“Pictures of Victory”

It's only fair to share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email

On Sunday, Israelis were witness to a cavalcade of European leaders marching to Jerusalem to have their pictures taken with outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi came to Jerusalem from Sharm e-Sheikh, where they had their pictures taken with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In both cities, they expressed their support for Israel's decision to stop fighting the Iranian-armed, financed and trained Hamas terror regime in Gaza.

Olmert greeted the Europeans leaders as great friends of Israel and claimed that their presence demonstrated that Israel's operation against Hamas enjoyed massive international support. Unfortunately, Olmert's statements were wrong on both counts. The leaders who came to Jerusalem are not friends of Israel and their presence in our capital did not demonstrate that Operation Cast Lead enjoyed international backing.

While sufficing with paying the most minimal lip service to Israel's inherent right to defend itself, the leaders who came to Jerusalem have been outspoken in their criticism of Israel's actual efforts to defend its citizens from Hamas aggression. None have publicly recognized that Israel has a duty to its citizens to defeat Hamas. To the contrary, all have claimed that there "is no military solution" to Israel's military conflict with Hamas.

And while these leaders have repeated vacuous bromides about the "tragedy of both sides," their voters have been much less circumspect in telling the Jews what think of us. Over the past three weeks, all of their countries, and indeed, all the countries in Western Europe have hosted large-scale, violent, anti-Semitic demonstrations and riots. And rather than condemn the anti-Jewish violence and incitement at these events, the Europeans leaders who came to Jerusalem have either sought to appease the anti-Semites or ignore them.

German authorities for instance permitted Hamas supporters to wave Hamas flags at their hateful "peace demonstrations" while barring Israel supporters from holding Israeli flags or even displaying them in their windows.

In France, Sarkozy has equated his victimized Jewish community with the French Muslims who have been attacking them by claiming that his government "will not tolerate international tensions mutating into intercommunity violence."

Given their refusal to support Israel in its fight against Hamas and their publics' growing hatred of Israel and the Jews, what made these Europeans leaders come to Jerusalem? As Gordon Brown and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner made clear in their remarks in Jerusalem, they came here to advance a hostile agenda. They want Israel to acquiesce to Hamas's demand to open its borders with Gaza and to support the opening of Egypt's border crossing with Gaza. They also intend to start giving Hamas hundreds of millions of dollars in "humanitarian aid" to rebuild Gaza.

If Europe gets its way, any gains that Israel made in Operation Cast Lead will quickly be erased. So the question then arises, why did Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak agree to have them come to Jerusalem?

The short answer to this question is that Olmert, Livni and Barak view the European leaders as stage props. As they explained repeatedly since the outset of Operation Cast Lead, Israel's leaders sought to end the campaign with a "picture of victory." A group photo with Olmert, Sarkozy, Brown, Merkel, Zapatero and Berlusconi was the picture that they felt they needed. The fact that the picture came with demands that Israel cannot agree to without squandering its hard-earned gains in Gaza, is beside the point.

WHICH BRINGS us to the main point. What the parade of hostile foreigners in Jerusalem demonstrated clearly is that while the campaign in Gaza was touted by our leaders as a way to "change the security reality in the South," for our leaders, its most important goal was to change the electoral reality ahead of the February 10 general elections. Indeed, for them, the operation would have more appropriately been named "Operation Cast Ballots."

Olmert, Livni and Barak claimed that by signing a memorandum of understanding with outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and due to Egyptian good will, Israel succeeded in building an international framework to prevent Hamas from rearming. But the MOU sets out no mechanism whatsoever for interdicting weapons shipments to Gaza on the high seas. And Egypt for its part has refused to agree to take any concerted action to prevent the weapons shipments from docking in its ports and transiting its territory en route to Gaza.

The other operational goal that Livni, Olmert and Barak set for the campaign was to restore Israel's deterrence and so convince Hamas to stop firing its missiles on southern Israel. But, as Hamas's continued firing of missiles at southern Israel after Olmert declared the cease-fire on Saturday night showed, Israel failed to deter Hamas.

