewish interests first and foremost.  No, the pig will never be
kosher.  And Islam will never make peace with Judaism.