Israels's Gaza Pull Out

The Gaza Pull out will not lead to the desired, if there is one, result. Nor is it, as many must be concluding, a first step in the right direction. We consistently fail to understand in its proper form and context the pathology of terrorism. We view it through the lenses of our own narrow scope and perceptions. While most Israeli's favor it, they are correct in their assessment that this will only embolden terrorists. Indeed, we have been rewarding terrorism for years - Arafat, for his troubles and efforts, was perversely given the Nobel Peace prize for peace.

The bottom line is that while Israel has not helped its own cause at times, it remains a democracy in a sea of hostility. One can gloss over this however they choose - Mystical Jewish invisible hands are making me say this? It will not detract from this reality. The world has decided to usurp thousands of years of accepted norms and parameters in rules of engagement when it comes to Israel - and of course the United States. The oddity is that these two countries are held to a higher standard than the rest, yet remain immensely unpopular among intellectuals and leftist/socialists.

The 'Occupation' is the supreme point of contention. Land lost by a rabid band of unprepared marauders who wanted to throw another society 'into the sea' fair and square. Perhaps they should have thought a little harder before attacking. 1948 was a difficult and controversial year but with a lack of leadership in a fragmented world, the hospitable Arabs were doomed to sink further into irrelevance. The leaders of each Arab country had failed its people in guiding them through rough waters.

The ultimate insult thrust upon the legacy of the Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Assyrians and Phoenicians. In 1993, peace and independence was at hand, yet was refuted for no good reason. A campaign of senseless murdering and 'martrydom' ensued.

The perpetual war machine has always been part of human nature but it finds higher expression in the halls of modern militant Islam that uses the Palestinians as pawns, than it does in the democratic pluralist states of the West and Israel.

A free Palestine? Yes, but not under these conditions.