But while they failed to accomplish either of Operation Cast Lead's operational goals, they did accomplish – at least for now – their main strategic goal. They succeeded in not losing.

By waging Operation Cast Lead, Olmert, Livni and Barak hoped to turn the absence of military defeat into the building blocks of political triumph. The operation was supposed to secure their political futures in three ways. First, it was supposed to change the subject of the electoral campaign.

As Olmert looks ahead to retirement, and as Livni and Barak vie with Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu to replace him, all three politicians wanted the elections to be about something other than their failures to defeat Hizbullah, their failure to defend the South from Hamas's growing arsenal, and their failure to contend with Iran's nuclear weapons program. This goal was accomplished by Operation Cast Lead.

Their second goal – and perhaps Olmert's primary objective – was to erase the public's memory of Israel's strategic failure in the Second Lebanon War. This goal was partially achieved. The IDF performed with greater competence in Gaza than in Lebanon. And Israel achieved its aim of not being defeated in Gaza. As a result, the nation feels much more confident about the IDF's ability to defend the country.

THE MAIN difference between how Operation Cast Lead has ended and how the Second Lebanon War ended has little to do with how the IDF performed. The most important difference is Israel has not agreed to have an international force stationed in Gaza as it accepted (and in Livni's case, championed) the deployment of UNIFIL forced in South Lebanon. Since Hizbullah has used UNIFIL as a screen behind which it has rearmed and reasserted its military control over South Lebanon, the absence of such a force in Gaza is a net gain for Israel.

But again, if Israel permits Europe and the UN to flood Gaza with aid money – which will all go directly to Hamas – it will be enabling a new mechanism to be formed that will shield Hamas from the IDF and enable it to rebuild its arsenals and strengthen its control over Gaza.

This prospect is made all the more dangerous by the fact that Israel ended the campaign without taking control over the Gaza-Egypt border. By leaving the border zone under Hamas control, Israel left the path clear for Iran to resupply Hizbullah's armed forces with missiles and rockets. As Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin explained on Sunday, under the present circumstances, Hamas can be expected to rebuild its arsenals in as little as three months.

THE THIRD political aim that Olmert, Livni and Barak sought to achieve in waging Operation Cast Lead was to convince the Israeli public that their worldview is correct. That worldview asserts that the world is d
ivided between the extremist Islamic fundamentalists and the moderates. They claim that the latter group includes Arab dictatorships like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and democracies like Turkey, the EU, and Israel. The Kadima-Labor worldview also asserts that by surrendering territory to the Arabs, Israel will receive international legitimacy for any acts of self-defense it is forced to take in the event it is attacked from the territories it vacated.

Although the local media, with their sycophantic celebration of Mubarak and support for Israeli withdrawals have supported this view, it is far from clear that the public has been convinced of its wisdom. Between Turkey's open support for Hamas and vilification of Israel, Egypt's abject refusal to take any concrete action to end weapons smuggling to Gaza, and Fatah's fecklessness and hostility, Israelis have been given ample proof this month that the moderate camp is a fiction.

Moreover, the massive anti-Semitic riots in Europe and the US, and last week's anti-Israeli UN Security Council Resolution 1860 which the US refused to veto have made quite clear that Israel's withdrawals have brought it no sympathy whatsoever from the "moderate" camp.

Just as the goal of not losing did not bring Israel victory over Hamas, so too, Livni, Olmert and Barak's bid to use the operation to increase their political cache does not seem to have succeeded. Opinion polls taken in the aftermath of Olmert's announcement of the cease-fire on Saturday night showed that Likud has maintained, and even expanded, its lead against Kadima and Labor.

IN SPITE of its obvious limitations, Israelis can be pleased with the results of Operation Cast Lead on two counts. Although Hamas was not defeated, remains in full control of Gaza and has the ability to rebuild its forces, it was harmed. The IDF's operation did knock out its central installations, reduce its capacity to fight and killed some of its key leaders.

The second reason that Israelis can be pleased with the outcome is that it could have been much worse. The fact of the matter is that Operation Cast Lead was the most successful operation that Kadima and Labor are capable of leading.

