As what the British newspaper the Independent outrageously calls a “spate of alleged Palestinian stabbings” against, I guess, “alleged” Jewish victims “allegedly” mounts, Israel’s real friends must step in. There are four essential ways to support Israel now. First, defend Israel in the media and online. Second, lobby to ensure ongoing governmental friendship for Israel. Third, speak informally about your love of Israel to friends. And fourth, plan that first or return visit to Israel. Don’t let evil win. Don’t let Palestinian terrorism scare you from Israel – or cloud your Zionist dreams.
There is a worldwide propaganda war against Israel, with essential battlefields in the media, online and in the universities. People should know their basic maps and facts. They should know how often Israel has offered to compromise, how former U.S. president Bill Clinton blamed former PA president Yasser Arafat for the Oslo peace process’s derailment in 2001, when the Palestinians turned away from the best chance for peace and returned to the ugliest form of suicide-bombing terrorism.
In my new book The Age of Clinton, I tell a story everyone should know, that in their final White House meeting, when Arafat tried charming the president by calling him a “great man,” Clinton shouted: “I am not a great man. I am a failure. And you have made me one.” Clinton wanted Arafat to agree to Israel’s historic concessions at Camp David in 2000. The aging terrorist, cast by Clinton to be Nelson Mandela, ultimately was Yasser Arafat. That story reflects the broader story of the Palestinian approach to Israeli and American concessions – demanding more, then still rejecting compromise. These and other facts showing Palestinian rejectionism must be publicized.
Love him or hate him domestically, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been a true friend to Israel. During this campaign, each major party leader professed support for Israel. Canada’s friendship with Israel must stay strong, whatever form the next government takes. All Canadian citizens must insist that their representatives support Canada’s sister democracy in the Middle East.
While lobbying legislators, don’t make Israel your secret affair. Jewish and non-Jewish friends need to hear about your passion, your fears, and your love for Israelis and for Israel. Too often, in this age of slacktivism, we whip fellow Israel supporters into a pro-Israel frenzy by forwarding pro-Israel articles or posts to one another and making ourselves feel good. Virtual support is important, but genuine outreach remains the real thing. Having people transfer their affection for you to the Jewish state, or at least become more respectful and acknowledge complexity during a media pile-on against Israel, is essential.
Finally, remember the equation “2DW = 1IL” – two trips to Disney World equal one trip to Israel. Now is the time to go to Israel, to enjoy, to see that life continues, and by going, to help life continue. The organized Jewish community should encourage Israel tours, absorbing the extra security costs so everyone feels extra protected, even if millions wander the streets of Israel safely every day, without such protection.
And given that for so many people, a trip to Israel might be the budget-busting trip of the decade or a lifetime, and given their justifiable concern that precisely the day they go, the situation might deteriorate, the Jewish community should also create a special travel insurance plan to cover last-minute Israel trip cancellations. If every Jew chipped in $5 or $10, it would more than cover such special insurance, and leave some left over to send some lucky people on a trip via Birthright or any other legitimate, fun and inspiring Israel program.
So stop the hand-wringing and start acting. The time to help Israel has arrived. And the time to enjoy Israel in all its glory and complexity has arrived, too.