With their capitulationist world view, they cannot bring Israel victory over our enemies. The most they can deliver is an absence of defeat. And so long as Israel doesn't allow Europe and the UN to begin transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas, we will remain undefeated by Hamas.

Looking ahead to the challenges Israel's next government will face, Operation Cast Lead gave Israel between three to six months of security in the south before Hamas will be able to renew its missile offensive. It is during that time that the next government will need to contend with Israel's two greatest challenges – preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and preventing the new Obama administration from undermining Israel's strategic position by selling out Israel's security to buy "pictures of victory" of its own with Iran and Syria.

Originally published in The Jerusalem Post.

It's only fair to share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email

23 Comments

  • cantbelievemyeyesandears 01/19/2009 at 23:36

    Picture of…..Bullshit

    Reply
  • marcel 01/20/2009 at 1:01

    Ever since P.M. Sharon’s retreat from Gaza ,a restrained Israel had often promised a harsh response to Hamas attacks only to attack empty fields and empty buildings or do nothing at all.
    Finally a harsh wake up call to Hamas that payday had come for their years attacks on Israel.
    The Palestinians were finally sent the message and the bill for every rocket that was fired at Israel.
    If only Israel had responded harshly the first time a kassem was fired at Sderot instead of waiting so long.
    Has Hamas gotten the message ?
    No,
    They are still in the vertical position.
    What really stands out for me is how the whole earth is strongly opposed to Israel defeating another Islamic/Arab army as a way of appeasing the Islamic war and propaganda machine.
    Only when it comes to Israel does the International Community make sure all wars come to end before there can be a positive outcome.
    Israel obeys and follows the new rules as their goal was not even the defeat of Hamas.
    This is not permitted as it would gravely offend and anger the Arab/Islamic world.
    They can’t stomach another defeat at the hands of the small Jewish nation and the nice peacenuts and fruitcakes of Israel oblige the proud Arabs by not shaming them again with a resounding defeat.
    How sweet the Sabra has become.
    This stalemate is not good as it only temporairly puts off the inevitable and major conflaguration which is building.
    I don’t know how Israel will deal with Iran knowing the world will blame them for everything and once again give the Islamic war machine good media and a pass ?
    Only Israel is targeted for war crimes charges never the moslem terrorists.
    Hamas supporters in Fort Lauderdale
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Xl68kP4wo

    Reply
  • Marc Handelsman, USA 01/20/2009 at 1:55

    Since Operation Cast Lead ended without a decisive victory, it was a strategic loss for Israel. Hamas will defiantly continue its sporadic bombardment of Southern Israel to demonstrate its resilience. The next government needs to restore Israel’s strategic deterrent by following through on its objectives. Allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons cannot be tolerated. Once Iran is nuclear-armed, it will destabilize the entire region, and target missiles on Israel. And President Obama will discover that sending Secretary of State Clinton to mediate in the Arab-Israeli conflict is a fool’s errand.

    Reply
  • Ron Grandinetti, USA 01/20/2009 at 1:57

    A photo-op and a charade all wrapped up into one.
    Caroline, your parents did not raise a fool. God Bless them.
    Some people see things as they want them to be while you see things as they really are.
    Your tag on the present Israeli leaders is right on.
    First, what we did not hear from those showing up for the picture taking ceremony is condemnation of Hamas as a terrorist organization, one that should be defeated and put out of business.
    Hamas is the tail that wags the dog (Palestinians). Don’t think that if a dog wags his tail he won’t bite you. Think again.
    Forget opening up the Egyptian border to Gaza. Hosni Mubarak can only be trusted as far as you can throw him. By the way he is a candidate for the NutriSystem program. So dismiss any idea of throwing. He can’t be trusted to take out the garbage.
    The IDF and ADF did a splendid job, unfortunately they must somehow have that empty feeling that they were not allowed to complete the work, the work of putting Hamas out of business.
    The Saudi king wants to provide economic aid to Gaza, which translates into more ammunition and supplies to Hamas to kill Jews.
    The Israelis have to understand that all the demonstrations around the globe do not represent the majority of its citizens. The liberal left media would want you to believe otherwise. Don’t let this stray you from electing a strong right-wing conservative government that will stand up to the bullies.
    And by the way, tell Syria the Golan Heights is not up for sale. For one thing, they would only louse up the neighborhood. They are just not the Mr. Rogers neighborhood type.
    Again, I hate to beat a dead horse, but the American liberal Jews have to take a right turn and get Washington to move on full support of Israel. A majority of Americans will stand behind them.

    Reply
  • Pops in Vienna 01/20/2009 at 7:33

    Another great article Caroline,
    Yes, I fear those IDF soldiers died in vain. Why get those poor boys killed without finishing the job? I guess Israel was afraid of ticking off President Obama. What a way to run a war. I think this was your Vietnam. You won all the battles and decided to quit for political reasons.
    I imagine Obama and the EU will be flooding Gaza with money, new weapons and better military training.
    I think the real enemy of Israel is your own government. When things turn brown Olmert will join his family in France. Does Livni have a back up passport?
    I think the only hope of saving Israel is G-d.

    Reply
  • Leaky M. 01/20/2009 at 8:14

    “Pictures of victory”, I wonder who were the photographers? Did they forget their gift was to be used to fulfil God’s purpose not man’s. Men’s glory is like grass it withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
    Especially Yerushalyim !
    thanks Caroline for standing in the gap and being a voice that reveals the cause.
    shalom.

    Reply
  • Dan Leasia USA 01/20/2009 at 8:15

    Once again, you did it with your comments on “Pictures of Victory.” Maybe if you hold the “dynamic trio of bumblers” accountable they will consider permanent retirement from politics. And Israel will live to fight to a real victory.

    Reply
  • Scott 01/20/2009 at 9:04

    Olmert brings to mind the words of Senator Charles Sumner about Roger Taney,Chief Justice of the United States:”his name will be hooted down the pages of history..”

    Reply
  • Bert Kariboe 01/20/2009 at 12:07

    Some inside from European point of view.
    In Europe we have a strange look at world problems. We think that everything can be solved with talks and appeasement. We have had peace in Western Europe for more than 50 years now and two generations grew up with the idea that peace is a normal social condition. A ‘bit’ different from life in Israel. Every time something happens in the Middle East there is this Pavlov reaction in the minds of our leaders and in the media: ‘talk about it and we can solve it. As long as people are talking, we can work it out.’ We forget, however, that talking with each other means that you must share at least some kind of minimal interest. This is totally absent with ‘people’ as Hamas. How can you talk with people who only want the other party to die? Israeli’s know that this is the fact, but in Europe we still believe in the goodness and fairness in each persons heart.
    There is something else, also. There is a strong left wing network with a lot of sympathisers in media, politics, universities, etc. which is very concerned about the oppression of the poor people of Palestine for, I think, more that thirty years now. In one way it is a good thing that people are concerned about the well being of other human beings, but the amount of attention and sympathy for the Palestinians in the ‘occupied areas’ is above reason and close to some kind of religion.
    It is actually very simple: if something bad happens with the Palestinians, it is the fault of Israel. They are the occupiers, they hold the road blocks, they block economical progress, they steal the water, they steal the future, they oppress the people, they throw the bombs, they kill the children, they… you get the picture. Even when Hamas kills it’s own people, use them as shields, etc…. it is Israel who is to blame.
    Just one example, taken from a talk show (of many) yesterday evening. Some professor said that ‘because of the war actions by Israel in the last three weeks, a whole new generation of Palestinian children are filled with hate for Israel’. How can Israel compete with these kind of media covering? It can’t. Israel looses every time the media war. That’s a simple fact.
    Of course there are people who see a bigger picture and try to tell the other side and tell about Hamas education for young children, and IDF’s efforts to minimize casualties, and the lies from Pallywood, and the fact that Israel is the one and only country in the world that gives food and water and medicines etc. to a people of whom most of them wants to kill all of them, etc. But these are minor voices.
    There is more, if you’re still interested.
    There have been, indeed, demonstrations all over Europe. A couple of them turned violent. There were anti-Semitic comments, to an extent not even the Germans 60 years ago would say openly. That’s a complete outrage. What is even more an outrage is the soft response of the police, who is simply afraid to act. The reason is that in Europe we encounter more and more the growth of a large community of Muslims from Morocco, Turkey, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, etc. A lot of them, as was expected, felt really angry because of Cast Lead. Not, as I suppose, because they love the Palestinians so much, but because the Jews are attacking Muslim people. I don’t have to explain to you how jihad works, but here in Europe we still don’t have a clue. Muslim people on the streets shouting all kinds of abusing things (the same people you don’t see demonstrating when for example Iran kills homosexuals or throw stones to poor men and women), while at the same time left wing people condemns in the same demonstrations the actions of Israel (seen on youtube a left wing politician from Holland, calling in a demonstration for Intifadah? (look for ‘van Bommel’ and ‘intifadah’). Left and Islam goes really well together here, because left thinks that Islam people are peaceful people and that minorities are always oppressed and need to be helped. It’s a strange and dangerous alignment.
    We’re not done. The amount of attention the Palestinian-Israeli conflict gets over here is not in balance with the attention, for example, the genocide in Darfur gets or the on-going war in Congo. These are minor things in our media. As if 4 million dead people in Congo and hundreds of thousands of deaths in Darfur is less important for demonstrators and media than the some hundred deaths in Gaza. I am not sure why. I can offer some explanations, but what’s the truth?
    Is is because of our past and the feelings of guilt for our passiveness in WOII?
    Is it because the conflict seems to be so simple and can be solved so easily (Israel just has to give away land and a piece of Jerusalem and then everyone is happy and peace will come: this is really an overall meaning and it proves how stupid we are concerning jihad, Islamic culture and motives).
    Is it because we expect a higher standard of morality of Jewish people, who ‘invented’ high morals and of whom we learned our (Christian) morals?
    Or is it because we are afraid of Islamic terrorism and we want to appease the Arabic world and all Muslim people by throwing a bone which happens to be Israel?
    The last argument is, I think, the most probable one and the most sinister one. It comes forth from the belief in a fairy tale that all Islamic terrorism is the fruit of the oppression of the Palestinian people. When we remove the oppression and free the Palestinian people, all things that cause the anger of so many Muslims will disappear and we will live long and happily thereafter. This is, I guess, the real reason (though most people don’t realize this)why so many people chooses the side of the terrorists: they are afraid of their own lives, because Islamic terrorism comes knocking on our doors. Darfur is a local ‘problem’ and no one really cares. Gaza’s problems are nothing compared to Darfur, but everyone on this planet cares.
    Maybe, you have to explain to the world how jihad works, and maybe we learn in time to stand side by side with Israel in yours ánd ours struggle for freedom. Because that’s what this is all about.
    Take care.

    Reply
  • Grumpy Old Man 01/20/2009 at 13:56

    In short, Israel devastated Gaza, killed hundreds and wounded thousands, and earned the opprobrium of the world for nothing in particular.

    Reply
  • marcel 01/20/2009 at 14:18

    Caroline ,This report on the Rwanda invasion of East Congo today is an example of the hypocrisy of the nations as it relates to rescuing Hamas from defeat at the hands of Israel.
    Gee, I wonder why we are not hearing the outcry from the world to STOP this never ending war in Africa and the USELESS UN’s inability to do anything positive there ? How many people know about this war and why the BIAS reporting when it comes to Israel defending themsleves against attacks from Islamic terrorists ?
    This is my response today to the World Focus media and journalists who cry about Gaza.
    This appeasment of Hamas terrorists and according these killers for allah status while abusing Israel’s right to defend themselves against this Islamic onslaught will boomerang on the world community.
    We all know that the moslems do not just want a return to 67′ borders they want to remove this only non-Islamic state from their midst.
    The Useless Media cover this up and have us believe that if Israel surrenders more land that we will have peace.
    The US,EU,UN,NGO’s International media are all guilty of genocide against the Jews and Israel because they cover up the Islamic agenda against non Islamic Israel and GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO aid Israel’s enemies.
    You will all pay a heavy price for your evil against Israel and it’s going to come down from above.
    The titular head of the Useless UN Ban Ki-Moon visits Gaza today. I wonder if he will visit East Congo and Kivu soon where TODAYS war has been going on for many many years without the outcry we saw against Israel by the hypocrites in the media ,UN,EU,US and NGO’s ?
    TODAY
    The BBC’s Thomas Fessy in the Congolese capital Kinshasa says diplomatic and UN sources fear a humanitarian disaster because of a possible lack of military planning and consultation with the international community
    Jean-Paul Dietrich, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, told our correspondent that Rwandan troops had entered North Kivu province near the city of Goma and were heading for the town of Rutshuru.
    Some 250,000 people have been displaced since August 2008, when the CNDP rebels led by Gen Laurent Nkunda resumed fighting with the Congolese army.
    Before last month’s deal was signed, the UN accused Rwanda and DR Congo of fighting a proxy war in the region – with Rwanda backing Gen Nkunda and DR Congo of working with the FDLR.
    Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, before Tutsi rebels led by current President Paul Kagame took control of the country.

    Reply
  • FactsDispelLies 01/20/2009 at 16:18

    Caroline thanks for the great article, I always appreciate the research and analysis you put into your work. I do have one question on this one. You say:
    “…so long as Israel doesn’t allow Europe and the UN to begin transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas, we will remain undefeated by Hamas.”
    What can Israel do to prevent the money transfers?

    Reply
  • lawrence kohn 01/20/2009 at 17:14

    As always I like to remind your readers of the silent but potent presence of Russia which has dispatched a naval flotilla to Syria and will reinforce its military along with finishing the nuclear reactor in Iran and give more weapons and support to the Mullahs. Obama will try to move Syria from the Russian-Iranian axis and this will only make things harder for Israel which will be asked again to give something in exchange for nothing.

    Reply
  • Stephen Hughes 01/20/2009 at 22:47

    Israel Wins the battles, Hamas Wins the War
    Israeli Officials , “ We Have Taught the Hamas, a lesson, we have reduced rocket fire into our communities, “.
    Israel expended some billion dollars, in military and economic resources Hamas, a few million dollars , but now instead of obtaining a 100 million dollars or so a year, it Hamas will now receive several billion. Saudi Arabia has already pledged one billion. . Hamas will rebuild , rearm, and become more powerful than ever.
    Hamas with its state actors such as Iran , Syria and etc. has successfully inflamed an international global pandemic of distain and hatred for Israel , and Jewish people everywhere.
    Israel will not only have to endure more terrorists attacks, more rocket fire, but under International pressure be required to show even more restraint, endure more losses.
    As Rocket fire begins again, Hamas will say, It’s not us, its them, we are doing everything we can, Israel must show more restrain, etc. .
    If Israel had removed Hamas, it would have sent a clear message , to Iran, to Syria, to Hezbollah.
    But now they only message Israel has sent is , “ Ever Again”

    Reply
  • Luigi Frascati, Canada 01/21/2009 at 6:06

    I would like to compliment, if I may, reader Bert Kariboe for his analysis and the particular point he makes with respect to the innate European tendencies of appeasing the progressive Islamic expansionism in the Old Continent. In fact, more than anything I can say on this subject which, in ultimate analysis, would simply parallel what Mr. Kariboe has expressed already, it is best to let the Prophet speak for Himself.
    So therefore ladies and gentlemen, and especially you benevolent and humanitarian liberal Christians of Europe, come meet your fate in the words of Mohamed:
    “SLAY THE INFIDELS WHEREVER YE MAY FIND THEM
    AND DRIVE THEM OUT OF THE PLACES WHENCE THEY DROVE YOU OUT,
    FOR PERSECUTION IS WORSE THAN SLAUGHTER […]
    FIGHT AGAINST THEM UNTIL IDOLATRY IS NO MORE,
    AND ALLAH’S RELIGION REIGNS SUPREME.
    OH BELIEVERS, TAKE NO CHRISTIANS AND JEWS AS FRIENDS,
    FOR THEY ARE FRIENDS TO EACH OTHERS.
    BEWARE OF THEM,
    AND THOSE OF YOU WHO MAKE THEM HIS FRIENDS IS ONE OF THEM […]
    MAKE WAR ON THEM UNTIL IDOLATRY IS NO MORE.
    PUT THEM TO THE SWORD!
    BURN THEIR BOOKS!
    FOR GOD DOES NOT GUIDE AN UNJUST PEOPLE […]
    OH PROPHET! EXHORT THE BELIEVERS TO FIGHT!
    IF THERE ARE TWENTY STEADFAST MEN AMONGST YOU,
    THEY SHALT VANQUISH TWO-HUNDRED;
    AND IF THERE ARE A HUNDRED,
    THEY SHALT ROUT A THOUSAND INFIDELS,
    FOR THEY ARE DEVOID OF UNDERSTANDING
    AND DELUDED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH […]
    FIGHT IS PROSCRIBED TO YOU, SONS OF ALLAH
    AS MUCH AS YOU DISLIKE IT.
    AND IF YOU DIE OR BE KILLED IN THE CAUSE OF THE MERCIFUL,
    BEFORE HIM YE SHALT ALL BE GATHERED.
    YE SHALT NOT THINK THAT THE MARTYRS ARE DEAD,
    FOR THEY ARE ALIVE AND WELL PROVIDED FOR BY THE OMNIPOTENT […]
    WHEN YE MEET THE INFIDELS, SMITE THEIR NECKS;
    THEN, WHEN YE HAVE MADE WIDE SLAUGHTER OF THEM,
    TIE FAST THE BONDS.
    AND WHEN YE MEET THEM IN THE BATTLEFIELD,
    STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS
    AND IF THEY HIDE BENEATH THE ROCK IN FEAR AND DESPAIR,
    LIFT THE ROCK AND BEHEAD THEM.
    KILL THEM, KILL THEM ALL WHEREVER THEY MAY BE,
    AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE CHILDREN OF THEIR CHILDREN.
    HAVE NO MERCY!
    SEIZE THEM, BELEAGUER THEM
    FOR THEY ARE THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH,
    AND THEY WILL ROAST IN HELL.
    BUT IF THEY REPENT,
    AND IF THEY PAY THE FEE OF REDEMPTION WITH CHARITY AND PRAYER
    THEN OPEN THE PATH FOR THEM,
    FOR ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL” .
    The Word of The Prophet, Peace be upon Him, from the Sura 9 – Al-Tawba.
    So therefore Christians of Europe, and indeed Christians everywhere – beware! Be very, very aware. Islam is not just a religion, it is a way of life, a political ideology and a philosophic doctrine all at the same time. There is no separation of church and state. The rule of the people, by the people, for the people is supplanted by the rule of Allah, by the faithful to Allah, for the pleasure of Allah. Liberty, deeply cherished and entrenched in Western democracies, is replaced by submission — unquestioning obedience and adherence to the dictates and precepts of the all-knowing and all-wise Allah.
    There is no French Revolution in Islam, no David Hume, no Illuminism, no Goethe, no Descartes, no free-thinking. “Knowledge”, in the words of the Prophet, “is only one dot, expanded by the ignorant”. Absolute devotion reigns supreme.
    Islam is not a democracy. There is no rationalizing with, no talking “peace” with Islam. There is only submission – or death. This is proscribed by Allah, as you have read, and it is cast into stone.
    “Peace” is a Western concept, not an Islamic concept.
    In time you will discover – and you WILL discover it – at your own peril and expense and over the blood of your own that the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim. I just hope for your own sake that it will not be too late.
    Shalom.

    Reply
  • FactsDispelLies 01/21/2009 at 10:25

    Luigi Frascati, Canada – please contact me at [email protected] I would like permission to post your words on my blog. Thank You.

    Reply
  • FactsDispelLies 01/21/2009 at 10:54

    Caroline, Please disregard my post regarding Luigi Frascati, I located him online. Thanks.

    Reply
  • marcel 01/21/2009 at 13:24

    Luigi,
    The truth is offensive to the brainwashed.
    The delusional dreamers live a fantasy that peace is possible with the followes of the moonn god of the false prophet Mohammed.
    Israel’s liberal insanity dictates that Islam is an honorable religion not matter how evil it’s murderous religious hate and intolerance are.
    Their educators brainwash the little Jewish children into believing it has an equal moral foundation as Judiasm instead of the truth that Mohammed was a pervert,liar and false prophet and above all a barbaric murderer.
    All of Israel’s decades of showing honor and respect to her Moslem neighbors has been for naught,a waste of time.
    Israel is repaid with evil for the great respect shown to the cult of death.
    No matter how often you call evil good does not make it so.
    This delusion of Islam being acceptable feed’s the brainwashed Israeli public that there can be true and lasting peace with the followers of the devil,allah whom they serve.
    Islam is evil and Israel is living in a fantasy along with the West because there is no peace to be had with Islam.

    Reply
  • Alkalai 01/21/2009 at 15:49

    Caroline,
    Your ability to clearly size up a situation and express it so well is absolutely brilliant, and downright amazing. I love your columns and greatly enjoy this blog- THANK YOU !!!!

    Reply
  • Ron Grandinetti, USA 01/21/2009 at 17:16

    Caroline, I know very little of Islamic religion, however the passage of Mohamed that Lugi has presented is scary.
    What I mean about scary is that the whole free world sits around twiddling their thumbs while the Iranian Islamic clergy and their little Hitler president continues to work on a nuclear weapon which they don’t need.
    I mentioned before, Bill O’Reilly’s “Culture Warrior” he points out the effects of secular-progressive movement occurring around the world. Shed the Judeo-Christian principals and let the government take care of you. Good Luck. Weaken our resolve to fight for democracy and freedom from tyrants.
    If at anytime, it is NOW for Christians and Jews to stand together and put down the secular-progressive movement (George Soros, the chairman).
    Also, let the Islamic fundamentalist and terrorist groups know that we will not tolerate or accept their threats.
    Saudi Arabia and Iran are major breeding places for these hate mongrels. Get off the oil dependency of these guys and tell them go pound sand.
    By the way, how do you thank the present Israeli government for not completing the work of putting Hamas out of business?
    It won’t be long before they are back in operation sending the Iran and Saudi rockets into Israel?
    One sure way of thanking them is to dismiss them at the next election.

    Reply
  • Yaakov 01/22/2009 at 7:07

    we’ll have to go back to gaza. but the one thing that i take great chizuk from is the religious feeling of our soldiers. there are a number of reports of non-religious soldier asking for and wearing tzitzit, keeping tehilim with them..some several (psalms) and 10 or more prayer services in the morning at the ‘prayer tent’.
    this level of awakening of kedusha at this time is a great encouragement.
    may Hashem bless all the soldiers and all of israel with strength, emunah(faith) and the will to do what’s right!

    Reply
  • Hartmut Pilch 01/23/2009 at 3:13

    Public opinion in Europe isn’t all that hostile to Israel. The anti-israeli demos were populated mostly by islamic immigrants, together with indigenous leftists who hardly can hope to reach out to more than 20% of the population at any time. There were also pro-israel demos with thousands of participants and of course lots of Israel flags. It is normal for police to keep antagonist demonstrators apart from each other and in that context demand a removal of a flag, be it israeli or jihadist or whatever. The Duisburg incident which you seem to be referring to was an isolated case for which a weak local police force, which backed down before an islamist mob, later came under fire and apologised. Mainstream media and politicians have been moderately supportive of Israel. The typical jihadist propaganda, with which most immigrants from islamic countries seem to have been brainwashed, is hardly achieving anything here except for an anguishing show of cultural distance between the indigenous population and these immigrants. The political elite is certainly among those who feel this distance and a corresponding proximity to Israel. Which of course does not mean that they will actively pursue Israels’ national interests.
    .

    Reply
  • Bob 01/23/2009 at 14:15

    for heavans sake we need Bibi —the EU and Obama will throw IS beneath the bus without a thought —thank you for your work

    Reply

Leave a Comment